Today is the 143rd anniversary of the birth of Jeanne Calment, a French woman who had the longest confirmed human lifespan, 122 years and 164 days. She was born February 21, 1875 and died August 4, 1997, in Arles, France. She attributed her longevity to avoiding stress, saying, “If you can’t do anything about it, don’t worry about it.” The New York Times noted that “The French, who celebrated her as the doyenne of humanity, had their own theories about why she lived so long, noting that she used to eat more than two pounds of chocolate a week and treat her skin with olive oil, rode a bicycle until she was 100, and only quit smoking five years ago [in 1992].”
In honor of her long life, enjoy this recipe for French Chocolate Mousse and learn about 12 Unexpected Beauty Uses for Olive Oil.
Read more about Jeanne Calment:
- Jeanne Calment: 122 Years of Chocolate
- Jeanne Louise Calment, the World’s Oldest Person
- YouTube: Jeanne Calment
- Jeanne Calment, World’s Elder, Dies at 122
