New Yorker, Antoinette Inserra, Aged 104 Reveals The Key To A Long Life: ‘I Love My Beer’

104-year-old Antoinette Inserra from New York City attributes her long and healthy life to her balanced diet and daily consumption of a glass of vermouth or beer. 

Phyllis Scotto

She claims that her nightly drink serves as her "youth-preserving elixir" and has helped her maintain her health and vitality.

According to Antoinette Inserra's daughter, Phyllis Scotto, her mother's secret to a long life might just be her love for beer.

Scotto also mentioned that her mother always goes out with her makeup on and enjoys outings, which helps keep her feeling young.

Phyllis Scotto

“My daughter takes me out. I take the walker, and this is enough for me. I’m happy with that,” said Inserra, who just celebrated her 104th birthday in April.

In addition to her regular outings, Inserra attributes her long life to a balanced diet consisting of soft-shell crab, pepperoni, and vegetables - with spinach being her favorite green, and her daily nightcap of either a glass of beer or vermouth.

It's clear that Inserra's secrets to a long life are effective, as she has seen multiple generations, with her four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. 

Phyllis Scotto

Despite surviving two bouts of COVID-19, she continues to take life one birthday at a time.

“She got to see my son get married, which we didn’t think she would,” said Scotto. “She had COVID twice, and she survived. And then she got to see [my son] have his first baby. So it’s been quite an accomplishment she’s made. She surprises everybody.”

Antoinette Inserra was born in the Little Italy neighborhood of Lower Manhattan on April 21, 1919. She had four sisters and five brothers.

Phyllis Scotto

Her father was an immigrant from Bari in southern Italy and her mother came from Trieste in the north.

Antoinette Inserra started her career by folding laundry and working in a shoe shop after completing eighth grade.

At the age of 18, she met her future husband Vincent Inserra whom she married in 1944.

Despite enjoying shopping and gambling, Antoinette faced a difficult time in her life when her husband Vincent passed away at the age of 68.

“What can you do when something happens? You just let it go, you do what you can and that’s it,” Inserra said, remembering that nugget of wisdom when facing negativity.

Phyllis Scotto

The senior citizen maintains her well-being by staying positive and finding happiness in life's simple pleasures. “I just say look nice and make nice friends. Be nice to them, and you’ll have good friends. That’s the way I look at it.” she advised.

Other centenarians have also shared their secrets to a long life.

A 109-year-old British woman credits her longevity to being "stubborn" and staying hydrated.

Another advised to 'avoid talking to strangers', while a third woman said 'love' is the key to staying young.

Experts are investigating the reasons behind the doubling of the number of Americans living to be 100 years or older in the past 20 years.

Phyllis Scotto

They are studying the DNA of the world’s oldest population to determine what contributes to their longevity, as claims about the possibility of human immortality abound.

A recent study, published this year, examined the DNA of people who have lived to be 100 or older and discovered that their immune systems showed better recovery from infections.

“Centenarians, and their exceptional longevity, provide a ‘blueprint’ for how we might live more productive, healthful lives. We hope to continue to learn everything we can about resilience against disease and the extension of one’s health span.” the study’s senior author, George J. Murphy, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University, said in a statement at the time.