Turns out, the secret to a long life might be a daily Diet Coke habit that most doctors would caution against. Or at least that's the case for one Grand Rapids, Michigan, woman who celebrated her 104th birthday on Jan. 1, 2018. Theresa Rowley drinks at least one can of Diet Coke every day and she doesn't have any reason to stop. She told local news station WZZM, "I drink it because I like it. I'm going shopping Wednesday, and I need more Diet Coke. I have a bag full of empty Diet Coke cans that I need to return to buy more Diet Coke."
Rowley has been a resident at the Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community in Grand Rapids for the last 15 years. She can't remember exactly when she moved to Michigan, but she was born in Illinois in 1914, only 28 years after Atlanta pharmacist John S. Pemberton created a new soft drink that would eventually be known all over the world as Coca-Cola and 68 years before the first diet version of the popular drink was launched.
Rowley has seen two world wars, women gain the right to vote, and men land on the moon. And she's still living life to the fullest. "When I was 100, I thought I'd never be 104; I thought I'd pass away by that time but it just didn't happen," said Rowley.
Diet Coke has been undergoing a makeover in a bid to halt slumping sales and recently announced four new flavors of the soft drink in addition to the original. They're also offering the drinks in taller, slimmer cans.
It's inspiring to see a 104-year-old still doing their thing, shopping and drinking their favorite drink. Self-care at its finest. And just a suggestion: Maybe Diet Coke should think about using Rowley as their next Super Bowl ad spokesperson.
