Bombshell study discovers simple ingredient could be key to living past 100

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Billionaires are spending fortunes on complicated therapies in hope of extending their lives, but the key to living to the age of 100 could be as simple as having a healthy gut.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified intestinal viruses that have a positive effect on our digestive systems.

They studied 176 people from Japan that had lived to over 100, and found they all had a distinctive combination of gut bacteria.

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"Previous research has shown the intestinal bacteria of old Japanese citizens produce brand new molecules that make them resistant to pathogenic, disease-promoting, microorganisms," Dr Joachim Johansen, leading the study, said.

"And if their intestines are better protected against infection, well, then that is probably one of the things that cause them to live longer than others," Dr Johansen added.

The Japanese centenarians also had a huge variety of both bacteria and bacterial viruses in their guts, reports the Mirror.

Associate professor Simon Rasmussen said: "High microbial diversity is usually associated with a healthy gut microbiome.

"And we expect people with a healthy gut microbiome to be better protected against ageing related diseases."

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That's not one of the only potential answers, of course. One woman, living in a care home in Essex, recently told the Daily Mirror that the secret to reaching 102 was "lots of good sex" .

And a Northamptonshire couple, who both turned 100 last year, credited their long lives to "a daily row".

But the latest science suggests it could actually hinge on how bacterial variety can be replicated to fight common diseases.

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Using a specially created algorithm, the researchers managed to map the intestinal bacteria and bacterial viruses.

Prof Rasmussen added: "Intestinal bacteria are a natural part of the human body and of our natural environment.

"And the crazy thing is that we can actually change the composition of intestinal bacteria.

"We cannot change the genes – at least not for a long time to come."

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