104-year-old woman's longevity secret: still uses teeth to crack seafood shells

Despite reaching centenarian age, the Chinese woman maintains her vitality and sharp intellect through a disciplined lifestyle combined with a scientific diet focused on seafood.

Trinh Dinh currently lives in an apartment for the elderly in Long Cang city. Even at 104 years old, with diminished hearing, she impresses many with her vitality and sharp mind.

According to Chinese media, Trinh Dinh raised eight children—six sons and two daughters. As the family's "head cook", she single-handedly managed three daily meals for 10 family members. In earlier years, when seafood was abundant and affordable at the docks—including mantis shrimp, blue crab, pomfret, and croaker—she frequently bought it to diversify her family's menu. She created various dishes, from steamed or salt-roasted mantis shrimp to crab stir-fried with ginger and spring onion, or braised sea fish, ensuring family meals were always fresh and enjoyable. Even now, she occasionally cooks her favorite seafood dishes for the entire family.

Her husband passed away when she was 75, after which she moved into an apartment for the elderly. In recent years, her children and grandchildren have taken turns caring for her daily, preparing meals, engaging in heartfelt conversations, and assisting with various errands.

Trinh Dinh snacks on various nuts while watching tivi. Photo: QQ

Her family states that Trinh Dinh maintains a regular and disciplined routine. Each morning, she typically wakes around 7 h, her first task being to comb her hair. After personal hygiene, she prepares her own breakfast, sometimes hot noodles, other times eight-treasure porridge. Her children and grandchildren bring her lunch, which primarily consists of fresh seafood and seasonal vegetables. After eating, she watches tivi, especially historical dramas. Though she doesn't understand Mandarin, Trinh Dinh can remember each character and plot, recounting them to her family. When she feels tired, she takes a nap for about 1-2 h.

Nham Hieu Diep, Trinh Dinh's granddaughter-in-law, shares that she washes her hair once a week. She notes that Trinh Dinh values cleanliness; her clothes are always neatly folded, and her home is consistently tidy. What most impresses her children and grandchildren is her excellent memory. Duong Nai Long, her son-in-law, mentions that she accurately remembers her monthly pension allowances, savings, and daily necessities expenses. Often, when her family forgets records, she is the one who precisely reminds them.

At 104 years old, Trinh Dinh still cooks her family's favorite dishes herself. Photo: QQ

Beyond her sharp memory, Trinh Dinh also boasts strong teeth. She enjoys shelled seafood and can use her teeth to crack the hard shells of mantis shrimp and blue crab. She also snacks on sunflower seeds, walnuts, and almonds while watching tivi.

Sharing the secret to her longevity, her son, Khau Truyen Lan, explains that his mother always believes "sickness comes from the mouth", so she pays great attention to her diet. Thanks to this habit, she has never suffered from serious illness, only catching a cold a few times and recovering quickly after taking medicine.

According to Khau Truyen Lan, beyond focusing on health, a peaceful mindset is key to Trinh Dinh's long life. "My mother never overcomplicates issues, doesn't worry excessively, and never interferes in others' affairs", her son recounts. To her relatives, she has a kind heart, a gentle disposition, and has never raised her voice at anyone. "In an extended family with daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, we have never had conflicts, all thanks to her teachings", her son-in-law states.