The Foods The World’s Oldest Person, Kane Tanaka, Ate Until 119 Years Old — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Kane Tanaka is the world’s oldest living person, having celebrated her 119th birthday in January 2020. She is an inspiration to us all, having lived a long and healthy life. But what is the secret to her longevity? It could be the foods she has been eating for the past century. In this article, we will explore the foods that Kane Tanaka has been eating until her 119th birthday and how you can incorporate them into your own diet. We will also provide some tips on how to make healthier food choices and how to make sure you are getting the most out of your meals. So, if you want to learn more about the foods that Kane Tanaka has been eating and how you can make healthier food choices, read on!

The Foods The World’s Oldest Person, Kane Tanaka, Ate Until 119 Years Old

Kane Tanaka, the world’s oldest person, has lived an incredible life. She was born in 1903 and is currently 119 years old. Tanaka has lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, and the invention of the internet. But what is even more remarkable is that she has managed to stay healthy and active for so long. So, what is the secret to her longevity?

According to Tanaka, her diet has been a major factor in her long life. She has always eaten a balanced diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, and grains. She also avoids processed foods and sugary snacks. Here is a look at some of the foods Tanaka has eaten throughout her life:

  • Fresh vegetables: Tanaka has always eaten a variety of fresh vegetables, including carrots, cabbage, spinach, and mushrooms.
  • Fruits: Tanaka has enjoyed a variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, bananas, and melons.
  • Fish: Tanaka has eaten a variety of fish, including salmon, tuna, and mackerel.
  • Grains: Tanaka has eaten a variety of grains, including rice, barley, and millet.

In addition to her diet, Tanaka has also credited her longevity to her active lifestyle. She has always been physically active, walking and gardening regularly. She also enjoys playing the board game Go and playing the shamisen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument.

Tanaka’s diet and lifestyle are a testament to the power of healthy eating and staying active. While it may not be possible to live to 119, following Tanaka’s example can help you live a longer, healthier life.

Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman who was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest person, passed away on April 19th, as confirmed by her daughter today. Tanaka, who turned 119 earlier this year, was three years shy of the record for oldest person ever, Jeanne Louise Calment, who passed at 122 years of age in 1997. (To put her age in perspective, Tanaka was born in 1903: the same year that the Wright brothers flew the world’s first successful flight.)

It almost always comes with the territory that the longest-living people in the world are begged for their secrets: What does a typical day look like? How do you keep busy? But perhaps the most common question posed to centenarians is, “what do you eat in a day?”

Luckily, we have the answer to that thanks to the Japan National Tourism Organization, which interviewed Tanaka in 2020.

“My favorite things are fizzy drinks (especially Coca-Cola), but also coffee and chocolate,” she told the organization when asked to introduce herself to their readers. “There isn’t actually really anything I don’t like,” she added.

When asked about the things that she, as the oldest living person in the world, can’t resist, the supercentenarian couldn’t help but underscore her love for sweets, again mentioning, “that would be fizzy drinks, coffee, and chocolate for me!”

RELATED: 3 Foods the World’s Oldest Person Ate Every Day

She certainly practices what she preaches! When Guinness World Records certified her as the world’s oldest person in 2019, Kane was given a box of chocolates during the presentation ceremony, which she immediately opened. After the ceremony when she was asked how many chocolates she wants to eat today, she replied “100.” Kane also enjoyed a cake with cream and strawberries at the ceremony.

And Tanaka’s love of fizzy drinks was on full display on her birthday this past year. Coca-Cola sent her commemorative bottles of their bubbly beverages for her 119th birthday that were personalized with her name and age on them, her daughter tweeted.

Although sweets top the list of Tanaka’s go-to foods, the takeaway here shouldn’t be to load up on sugary foods if you want to live to be over 100. Rather, it’s to enjoy the things you like.

When asked what she thought the secret to a long life is, Tanaka said it was “to do the things that you like,” continuing, “eating the things I like, doing the things I like, I’ve been able to enjoy each and every day.” She also attributed her long life to playing Othello, the board game, doing maths puzzles, and talking to lots of people.

RELATED: I Ate Like The Longest Living People In The World—And I Feel Amazing

If you ever want to visit Tanaka’s home region of Fukuoka, she recommends feasting on countless delicious foods including, “Hakata ramen, motsu nabe (offal stew), mentaiko (fish roe), mizutaki (chicken hotpot), the yatai food stalls — the list goes on and on.”

Japan is known as one of the nations in the world with the longest average life span, with people living in Okinawa being the most famous. Okinawa is considered to be one of the five “Blue Zones:” the regions of the world with the highest concentrations of centenarians

Want to eat to live to 100? Consider adding any of these 6 Breakfasts Enjoyed By The Longest-Living People in The World to your daily diet.

Olivia Tarantino

Olivia Tarantino is the Managing Editor of Eat This, Not That!, specializing in nutrition, health, and food product coverage. Read more