Secret to long life of world's oldest person who died aged 116 was eating two specific things every morning

A Japanese woman revealed the two things she ate every single morning to help her live to the grand old age of 116 years old.

Tomiko Itooka was recognized as the oldest person in the world for the last few months of her life following the death of Maria Branyas Morera, a Spanish woman who died in August at the age of 117.

That was until December 29, when Itooka tragically passed away on the same day as the former US President Jimmy Carter - who also died a centenarian.

Tomiko Itooka sadly passed away at the age of 116 in December 2024 (Ashiya Municipal Government)

Itooka was born on May 23, 1908 - six years before the first world war - before dying in December 2024 at a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

The mayor of Ashiya, which is roughly a 20-minute journey from Osaka, released the following statement: "Ms. Itooka gave us great courage and hope throughout her long life. I would like to express my gratitude once again.”

She enjoyed 51 years of marriage with her husband Kenji Itooka, who she shared four children with - two daughters and two sons - but he sadly passed away in 1979.

So, what was her secret to a long life?

Well, she enjoyed two specific things every morning - a banana and a yogurt-flavored Japanese dairy drink called Calpais... so if you want to live to a grand age, you might want to ditch the sausage and egg and replace it with banana and yogurt.

According to the Guinness World Records, Itooka was an avid hiker and remarkably, she recounted at the age of 100 she climbed Mount Ontake - a 3,067-meter peak - twice.

Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun who was born just 16 days after Itooka, is now believed to be the world's oldest person.

Whenever you hear someone has ticked over 100 years, our natural thought is what is their secret?

It is usually about what they eat rather than what they do, as they more than likely haven't had a laborious job down the mine.

Itooka enjoyed a banana and a Japanese dairy drink every morning (Ashiya Municipal Government)

One of the longest living cities in the entire world - based on residents who live to 100 years and beyond - is situated in the US, or more specifically in the city of Loma Linda, California.

It has been dubbed the 'Blue Zone' and it is populated by a number of Seventh-day Adventists - a Protestant Christian denomination commonly known for avoiding alcohol and smoking and observing a meat-free diet.

The residents there have their own secret, if you are to follow in the footsteps of most senior of all seniors in the world... you should dish up a bowl of oatmeal.

Every. Single. Day.