When someone manages to live past their 100th birthday, it’s only natural to be curious about their health habits. And while we can never assume there’s a “one size fits all” trick to guarantee a longer life, it can still be interesting to know about little quirks that may play a part in adding extra years. This is the case for 105-year-old Helen Tensley, who claims that eating one unusual thing every day could partly explain her longevity.
RELATED: 101-Year-Old Doctor Reveals What He Always Eats for Longevity.
She eats a clove of garlic every day.
According to local Louisville, Kentucky CBS affiliate WLKY, Tensley has maintained a clean lifestyle, including never smoking and only having an “occasional drink” over more than a century of life. But besides these common healthy habits, what perhaps stands out the most is that she eats a clove of garlic each day.
While popping a piece of the allium might sound like a unique habit, Tensley is not the only person who credits it with becoming a centenarian. In a 2020 Instagram post, then 89-year-old Virginia Tashjian showed off how she covered her morning eggs with an ample amount of granulated garlic, Today.com reported. When her grandson called her “insane” for using so much of the pantry staple, she cheekily replied: “You're insane. That's what keeps me alive.”
Research connects garlic and longevity.
Going big on garlic for longevity isn’t just anecdotal. A 2019 study published in the journal Nutrients found that out of 27,000 participants, those who ate garlic at least once a week were likely to live longer than those who didn’t by appearing to lower all-cause death risk. Specifically, those with garlic in their diet lived half a year longer on average compared to garlic-averse participants.
Part of this could be due to the multiple health benefits that mounting research has tied to eating garlic—especially when it comes to tackling problems that could lead to an earlier death.
One 2018 study found that eating more garlic could help reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol (while still cautioning more research was needed to solidify the claims).
Others have explored its anti-cancer properties, including one 2019 study from China that found eating more alliums such as garlic lowered the likelihood of a colorectal cancer diagnosis in more than 880 participants.
A 2020 study found that taking garlic supplements could help reduce high blood pressure, citing a 16 to 40 percent decrease in potentially serious cardiovascular events as a result.
Much of garlic's health benefits may be tied to its high amount of antioxidants. "In your body, harmful particles called free radicals build up as you age and may contribute to heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer disease," explains Mount Sinai. "Antioxidants like those found in garlic fight off free radicals, and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause over time."
RELATED: Longevity Expert Says Avoid Eating the "Poisonous 5 Ps" If You Want to Live to 100.
Garlic supplements are an option, too.
Shutterstock
Worried about bad breath from munching down on a daily clove? You can still achieve those health benefits by opting for a supplement version. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these supplements are most commonly taken to lower high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The takeaway.
As always, be sure to speak to your doctor before adding a supplement to your regimen to avoid any potential interactions with other medications you may be taking. You should also consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, such as eating a daily garlic clove.
However, there is mounting research to support the health and longevity benefits of a garlic-rich diet.
