While filling out tax forms and lining up at banks might make you feel like you’re finally an old person, you still have nothing on Juan Vincente Perez, the world’s oldest living man.
Guinness World Records announced that Venezuela-native Perez, who just turned 113, is the world’s oldest living male recently.
According to Guinness, the centenarian is of exceptional health and has a surprisingly sharp memory as well. “My dad is in very good health,” his daughter Nelyda Perez told Guinness, “He does not suffer from any disease that requires medical treatment. The next day after resting, he says he wakes up very well. The whole family is very grateful for my daddy’s health.”
When prodded further, the secret behind Perez’s enduring health was revealed to be working hard, resting on holidays, going to bed early, praying to God every day, and drinking a glass of aguardiente every day.
Now you might wonder what this magic elixir is, but turns out it’s just distilled spirits. Aguardiente is Spanish for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29-60% alcohol by volume. Perez’s drink of choice is an anise-flavoured sugar cane distilled liquor.
While anise has several health benefits that could have contributed to Perez’s health, experts have also revealed that moderate drinking on a frequent basis can have several health benefits, like reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and ischemic stroke. The keyword, however, is moderate!
Perez now lives a life of leisure with his 18 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
