Introduction
The world’s oldest female athlete, Johanna Quaas, lived to be 106 years old. She was an inspiration to many, and her longevity was attributed to her healthy lifestyle and diet. In this article, we will explore the foods that Quaas ate to stay healthy and live until 106. We will look at the foods she ate and compare them to unhealthy alternatives, so you can make the best choices for your own health. We will also discuss the importance of a balanced diet and how to make sure you are getting the nutrients you need. So, if you want to learn how to eat like the world’s oldest female athlete, read on!
The Foods the World’s Oldest Female Athlete Ate To Live Until 106 — Eat This Not That
At 106 years old, Fauja Singh is the world’s oldest female athlete. She has run marathons, competed in races, and even set world records. But what is the secret to her longevity?
Fauja Singh’s diet is simple and healthy. He eats a lot of vegetables, fruits, and grains. He also avoids processed foods and eats mostly organic. Here are some of the foods he eats to stay healthy and active:
Eat This:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats
- Legumes such as lentils, beans, and peas
- Nuts and seeds
- Fish and lean meats
- Low-fat dairy products
Not That:
- Processed foods
- Refined grains such as white bread and white rice
- Sugary drinks and snacks
- Fried foods
- Red meat
- High-fat dairy products
Fauja Singh’s diet is a great example of how to eat for longevity. Eating a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, fish and lean meats, and low-fat dairy products can help you stay healthy and active for years to come.
It’s one major accomplishment to live past the age of 100, but another to still be competing in athletic competitions at that age. That is what the world’s oldest female athlete, Ida Keeling, a track and field sensation from Harlem, NY, did until near her death in 2021 at 106 years old.
Along with her persistence, Ida owed her health and longevity to some other factors, including her diet. According to her daughter, Shelley Keeling, who spoke with Women’s Running, Ida consumed lots of fruits and vegetables to help sustain her longevity.
“She ate and drank everything [in terms of] fruits and vegetables, as well as small amounts of meat, and all of her body’s organs and systems were functioning in excellent condition,” Shelley says in the article.
It has been recently discovered that going outside and feeling connected to the outdoors helps to eat more fruits and vegetables. Evidently, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables contains lots of nutrients that can impact your health. Some benefits include lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, preventing certain cancers, and lowering the risk of eye and digestive problems. They can also have a positive effect on your blood sugar.
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Along with her healthy eating habits, Ida also owed her longevity to her high level of exercise and activity.
Although newer to the running game, Ida had been active all her life. She loved riding bikes and jumping rope as a child. She began running races at the age of 67 thanks to her daughter, who is also an avid runner. At the time, Keeling was severely depressed from losing her husband and her two sons. That is when Shelley decided to sign herself and her mom up for a local 5K in Brooklyn. Not to mention, it was with only a day’s notice.
“Mother initially thought I was just bringing her to watch me run the race and was surprised when I showed up at her house with a pair of sneakers,” Shelley tells Women’s Running. “I told her to just follow everyone else and had had no idea how her performance would be. But it never occurred to me that she couldn’t finish the race, since she’d always been extremely active.”
Once Ida finished the race, she was immediately hooked on the sport. She felt physically and emotionally lighter when she ran. She would continue from thereon out participating in local races, ranging from 5Ks to four or five mile-races.
From there, she was running and breaking records in the age groups of 95 to 99 and 100 to 104. In 2017, she fractured her femur and underwent surgery and rehab. Once fully recovered, she decided to run again, setting another record in 2018 at the age of 102.
“It was the thrill and the joy and how good she felt that kept her running,” Shelley says. “She was extremely flexible and would say exercise and running were the best medicine.”
Kayla Garritano