We guess this is what treasure-hunter Ponce de Leon was looking for when he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, claiming he found the fountain of youth in Florida.

Miami-Dade County resident Annette Larkins has sent the internet abuzz with her youthful appearance at the ripe age of seventy. That’s right, you read it correctly … 7-0.

She was profiled on NBC-Miami affiliate news program WPTV, showing off her figure, her tight and clear skin, and her robust garden. Every corner of her garden has something that is edible. She also collects rainwater to drink and water her plants.

Annette says the food in her garden is her ‘Fountain of Youth.’

She tells the news program:

“I am very vibrant, I have lots of energy, as I told you before, I am up no later than 5:30 in the morning as a rule, and I am ready to go,” she said.

Ironically, Annette’s long-time husband owned a meat store in the 1960s, which helped her transition into vegetarianism. We wonder what she saw behind the scenes. Yuck!

Years later, she made the ultimate decision and became a raw vegan.

According to Annette, she says she does not eat animal products — her food is unprocessed and uncooked.

“My diet consists of fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds. I do a lot of sprouting of seeds and as you can see from my garden and of course these are the raw foods that I eat.”

Annette also juices fruits and veggies. She doesn’t play about her fruit and veggies; she juices grapefruits, pineapples, and spinach. But not everyone in the Larkins family eats and drinks this way.

Annette’s husband Amos of almost 54 years chose to continue to eat the way he did when they were first married. “I really wish I would have done what she did,” he said.

Amos says people even wonder if Annette is his wife. “They will ask me ‘what am I doing with a young girl? or they will say ‘you’ve got your granddaughter with you,’ things like that.”

Annette’s husband takes prescription medicines daily for high blood pressure and diabetes. Annette says she does not even take an aspirin.

Annette says because friends and strangers kept asking her questions about her health and youthful appearance, she decided to publish two Journey To Health booklets, and she produced a DVD 12 years ago.

Her husband says she is vibrant person. “She is an amazing person, she does everything. I mean she builds computers, makes all of her own clothes, grows her own food, speak three languages, it’s amazing.”

around the web

55 Comments

  1. INspired and ready for a how to, I’m ready to make the transition, I need it to look like her at 40

  2. Well damn, I say damn!

  3. I’m sold but it really looks like she’s dedicated her whole life to eating like this, leaving no more time for anyone else, even her husband. I’d like to know how to eat like her sustainably

  4. Why yall surprised? Don’t you know black don’t crack?

  5. Amazing story! I feel sorry for her husband; He looks like a damn fool by saying “it’s too late to change.”

  6. tryna get on her level…! lol. I’m 19 and she’s healthier than me! Thats gotta change! lol

  7. I ran across this accidentally and while you may draw contrasts from your diet and health from that of your husbands, there are many factors besides diet that speak to the human health condition. I have diabetes (type 1) though no fault of my own but through a gall stone blockage that caused toxins to back up and my immune system to go haywire trying to protect itself and in doing killed cells (Beta) that tell your body to produce insulin. It’s like having a telephone on either end but the line has been severed. As for meat, I think God gave us both grinders and rippers for a reason and we are to consume both in proper portions and moderation. I don’t knock you at all but simply say your health may have as much to do with your own genetics than what food you place or don’t place within you. I know a man who can go non stop most of the day and rarely gets sick but still pretty much eats what he wants, smokes, drinks, etc. I’m 58 and a disabled pastor who had a heart attack at 54 and had to be Opened up with stints put in place. On top of that my depression issues were great as I struggled to function in ministry and became both a man with high blood pressure, insomnia, asthma (now we find also dealing with both forms of COPD) and a host of other things where I doubt I’ll see much past 60. Be glad for your health … I rejoice with you and pray you can maintain it for a very long time. I am so tired most of the time now and just wish I could go back to my days as a kid where I couldn’t wait to finish supper so I could go play baseball with the neighborhood boys my age. I sometimes look at my pics as a young boy and wonder to myself whatever happened to that vibrant child? I have no idea why I’m telling you all this. Grace and Peace. Rev. Dr. Frankie L. Perdue, D. Min. – Disabled

