The world’s oldest person lived to the age of 122 despite eating chocolate and smoking for 96 years.
Jean Louse Calment is the oldest verified person to have ever lived. A supercentenarian, she was born on February 21, 1875 and died on August 4 1997.
She lived for so long that she outlived her daughter and her grandson and is considered to be the human with the longest documented lifespan.
According to the Guinness World Records, she attributed her long life to her sense of humour and tranquil state of mind.
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They said: “Jeanne remained in fine health for the majority of her life – she even took up fencing at the tender age of 85.
“Her diet was good too, rich in olive oil (which she also rubbed into her skin), and she restricted herself to a modest glass of wine every now and then.
“But she also had a sweet tooth, with a particular fondness for chocolate: she ate almost 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) of it each week.
“And she loved her cigarettes: Jeanne had smoked from the age of 21 and only quit when she was 117.”
Jeanne’s 96-year smoking habit isn’t evidence to say that cigarettes aren’t bad for you, they are one of the biggest causes of cancer and kill thousands every single year.
Due to her lifespan, Jeanne was witness to some of the most important moments in human history.
She watched as the Eiffel Tower was built, lived through two world wars, and likely read as the Berlin Wall was put up then read again when it came down.
Alongside genealogy, the Guinness World Records believe there may have been another factor in Jeanne’s long life and tranquil state of mind.
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They explained: “Her marriage to a wealthy distant cousin, Fernand Nicolas Calment, in 1896 meant that Jeanne didn’t have to work for a living.
“That may have played a part in her extraordinary longevity: she was free to swim, play tennis, cycle (she was still cycling until the age of 100) and roller skate, all of which promoted excellent good health.”
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