Spain’s oldest person Angelina Torres Vallbona, who is 111 years old, has divulged her longevity secret as she approaches her 112th birthday. Residing in a flat in Eixample, Barcelona, Angelina claims she has maintained good health throughout her life and has never fallen ill.
She inherited the title of Spain’s oldest person following the death of Maria Branyas, who was not only Catalonia’s but also the world’s eldest at 117 before her passing last August. Additionally, with the November demise of Piedad Loriente from Aragon at age 113, Angelina now holds the record for the oldest Spaniard.
Speaking to EFE, as reported by Andalucía Información, Angelina insists there is “no secret” to her impressive lifespan. Her daily routine includes a simple breakfast of “a glass of water with a few drops of lemon and a teaspoon of sugar”.
Despite the known health concerns surrounding sugar, lemon juice offers several benefits, being an excellent source of vitamin C which studies have shown can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as enhance iron absorption from plant foods, thus preventing anemia. Angelina also credits her long walks and her aim to be “friends with everyone” as part of her lifestyle.
People around her often refer to her as an angel, yet she humbly disagrees, stating: “I am no angel, I like to get on with everyone,” reports Surrey Live.
Angelina, who was born in Bellvís on March 18, 1913, and was the fifth of seven siblings, revealed that she often feels a deep sense of empathy for those less fortunate than herself. Tragically, her father died when she was just three years old, prompting the family to relocate to Barcelona.
Angelina embarked on a career in tie-making with Vinilos y Vidal before becoming an apprentice at a dressmaker’s shop. This all took place before the devastating Spanish Civil War, a period during which Angelina admits she “suffered a lot”.
After the war, she married Josep Martí and they had a daughter named Mercè, two grandchildren, Gemma and Xavi, and three great-grandchildren: Pol, Marc and Mar Joana. She expressed her gratitude for being able to spend Christmas with her family, describing her great-grandchildren as “handsome” and stating that she’d “had a good time”.
Angelina also shared her joy at witnessing the construction of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, remarking that it “turned out beautiful”. The 111 year old concluded by reflecting on her life, noting that she “had many friends” who “loved me a lot”, and that she “laughed a lot” and “enjoyed my family”.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
