The Secret to a Long Life From the World’s Oldest Family
From drinking Guinness to working out, everyone has a different theory on how to increase their life’s longevity.
However, thanks to the world’s oldest living family, we now have an answer. The Donnellys, who live in Country Armagh, Ireland, have received a Guinness World Record for being the oldest living siblings.
Apples and abstinence... secret of the Donnelly clan from Co Armagh, the world's oldest family https://t.co/mCk7hkFtFt pic.twitter.com/bmMGVK4em2
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) July 15, 2017
According to the Business Insider, they “have more than 1,000 years of life among them.” They attribute their long lives to playing football, eating healthy, as well as staying away from alcohol.
The Donnelly’s main longevity secret comes from the youngest member of the family. Leo, who is 72-years-old, states that the reason he has stayed so healthy is due to oatmeal. Every week, twice a day, Leo and his family eat the breakfast food.
The world's oldest family says eating oatmeal twice daily is basically the fountain of youth. 🥄
— Spotify for Podcasters (@forpodcasters) August 2, 2017
Hear more: https://t.co/PnW6uYVNYC pic.twitter.com/0VaWrtb09M
In an interview with the Telegraph, Leo stated “The key is that you need to get your oats at night. We’ve always followed Daddy’s habit of that nice warm bite before sleep.” The family also has a schedule for their porridge eating. Leo continued to tell the news website that they eat “Porridge at around 10pm, then porridge again for breakfast at 7am. Cooked oats, milk, perhaps a spot of jam on top.”
Leo always thought the habit of eating oatmeal before and after bed was strange, but now believes it’s why he is still healthy. The family also makes sure to steer clear from eating processed foods.
Out of the 16 Donnelly children, there are 13 that are still alive. The siblings are: Sean (92), Eileen (89), Peter (86), Mairead (85), Rose (84), Tony (82), Terry (80), Seamus (79), Brian (75), Kathleen (74), Colm (72), and Leo (70) says Business Insider.
My grandfather, who lived to 92, said just about every morning "All good Scots eat their oats.". He was a big believer in bananas too :)
— Melinda (@mamadams2) August 2, 2017
So, for all you folks out there reading this, start filling your belly with oatmeal at least twice a day. You may be grossed out by the porridge quickly, but will be thankful once you live to be 100 years old!
Sarah is a Hufflepuff living in NYC. When she is not traveling or talking to random animals, she is working as a script writer. Tweet her at @lumpyspacederp
