110-Year-Old Turkish Woman Says ‘Drinking Lots of Yogurt’ Is the Secret to Long Life — This Is Why You Should Listen to Her

In a world obsessed with expensive supplements, anti-ageing serums and other complicated wellness hacks, a 110-year-old woman in rural Turkey has offered a surprisingly simple secret to a long, healthy life: eat more yoghurt.

Şemsi Kılıç, who lives in Kayseri, Turkey, recently celebrated her 110th birthday, which is an incredible feat that makes her one of the oldest people alive. According to Kılıç, her long life and good health are attributed to consuming homemade yogurt and working hard.

At 110, this Turkish grandmother has lived through wars, economic shifts, and technological revolutions that most people today only read about in history books. Surely, if there are people on earth who know a thing or two about living a long life, she's one of them. You don't have to take her word for it because science also backs up her yoghurt theory.

In many parts of Turkey and across Central Asia, yoghurt is a culture. It’s eaten with meals, used in soups, paired with rice, or simply enjoyed on its own. For generations, it has been part of diets linked to long, healthy lives.

Many Nigerians would recognise it by other names.

In Northern Nigeria, it’s called nono, and often paired with fura (millet balls). This is the daily life of many people in Fulani communities. While in Yoruba, it's called wara.

Walk through Nigerian markets or even the roadside, and you’ll find vendors selling it fresh without branding or preservatives.  In urban areas like Lagos or Abuja, yoghurt is usually sweetened, packaged, or flavoured.

Read Next: 9 Nigerian Foods That Are Slowly Damaging Your Brain (Most People Eat Them Daily)

Yoghurt is fermented milk. Specific bacteria, mainly Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, convert lactose into lactic acid. That’s what gives yoghurt its tangy taste and thicker texture.

But more importantly, that fermentation creates probiotics, live microorganisms that support gut health.

In recent years, the gut has taken centre stage in conversations about overall well-being. A healthy gut does more than aid digestion. It’s tied to immune function, mental health, and even inflammation levels in the body – all factors that influence how we age.

Read Next: 7 Early Warning Signs Your Brain Is in Trouble (And What They Could Mean)

Coming from a 110-year-old Turkish grandma, you may think the idea that yoghurt supports longevity is just folklore, but it isn’t. There’s actual research backing parts of it.

A 2014 study reviewed yoghurt's role in healthy and active ageing. Other medical publications, like Healthline, have written on the benefits of yoghurt and also shown that regular yoghurt consumption may be linked to the following:

• Improved digestion and reduced bloating

• Stronger immune response, helping the body fight infections

• Better bone health, thanks to calcium and vitamin D

• Lower risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

In other words, that basic and boring-looking bowl of yoghurt might be doing some mighty behind-the-scenes work for your body every single day.

Read This: You Hate Drinking Water? Try These 7 Drinks to Stay Hydrated in Extreme Heat

Many factors, like genetics, environment, healthcare, and lifestyle choices, influence longevity.

While yoghurt alone won’t guarantee a 100-year life, it fits into a bigger pattern: balanced eating, consistent habits, and nutrient-rich foods over time. Yoghurt is part of that lifestyle, not a magic fix.

Although modern versions are often loaded with sugar, which cancels out some of the benefits, traditional forms like unsweetened ‘nono’ and Greek yoghurt tend to be closer to what researchers consider beneficial.

Also, pay attention to how your body reacts, especially if you are lactose intolerant.