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13 Secrets to Living Longer From the World’s Oldest People

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Misao Okawa, the world's oldest Japanese woman poses for a photo with her great-grandchild Himaki and grandchild Takako Okawa on her 117th birthday celebration at Kurenai Nursing Home on March 4, 2015 in Osaka, Japan.
Misao Okawa, the world's oldest Japanese woman poses for a photo with her great-grandchild Himaki and grandchild Takako Okawa on her 117th birthday celebration at Kurenai Nursing Home on March 4, 2015 in Osaka, Japan.Buddhika Weerasinghe—Getty Images
By Olivia B. Waxman

Misao Okawa, the world’s oldest person, celebrated her birthday with family at her Osaka, Japan, nursing home on Wednesday, a day before she officially turns 117. In the past, when asked to share her secret to long life, she has cited sushi and getting a good night’s sleep. This year, she simply said, “I wonder about that too.”

Here are other secrets to longevity that centenarians and super-centenarians have revealed in recent years:

• “Believe in the Lord,” the third-oldest American Susannah Mushatt Jones, 115, shared with TIME during a visit to her Brooklyn home.

• Pork, the second-oldest American, Jeralean Talley, 115, told TIME in 2013. Her signature dish is hog’s head cheese (pigs’ ears and feet in a jelly stock)

• “Kindness,” the oldest American, Gertrude Weaver of Camden, Arkansas, revealed to TIME shortly after her 116th birthday.

• At 111 years old, Bernando LaPallo of Mesa, Ariz., massages his feet in olive oil.

• A Scottish 109-year-old Jessie Gallan advised “staying away from men” and eating porridge.

• Duranord Veillard, a 108-year-old from Spring Valley, N.Y., who has been married to his wife Jeanne for 82 years, gets up at 5:00 a.m. every day and does five to seven push-ups.

• Alexander Imich of New York City, formerly known as the world’s oldest man, said he didn’t drink alcohol.

• On his 115th birthday, the former oldest man in Japan, Jiroemon Kimura, attributed his longevity to sun-bathing.

• Eating raw eggs, said 115-year-old Emma Morano-Martinuzzi of Verbania, Italy.

• Alfred Date, a 109-year-old Australian man, said knitting, is “a good way of getting along in life.” Recently, he knitted sweaters for injured penguins.

• During her 107th birthday celebrations, Downing Jett Kay of Baltimore said drinking lots of coffee was a big part of her long life.

• Richard Overton, who has been called the oldest living veteran, adds whiskey to his morning coffee and smokes up to 12 cigars a day, he claimed around his 107th birthday.

• When Adelina Domingues of San Diego was 114, she told U-T San Diego, “I’ve never been to a beauty shop and I’ve never been vain.”

Read next: The New Age of Much Older Age

These Are The Oldest Living People in the World

World's Oldest Japanese Woman Turns 116
Misao Okawa, the world's oldest living person, looks on her 116th birthday celebration at Kurenai Nursing Home on March 5, 2014 in Osaka, Japan. Okawa, born in Tenma, Osaka, on March 5, 1898 to a family of Kimono merchants, married in 1919 and had three children, of which a daughter and a son are still alive, and has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Okawa is currently 116 years old.Buddhika Weerasinghe—Getty Images
Gertrude Weaver
Gertrude Weaver holds a flower given to her a day before her 116th birthday, at Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center in Camden, Ark., July 3, 2014. The Gerontology Research Group says Weaver is the oldest person in the United States and second-oldest person in the world.Danny Johnston—AP
Oldest American
Jeralean Talley, photographed at 113, sits in her favorite chair in the living room of her home in Inkster, Mich. on April 2, 2013. She is now 115. Kimberly P. Mitchell—AP
Susannah Mushatt Jones in her home in Brooklyn on June 11, 2014, a few weeks before her 115th birthday.Joseph C. Lin for TIME
Bernice Madigan, on the cusp of her 110th birthday, is one of just 25 or so known supercentenarians in the world. She lives in Cheshire, Mass. with her niece, Elaine Daniels, who is throwing her a huge birthday celebration with hundreds of invitees on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Bernice Madigan, photographed on the cusp of her 110th birthday, is now 115.Dina Rudick—Boston Globe/Getty Images
Emma Morano-Martinuzzi was born on Nov. 29, 1899 and is 114 years old.
Emma Morano-Martinuzzi was born on Nov. 29, 1899 and is 114 years old.Danilo Donadio
Antonia Gerena Rivera May 19, 1900 and is 114 years old.
Antonia Gerena Rivera was born on May 19, 1900 and is now 114 years old.Gerontology Research Group
Ethel Lang celebrates her 107th birthday with her great great grandchildren on Sept. 21 1987 in the Bear Creek Nursing Home. Lang was born on May 27, 1900.
Ethel Lang celebrates her birthday with her great great grandchildren on Sept. 21, 1987 in the Bear Creek Nursing Home. Lang was born on May 27, 1900, and is now 114.John Preito—Denver Post/Getty Images
Nabi Tajima was born on Aug. 4, 1900 and is 114 years old.Kikai Newsletter
Born September 8, 1900, Blanch Arrington Cobb celebrated her 110th birthday in 2010. She lives with her daughter on the Northside in Jacksonville, FL.
Born September 8, 1900, Blanche Arrington Cobb is photographed celebrating her 110th birthday in 2010. Now 113, she has lived with her daughter on the Northside in Jacksonville, FL.Jon M. Fletcher—The Florida Times-Union
Anna Stoehr blew out the 112 candles on her birthday cake with the help of her great grandchildren on Oct. 14, 2012 in Millville, Minn., where about 180 invited guests celebrated Stoehr's birthday. Stoehr is believed to be the oldest independently living person in the world.
Anna Stoehr is photographed blowing out the 112 candles on her birthday cake with the help of her great grandchildren and about 180 guests on Oct. 14, 2012 in Millville, Minn. She is now 113.Richard Tsong—AP
Goldie Steinberg was born on Oct. 30, 1900, and is 113 years old.
Goldie Steinberg was born on Oct. 30, 1900, and is 113 years old.Market Wire
Merle Barwis, 111 years old enjoys a birthday beer with family in Victoria, B.C. December 23, 2011.
Merle Barwis, photographed at 111 years old, enjoys a birthday beer with family in Victoria, B.C. December 23, 2011. She is now 113.Lyle StaffordL—Times Colonist

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Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com