Levite, Zoraide e Zulina, Brazilians, are the three most famous sisters in the world: together they total 316 years and over 300 days of life. World record, carved in the Guinness Book of Records.
The three women live in Rio de Janeiro, and their homes are very close, allowing the sisters to continue seeing each other often, as they have done throughout their lives.
Levita de Deus Nunes, born il May 3, 1917, he is 109 years old, was born in the state of Sergipe, in the north-east of the country, and grew up, like her sisters, in a large farming family (there were eight brothers and sisters in total).
As a young man he moved to Rio de Janeiro, as millions of Brazilians did from the Northeast in search of better opportunities. In the big city he began working as a seamstress and craftswoman, an activity in which he was very skilled.
He later found employment at Globo, the most important Brazilian television station, fully experiencing the transformation of Rio de Janeiro into one of the great metropolises of South America.When the younger sister Zulina left alone with six children, Levita decided to move near her and Zoraide to help her, and then return with her to Rio.
Zoraide de Deus Mota is 104 years old, and when she was young she moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he decided to pursue a profession related to caring for people. He studied and became nurse, a job he carried out for many years, with dedication and care towards his patients.
Finally, Zulina de Deus Nunes, 103, has always been a housewife and mother, raising six children. During the most difficult time of her life, when she found herself alone and without a husband with six children to raise, she found crucial support from her older sister.
The childhood of the three record-breaking sisters was typical of rural Brazil in the 1920s and 1930s: days spent among the fields, rivers, animals, and working with brothers and sisters. Almost all their food came from the family farm, and life was marked by the seasons and the rhythms of nature. As children, they swam in rivers, fished, and ate almost exclusively fresh, locally produced foods, as they didn't even have a refrigerator at the time.
Once they grew up and reached old age, the three sisters never changed their lifestyle, which was based on three cornerstones: a simple and healthy diet, constant physical activity, and close and intense family ties, with the solid bond between sisters.
When the record was announced, scientists showed particular interest in their family. The three sisters have in fact become part of the DNA Longevo Project, a study coordinated by geneticist Mayana Zatz of the University of São Paulo. The goal is to understand whether there are genetic variants that protect against aging, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. Researchers believe cases like theirs are valuable because they unite multiple centenarians within the same family, suggesting a significant hereditary component.
Read also:
- Catalina Mendoza starts school at 94
- Emilia, at 107, still knits for her family.
- Anna Possi, at 101, is the oldest bartender in Italy.
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