Marcelino Abad Tolentino, affectionately known as ‘Mashico’, has reached the grand age of 125, making him not only Peru’s oldest living man but potentially the world’s. Celebrating his 125th birthday on April 5, 2025, in Huánuco, he lives in a quaint care home where one particular superfood is an essential part of his daily regime.
Born in 1900 in the humble village of Chaglla, located in the central region of Huánuco, Mashico has witnessed profound historical events throughout his life. However, his most notable accomplishment is his remarkable health and longevity, which he attributes to a natural diet and resilient spirit.
Mashico’s dietary habits have been shaped by the produce from his own garden, which he fondly refers to as his “Eden forest.”
His diet consists predominantly of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lamb meat, which he believes have significantly contributed to his extended lifespan.
Dolores Pérez, the cook at his care home, revealed to infobae that there’s one food Mashico simply cannot do without, which has greatly influenced his long life, reports Surrey Live.
“He always asks for avocado in the mornings for breakfast. He cannot live without avocado,” she revealed.
Additionally, Mashico adheres to the traditional Andean custom of chewing coca leaves, a practice he adopted during his time working on farms, which has sustained his vitality and overall health. Avocado remains a non-negotiable element of his diet, with Mashico considering it one of the key ingredients to his extraordinary longevity.
An intriguing study has shed light on the ancient Andean practice of chewing coca leaves, highlighting its potential to enhance physical performance. The research involved 10 healthy adult male residents from Cajamarca, Peru, positioned at an altitude of 2700 metres.
They underwent a standardised regimen of physical exercise on a stationary cycle ergometer to scrutinise the impact of coca leaf consumption.
The participants were provided with 8 grams of coca leaves complemented with a small quantity of lime to chew prior to starting a 20-minute cycling session. Throughout the activity, vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse, ECG, and VO2 max levels were meticulously monitored.
Researchers deduced from their observations: “These experimental findings suggest that chewing coca leaves is beneficial during exercise and that the effects are felt over a prolonged period of sustained physical activity.”
As Misael Ayra, an advocate for the social program Pension 65 in Huánuco points out, Marcelino regularly consumed natural produce which maintained his vitality. Ayra said: “Every time we visited him before he entered the care home, he would give us fruits from his garden. It was like a source of vitality.”
Despite Marcelino’s inability to walk unaided, he still enjoys his daily wheelchair stroll. His health is reportedly “stable”.
Tragically orphaned at the tender age of 7 when his parents died attempting to cross the Huallaga River, he was forced to adapt to varying circumstances and confront life largely on his own.
