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3 Major Secrets to Living to 99, According to Betty White

The star's secrets for a long life are a lot more fun than you'd expect.

Betty White has had a career—and life—that's enviable by any measure of success. Playing lead roles in beloved programs like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland, the star is now 99 years old and just as witty, charming, and in-demand as ever—no small feat in a business where countless would-be stars fizzle out fast.

So, what's kept White going all these years? Read on to discover the star's secrets for making it to nearly 100. And for more on how your favorite stars stay healthy, check out Walking This Far Every Morning Helped a Famous Athlete Drop 90 Pounds.

Positivity

betty white laughing in white jacket and pink shirt
Amanda Edwards / WireImage

In an interview with Parade, White admitted that having a rosy outlook on life had served her well—so much so that she wondered if it might have had a hand in her longevity. 

"Enjoy life," she told the publication. "Accentuate the positive, not the negative. It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about, rather than say, 'Hey, that was great!' It's not hard to find great stuff if you look."

If you want to improve your own affect, check out the 15 Healthiest Foods That Will Make You Happier, According to RDs

Vodka

martini
Shutterstock

White may be bubbly, but that doesn't mean she lives a vice-free life—in fact, she revealed to Parade that vodka is one of the essential ingredients to a good life, in her mind. 

In an interview with David Letterman, White admitted that her free time is mostly spent playing with animals, adding, "Vodka's kind of a hobby."

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Hot dogs

betty white holding a hot dog outdoors
Brian To / FilmMagic

Your doctor may have told you to stay away from processed meats if you want to live a longer life, but White begs to differ. 

The star revealed to Parade that after vodka, hot dogs are her next-greatest love. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, White explained that she's not keen on restrictive diets. "I don't eat anything special. French fries. Hot dogs if I can get 'em. And I'm not a big breakfast eater. I'll have a sandwich at lunch and then come home, and Pontiac and I have a vodka on the rocks and then our dinner. You can't get much better," she told the magazine.

Above all, she considers herself lucky.

betty white smiling in front of orange step and repeat for the lorax
Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic

White says it's not talent or dedication alone that's gotten her to this point in her life—she happens to have excellent luck, too.

"I'm the luckiest old woman on the planet because I'm blessed with good health and energy," she told Bazaar. "I don't have any secrets for staying sprightly, but people just keep coming to me with great projects and I can't say no."

For more ways to extend your lifespan, check out these 20 Foods You Should Be Eating Every Day for a Longer Life.

Sarah Crow
Sarah Crow is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, where she focuses on celebrity news and health coverage. Read more about Sarah