Four decades ago doctors told this 104-year-old to stay off the soft drinks

Some credit long life to regular exercise and avoiding smoking but for centenarian Elizabeth Sullivan it's all about one drink – Dr Pepper.

The 104-year-old woman, from Fort Worth, Texas, has confounded medical professionals who warned her to avoid downing the sugary "23 flavour" soft drink.

"People try to give me coffee for breakfast. Well, I’d rather have a Dr. Pepper," Ms Sullivan told CBS News.

"I started drinking them 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."

Her love of Dr Pepper runs so deep that for her 104th birthday she got a cake in the shape of the drink and a gift basket straight from the company chief executive Larry Young.

"When you live to be 104 and still can talk to nice people, you deserve some Dr Pepper, but I never expected this," Ms Sullivan said of the gesture.

"Man, I’m feeling good. I’m glad I’m still here. I’m glad I’m not in a rest home. Glad I can read books and watch TV and have people come by and say hello."

And as for her secret to living past 100?

"Just keep living," Ms Sullivan said.

We’ll drink to that.

Source: CBS News