X-Message-Number: 24059 Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 22:39:01 -0700 From: Olaf Henny <> Subject: Feel like going on a cholesterol binge? References: <> About a year or two ago I reported in this forum about a gardener in Germany age 104. He had worked actively until age 96 "but slowed down a little lately. He was asked in an interview to what he attributed his longevity: "Wurst (sausage)", he said, "eat plenty of wurst." Now in today's (May 6th) Vancouver paper is the following article: OLDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD THRIVES ON PORK FAT AND MILK A woman believed to be the oldest in the world celebrated her 116th birthday yesterday in the former Soviet republic Belarus. "I'll drink to my own health with pleasure," said Hanna Barysevich, who lives in a house outside the Belorussian capital of Minsk. Barysevich was born on May 5, 1888 in the village of Buda, 6o kilometres east of Minsk according to her passport. Her parents were poor land less peasants. "From my early childhood I did not know anything but physical labour," said Barysevich. She worked on a collective farm until age 95, then moved to the house that she shares with her 78 year old daughter Nina. She attributes her longevity to genetics. Her paternal grandmother was 113, when she died. As to diet, Barysevich prefers simple village food, such as homemade sausages*, pork fat, milk and bread. Barysevich moves with difficulty, but unaided. She complains of occasional headaches and worsening vision, "but nothing else bothers me." The Guinness Book of Records has recognized a 114 year old Puerto Rican as the world's oldest living woman. Barysevich said she'd never thought of applying for the distinction. * There is your "wurst" again (kolbassa, sausage). Makes you want to head for the butcher shop. Who needs CR? :o) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=24059