Supercentenarian, Tomiko Itooka was originally from Japan.
How to live as long as possible and in good health? This is a question that concerns most of us. If a healthy lifestyle is directly linked to life expectancy, many of us are also looking for a miracle tip for rejuvenation. The answer may be found among supercentenarians, those people who have lived more than 100 years.
This is the case of the dean of humanity, Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who died on December 29, 2024 at the age of 116. She was born in Osaka in 1908. According to LongeviQuest, an organization that verifies the age of supercentenarians, Tomiko Itooka was a very active woman. She is said to have climbed Mount Ontake twice, which peaks at 3,180 meters, and made a pilgrimage of more than 965 km to the 33 temples of the Kansai region, at the age of 80. For Tomiko Itooka, her longevity was linked in particular to what she ate every morning, namely a banana and above all a drink made from lactic ferments which is very popular in Japan.
This elixir of youth was Calpis©, a fermented, carbonated drink made from milk. Calpis contains lactic acid bacteria which “have the potential to impact gut health, immune function and the gut-brain axis” according to a Chinese study published in 2024. According to the researchers, these bacteria “restore intestinal balance, have increased antioxidant effectiveness and strengthen mental acuity and cognitive robustness. Only longevity factors.
Researchers encourage the consumption of foods rich in lactic acid bacteria, “or the use of lactic acid bacteria food supplements”. They can bring “a promising complementary approach to promote healthy aging and improve general well-being”. As Calpis© is a drink marketed in Asia, it is not available in France. But, rest assured, lactic acid bacteria are also found “in fermented foods, including yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut”recall the researchers.
