A Costa Rican resident could be recognized as the oldest person in the world

The man owes his longevity to quite simple things.

In Costa Rica, officials are trying to officially verify the age of a local supercentenarian who may be eligible for a world record.

José Flores is 119 years old. According to his identity document, the man was born on July 11, 1907. If this information passes verification, he could receive the title of the world’s oldest living person, Reuters reports.Reuters.

The record currently belongs to British woman Ethel Caterham. She turned 117 in August.

To verify Flores’s age, specialists are examining his birth and baptism certificates, as well as other documents from different years.

Representatives of international organizations, including Guinness World Records, must issue their findings.

José lives in Sardinal on the Nicoya Peninsula. It is one of the world’s five "blue zones"—places where people live longer and often reach the age of 100.

Local residents attribute their longevity to several factors. They drink water rich in calcium and magnesium, eat plenty of corn and legumes, engage in a great deal of physical work, and maintain close ties with their relatives.

Much of this corresponds to Flores’s own lifestyle. He worked in rural areas all his life, and he also has a large family: eight children, 23 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

These days, the Costa Rican supercentenarian’s daily life is calm and unhurried. He enjoys recalling stories from his life, jokes, and sometimes even competes with his granddaughter in arm wrestling.