A woman who claims she is 124 years old, making her potentially the oldest living person in the world, has shared her secret to a long life. Qiu Chai from China attributes her longevity to eating three meals daily, enjoying outdoor walks, and ensuring she’s in bed after 8pm each night.

Her dietary preferences include a staple meal of rice and vegetables with a piece of lard “the size of a table tennis ball”. Despite doctors advising her to cut down on animal fat due to eye and ear conditions, she insists on maintaining her diet.

In her youth, Qiu also enjoyed a large bowl of oily noodles every evening, a typical dish in Chinese cuisine. 

Despite her apparent age, she continues to perform daily tasks like feeding geese and burning firewood without difficulty.

While Qiu seemingly remains healthy, the NHS warns that lard and other high-fat oils contain significant amounts of saturated fat.

UK health guidelines suggest men should consume no more than 30g and women no more than 20g of saturated fat per day, to prevent heart disease risks.

Healthier oil options include olive, avocado, and rapeseed oils, which are better alternatives to butter and lard.

The health website further suggests that rice and grains are excellent choices for starchy foods, being low in fat and a great source of energy. 

Brown and wholegrain varieties in particular offer additional nutritional benefits like fibre, aiding the body in waste elimination.

Moreover, noodles, when consumed in moderation, can also be beneficial, with certain types offering more health advantages than others.