Chinese great-grandfather, 101, defies ageing with daily diet of Coke, Sprite, seafood

A Chinese centenarian leads a happy, healthy life despite a habit generally considered “unhealthy”, prompting curious reactions online.

A 101-year-old great-grandfather in eastern China’s Zhejiang province recently went viral for his love of drinking large amounts of Coca-Cola and Sprite.

While young people in China embrace healthy lifestyles – eating foods inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, following low-sugar diets and taking daily footbaths – Lu Shizeng defies these practices yet remains hale and hearty at his ripe old age.

Lu is especially particular about food. Living in the countryside, he takes a rickshaw to the town market every five days to buy seafood, including fish, shrimp and crabs, as well as pork and vegetables.

Until last year, Lu reportedly still rode his own tricycle into town. But after a fall, he began moving more slowly, and his family forbade him from riding again.

Lu said he spends most of his savings on food.

His two sons – one living in Beijing and the other running a factory nearby – hired a nanny to look after him. The nanny said Lu has a great appetite, finishing half a bowl of rice and a whole plate of crabs in one meal.

He also stocks up on carbonated drinks such as Coca-Cola and Sprite. Lu especially likes chilled Sprite with a few drops of white wine in it.

He also enjoys sweet fruits such as watermelon, pears and mandarins.

Lu maintains a regular daily routine. He goes to rest after dinner, which he finishes at 5pm, and falls asleep around 8pm. He usually wakes at 4am and spends another two hours leisurely stretching in bed before finally getting up at 6am.

He also takes a nap every day at noon.

Lu is very proud of his good health.

“Some elderly people may have a stroke after a fall, but I’m totally fine. I can also remember things from my youth quite well,” he said. He added that he rarely catches a cold and has relatively low blood pressure.

Furthermore, Lu said he is satisfied with the monthly old-age allowance he receives. In Zhejiang province, centenarians receive 800 yuan (US$120) a month.

In comparison, people aged 90 to 99 receive only 100 yuan per month.

“Living to 101 while drinking Coke – some experts might be unhappy now,” one online observer commented.

“A good mood and a regular sleep schedule are the most important reasons behind his longevity,” another said.

A third commented: “Some people are born this way. Their lifestyle is only a minor factor in their longevity, which is something that more than 99.9 per cent of people can only dream of.”