The world’s oldest man, Francisco Núñez Olivera, died in his home in southwest Spain at the age of 113 Monday. He had four children, nine grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
What was the secret to Olivera’s longevity? In addition to good genes and living a relatively calm life, his diet no doubt played a big role, according to his family.
Olivera’s diet typically consisted of a sponge cake made with olive oil for breakfast, yogurt as a midday snack, fish or meat stew for lunch, and lots of vegetables he grew himself with a daily glass of red wine, according to The Local Spain.
It’s no surprise that Olivera followed a Mediterranean way of eating, which is often touted as one of the healthiest diets in the world. Research has consistently found the Mediterranean diet may protect against heart disease, the number one killer of men in the United States and leading cause of death globally.
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Studies also suggest the Mediterranean diet may protect your vision and brain health and decrease your risk of certain types of cancer. Many of these benefits are linked to the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and olive oil, along with the antioxidants found in vegetables and red wine.
Red wine is rich in polyphenols like resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes. Scientists believe that these antioxidants may fight inflammation, a common precursor to the progression of heart disease.
Olivera was one of 32 people over the age of 90 in his village of Bienvenida. Spain has one of the highest life expectancies in Europe, but research shows that men all over the world don’t typically live as long as women. (Here are the top reasons men die too young.)
We’re constantly fascinated by people that live to see 100 — but even if they eat bacon or drink beer daily, they usually just have a reasonable diet overall, exercise regularly, and try to live as stress-free as possible.
According to The Local Spain, Olivera admitted that the secret to a long life also included staying active and getting outside of the house. He reportedly took daily walks by himself until he was 107. His daughter stated that he had a gentle routine that revolved around the countryside of his house.
“I do not feel old yet,” Olivera told Spain’s Spain’s El Mundo in 2015.
The people of his village have outwardly expressed their mourning. Bienvenida’s Facebook page states in one post: “Rest in peace, ‘Grandpa of the world’. We’ll always remember you.”
Alisa Hrustic is the deputy editor at Prevention, where she leads the brand’s digital editorial strategy. She’s spent the last five years interviewing top medical experts, interpreting peer-reviewed studies, and reporting on health, nutrition, weight loss, and fitness trends for national brands like Women’s Health and Men’s Health. She spends most of her days diving into the latest wellness trends, writing and editing stories about health conditions, testing skincare products, and trying to understand the next greatest internet obsession.
