World’s oldest person Misao Okawa reveals sushi and sleep are the secrets to long life

THE world’s oldest person has revealed the secret behind her long and healthy life, but if you think it’s all down to diet and lots of exercise then think again.

THE world’s oldest person has revealed the secret behind her long and healthy life, but if you think it’s all down to diet and lots of exercise then think again.

As it turns out Misao Okawa, who turns 116 years old on Wednesday, reckons it’s down to two simple things: sushi and sleep.

The Japanese woman, whose life has spanned across three centuries, eats three meals a day and ensures she always gets eight hours rest a night.

Mrs Okawa pictured celebrating her 115th birthday in Osaka last year. Picture: AP

Mrs Okawa, who has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, also credits oily fish such as mackerel for her longevity and only went into a care home 18 years ago at the age of 98.

“She insists that her favourite meal is sushi, particularly mackerel on vinegar-steamed rice, and she has it at least once every month, Tomohito Okada, the head of the Kurenai retirement home where she lives told The Telegraph.

The mother-of-three has been a widow since her husband Yukio passed away in 1931 and has an elderly son, 94, and daughter, 92 as well as four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs Okawa became the world’s oldest person following the death of 116-year-old Japanese man Jiroemon Kimura on June 12, 2013.

In August last year, Bolivian indigenous farmer Carmelo Flores Laura who claimed he had just turned 123, attributed his longevity to the traditional Andean diet.

Bolivian Carmelo Flores Laura who according Bolivian authorities is 123 years old. Picture: EPA

He credits a diet of quinoa, mushrooms and coca for keeping him alive so long as well as lots of walking and alcohol.

However, there was some difficulty obtaining proof of his birth as Bolivia only started issuing official birth certificates in 1940.

But he does have a baptism certificate which lists his birthday as July 16, 1890 and he has national identity documents based on the certificate.

Bolivia’s Civil Registry Office looked into the validity of the documents and has confirmed they are legitimate.

However, according to Guinness World Records Mrs Okawa is the oldest living person verified by original proof of birth.

But it seems healthy foods may not always be the answer to long life alone.

last year Texas woman Pearl Cantrell reckoned the secret to long life was bacon.

“I love bacon, I could eat it for every meal — and I do,” she told local TV station KRBC.

“I want other people to eat bacon, I tell them too. My kids all eat it.”

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