She favored the Spanish brand La Fageda, a probiotic yogurt known for its inflammation-fighting bacteria. Her mornings often began with a smoothie packed with eight different cereals.
Maria Branyas Morera in 1925 / Wikipedia Commons
Scientists also noted unique features in her telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. While short telomeres are typically linked to higher mortality, research suggests they may not be a reliable marker of aging in the very old. In Maria’s case, her short telomeres may have even helped protect her, potentially limiting cancer cell growth.
