Oldest person in the world

Oldest Person In The World Credits Local Diet For Long Life

On September 3rd an indigenous woman who’s spent her entire life in the Amazon will become the oldest known person in the world.

A very Happy Birthday to Maria Lucimar Pereira is one of the Kaxinawá tribe who today is 121 years old, bless her, and has never lived outside the western Brazilian Amazon. On Saturday she will turn 121 years old. She says she will spend her birthday with her family.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, Pereira says eating a diet full of foods that are native to the forest she inhabits, like grilled meat, fish, manioc (a root vegetable), and banana porridge, helped her to stay active and healthy. She does not eat salt, sugar, or any processed foods.

“All too often we witness the negative effects forced change can have on indigenous peoples,” Survival International’s Director Stephen Corry. ”It’s refreshing to see a community that has retained strong links to its ancestral land and enjoyed the undeniable benefits of this.”

Community leader Carlos told Survival that despite her advanced age, Pereira is still able to walk around the village sharing stories, and visits her grandchildren in neighboring areas. She only speaks Kaxinawá (not Portuguese), and occasionally travels to the nearest town, Feijó.

And although Pereira holds the record as the oldest, attaining ages of 100 or more does not appear uncommon in her village. Carlos says out of its 80 inhabitants, four are over 90 years old. They eat natural foods, and do not use soap or any artificial products from the city.