A 107-year-old woman from the Bronx, New York has said her secret to living a long life is that she never got married.
Louise Signore, born in Harlem in 1912, celebrated her milestone birthday on Wednesday with a party at the Bartow Community Center in Coop City attended by 100 guests.
Speaking to CBS, Signore revealed some of her tips for longevity, which include dancing, playing bingo and eating Italian food.
“I have to exercise,” she said, “I still do a little dancing. After my lunch, I play bingo.”
Signore went on to explain how she thinks maintaining her single status has helped her live longer.
“I think the secret of 107… I never got married,” she deadpanned. “I think that’s the secret. My sister says, ‘I wish I never got married!’”.
Longevity seems to run in Signore’s family, as her sister is 102 years old and her mother lived to 97.
As for nutrition, Signore, whose family come from Italy, explained how her diet has helped live longer.
“Italian food is very good for you,” she explained. “I was brought up with very good food. No soda, no cake.”
It’s not the first time someone has touted the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fish, olive oil, vegetables and whole grains and low in meat and dairy foods.
The diet that is popular across countries bordering the Mediterranean sea, such as Greece and Italy, has been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, depression prevention and reducing the risk of mortality in elderly people.