    • “Rev. Dr. Frankie” The reason you are commenting, telling us this, is because you are doing your ordained duty as a minister of unrighteousness. The only factor that speak to the satanic (deceived) health condition on human kind is darkness/LIE =death. You have diabetes due to your own fault. You are a product of the deceptive idea of this fallen/dead world=hell =social condition. To think your diabetes and other diseases are to no fault of your own, verifies your your reality as one of the living dead. The idea that “God”; the creator, Yahwah sanctioned the killing, spilling of animal blood so humans can eat their dead, decaying flesh that only serves to turn your organs (soul) into diseased, decaying body parts, this is an idea. A satanic idea. This is just one part of the satanic/anti truth, anti life idea being propagated by satanic modalities such as religion. The only comment that you need to give from this woman testimony is I and all who except sickness, disease, decaying and death as inevitable have being deceived. We have being lied to. We should not comment with ignorance knowing our reality as testimony of an idea different from hers. You should only humble yourself and go to her and those like her and submit your self to her idea and be taught by her, her ways. This way you will get a concrete plan to good health and immortality, instead of the stupidity of a Greco-Roman satanic/deceptive concept of “GRACE”. Stupidity is a product of genetic also. Her husband is a fool, not because I said so but because he choosed the course of death. So let this woman’s testimony ask us all the question,, “Am I following the correct idea for life or death”

      Thank you Annett for choosing LIFE bu consuming the foods that support life.

    • @Frankie: Dear Rev, Through no fault of your own, you assume that God gave us grinders’s,rippers ect…..But in all actuality It is and continues to be modern science and chemistry that continually increases our longevity. It only makes sense that our body’s respond so well to an all organic diet. Considering that our body’s have not evolved in the last million or so years.(physiologically speaking not neurologically) If you know anything of human history our earliest ancestors were nomadic tribesman aka Hunter gathers with their diets consisting mainly of fruit,nuts,vegetables(anything the women could gather…lol) and the occasional meat that was scavenged or killed. So it only makes sense that if we ingest the same organic foods that our ancestors ate our bodies will use them to their maximum potential. I look at is this way, I can say well god designed me this way so i guess its ok for me to be fat,lazy and ignorant, OR i can say that allowing God to micro manage my life is me being irresponsible and having no will power. I beg you to please cast out that archaic book that is literally impeding human evolution….Thank You Hunter S Thompson ….!!

    • @Frankie:

      You don´t have rippers…if you had rippers go and try to rip through a goats hide..there are no teeth in your jaw that can effectivelly rip through hide like the ones of a racoon can.

      And if jaws would dedicate what you eat, pandas would need to eat meat, but they don´t..they eat solely plants.

      And pandas have a real rip and tear jaw like other bears too…and their jaws are nothing like yours.

      But what really can tell scientists what food an animal should most likely eat is the enzymatic system.

      Omnivore animals have ten times more hydrochloric acid in the stomach and also 10 times more urikase enzymes than herbivore animals…

      Guess into which category humans fall?

      If chimps are feed a 20 to 30% animal based diet like modern humans, they also get modern diseases…when they are feed their diet consisting of 95% plants, they are healthy..

      And our digestive tract and enzymatic system is nearly the same as that of chimps, except that they eat more hard to digest plant matter and have a bigger blind gut and humans have more starch digesting enzymes because they evolved for a long time on tubers and grains with lots of starch.

      Interestingly not even inuits who lived for thousand of years on a diet mostly of raw animals, did adapt to live better on an animal based diet.

      Their digestive system is still the same as ours…and just like other herbivores, humans will get rabbit starvation very fast when feed purely on lean meat.
      Humans also can not detox vitamin a which real omnivore animals can.

      Just scroll down here a bit http://www.ecologos.org/anatomy.htm

      Comparsion between carnivore, omnivore, herbivore and human…

  8. This is inspiration! Lets all get it down with fruits and veggies!

  9. wow, that is amazing and she looks beautiful; she has prompted a new goal for me!!

  10. Omg!!!! I live it! This has enspirited me to change my eating habits. I need to lose @ least 70lbs. Thank you for your story.

  11. InspiredNewlyWed

    Truly inspiring…she started her vegan lifestyle in her 40’s!!! thats a time when most ppl are set in there ways and don’t want to hear nothing about changing their habits…what’s even more amazing is the lesson in unconditional love she has for her husband…even tho he chose to continue his meat lifestyle she did not judge him or divorce him as many ppl today…#inspirednewlywed

  12. @Frankie: Wow. Yoel was a bit harsh but there is some truth to what he/she said. Rev., please understand our health is always directly related to our lifestyle. You wrote a LOT to tell us about you but I really think you were trying to convince yourself of that b.s.
    That vegan woman is healthy cause she works at it. Change your health habits and you will change your health. Why are you resolved to end your life so early?
    Please consider ACUPUNCTURE to balance your body’s systems and ask the practitioner for dietary advice. Not your regular doctor as they don’t seem to be giving proper care or they aren’t pursuasive enough to help you see the light. Either way I’m sure God doesn’t want you to suffer this way. Blessings to you.

