Want to live till 120? No sex and spices, says 'world's oldest man'

He might have witnessed three centuries in his life. If his passport is to be believed, Swami Sivananda, a Hindu ascetic, is nothing less than 120 years of age, and may be the "oldest man to have ever lived" in the world.

Sivananda, who hails from Varanasi but is viting Kolkata for a trip, attributes his extremely long life to regular yoga and celibacy, as well as a simple life.

According to this report, Swami Sivananda would be entering his name in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the "oldest man" to have ever lived. Currently, Japan's Jiroemon Kimura, who died in June 2013 at the age of 116 is listed as the oldest man ever.

For his age, which crosses the century by a good margin or 20 more years, this five-foot-two-inch tall man remains remarkably healthy and agile.

This Times of India report said Sivananda had his first medical check-up ever only last month, after he developed a persistent headache and one of his disciples got worried.

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Swami Sivananda, as per his passport, was born on August 8, 1896, at a time when there was no electricity or cars in India and it was well under the British rule.  

Even though his age record happens to be a temple register, there is no other way to accurately verify his claim. If his claims are proved correct, perhaps via medical examination, Sivananda would have seen three centuries - the 19th, the 20th and the 21st.

So what is the secret to his long and healthy life?Well, for starters, it's "no sex".

That's right. Sivananda says two hours of daily yoga, a spice-free diet of boiled rice and vegetables and sexual abstinence are keys to a longevity of this magnitude.

Also read: Why are we missing out on ancient grains in our diet?

He says he doesn't have either milk or fruits, as these are "fancy foods".

Well, let's say his recommendation is a tad difficult to follow.