Featured Image Credit: CNN
Topics: US News, Food and Drink
Callum Jones
When we think of ways of trying to prolong our life, most people's minds will immediately turn to eating healthy and exercising a ton.
And to be honest, that's the most likely advice you'll get from medical professionals.
However, one woman's secret to living a long life was drinking three Dr. Peppers a day, despite all the sugar the fizzy drink contains.
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Elizabeth Sullivan did a bunch of interviews telling her secret to living a long and happy life before her death at the age of 106 in 2017.
Sullivan, from Fort Worth, Texas, credited the popular Dr Pepper soda for her long lifespan after celebrating her 104th birthday in 2015.
Speaking to Fort Worth’s CBS affiliate, she said: "Well at 103 I didn’t think I’d make it, but I’m still perking along. I started drinking [Dr Pepper] about 40 years ago.
"Three a day. Every doctor that sees me says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t. So there must be a mistake somewhere."
In an interview with CNN in the same year, Sullivan sat down with a journalist - and a Dr Pepper of course - when she admitted to drinking three a day.
"My body needs sugar, I don't take any medication - they [medical professionals] still can't find anything wrong with me," she told the outlet.
Sadly, Sullivan loft her life at the remarkable age of 106 in November 2017.
Rick Taylor, Sullivan's grandson, who lives in Washington, told NBC 5 at the time: "Not the reason that I wanted to return to Texas, but will celebrate that she and my Granddad are reunited again, and together in a better place."
An obituary for Sullivan read: "She was a lifelong member of University United Methodist Church.Her favorite things included family, friends, parties, mystery novels, quadratic equations, musical theatre, writing poetry, enjoying Dr. Peppers, and watching the Texas Rangers.She died November 1,2017 at the home of grandchildren Randall and Debbie Taylor in Las Cruces."
Remarkably, Sullivan isn't the only person to credit Dr Pepper for a long life, as veteran Eugene Peterson has also heaped praise on the soda recently.
The retired sergeant major who served in both the Philippines and Vietnam after being drafted into the army in 1941 enjoyed his favourite tipple while celebrating his 101st birthday.
Peterson’s daughter Linda Standage was asked what she thought the secret to her father’s longevity was, and her dad immediately pointed out Dr Pepper.
"He doesn't let any moss grow under him," she said.