    • @Ang: You are completely right. Regular MDs in the U.S. are nothing more than pill pushers. They are taught to treat the symptoms and not prevent the diseases.
      Getting started on this type of lifestyle is the hardest part, but just like anything else it can become second nature and gets easier and easier. For anyone who is saying, “It must take a lot of time”. What is your health/youth worth to you? This woman has extended her productive years by decades, but it takes sacrifice and hard work.

  13. Great story. I will watch what I eat even more now that I have watch this. I can’t say I will follow her diet as a rule. I can’t eat like rabbits but I see where a good change is in order.

  14. @Yoel! The human brain and intelligence grew because of meat. Humans are animals too. Animals that have canine teeth are coded for eating meat by nature. Humans have canines. Animals that graze have square shaped teeth. We don’t. A good and balance diet with proper rest and exercise along with good attitude about life will yield the same positive result.

    • @Munday:

      Really…so horses, mochus deers, gorillas and pandas should eat other animals because they all have canines? Better go and tell them so…

      Sorry, canine teeth in herbviore and carnivore animals are more for impressing or frightening other animals than for tearing meat. Just look at your cat or dog when they eat the next time, they do not cut the meat with their canines, they use their sharp teeth on the side of their jaw…teeth you do not have.

      Did you ever check out your molars? You know those flat, chunky teeth in the back of your jaw which are perfect for grinding and also work in a sidewise motion?

      Carnivore and omnivore animals do not have a sidewise jaw motion.

      Also teeth are not a sign for having to eat animals or not..or horses, deers, gorillas and pandas would eat other animals and tear them apart.

      Gorrilas eat mostly leaves, they can perfectly ‘graze’ with their teeth..not graze like cows and horses, but chew leaves and turn them into a pulp.

      Just check your teeth, they are more similiar to the ones of a horse or a gorilla than a racoon or other omnivore animal.

      Omnivore and carnivore animals can only make a cutting motion with their jaw, not a grinding one like we can.

      And if you want to check for sure what an animal should eat, check the enzymatic system..humans have neither the acid content in the stomach like a real omnivore, nor do they have the ammount of enzymes to detox uric acid…this is why humans get gout so easily.

      ..But maybe you should better beware of those sinister horses and pandas with their canines…they just try to look cute and harmless to get near to you and than they show their true carnivore nature…

  15. Wow! She looks great. She could easily pass for her late 40’s or 50’s. A lot of this has to do with genetics on a serious note. Even so I commend her for working on looking this great. It is a lifestyle and for her a serious lifestyle. One has to have the resources (time and money) to be able to eat this way as well as discipline to do so. Sadly her hubby doesn’t look good at all. He looks like a sick man and yes, he does look like her grandfather. I wonder if he is jealous of her?

  16. She looks great, but a little weird. What’s with the outfit?? Also, what does her hair look like, is it gray like her husbands? Really ugly wig–her own hair would make her look truly amazing.

  17. Her hubby look like an old Bookman from Good Times.

  18. I think her remarkable appearance is due to a combination of genetics, diet and having black skin.
    I am curious about her hair though, I know a vegan diet can take its toll on hair if you’re not careful about nutrients.
    Still, if I had to choose between my face and my hair, I’d choose my face and sport a nice wig!

  19. I must address the Reverend’s comments first. I ask, why are you misrepresenting the almighty God and the real christian culture with such untruth projected by your “in the gutter” ATTITUDE. Please brother, study your word, consult a fellow believer (who has the sound faith and doctrine) and consider stepping off your post for a minute. You are dangerous to people with that errored perception in your position. We all get weary sometimes but just get yourself together WITHOUT spreading confusion. I praise Annette for her discipline and the product of her labor. WOW. I concur with fellow responders about balancing diet and exercise as key to health as well. As far as Yoel’s statements about immortality, We ARE saved by grace brother. And if you don’t accept the son in your heart, then you are not saved by that grace. The decisions you make to obey or to not obey the laws dictate how difficult, easy, short or long your life will be; PERIOD. On a third note, I would like to see sista’s hair. Mine is natural, but I won’t knock straight. I just want to see real hair for the cameras. Blessings to everyone.

    • @Yonifah: OOookay…Im going to break out the knowledge book on you fools(aka YONIFAH)….First off….The Old testament was an abomination of lies, fables and absurd historical errors. Many of the gospels were left out not to mention most of the gospels of John, Mark and Paul contradict the living shit out of each other. Actually God contradicts himself on many, many occasions…With many jealous,angry and vengeful statements. Christianity is just a branch off of Judaism, which also birthed Islam. Religion was constructed as a moral guideline for a society that was still in the dark ages of scientific advancement….Its weird that Jesus was but one of over 25 ” GODS” born of a virgin, crucified and was risen throughout human history…I would like to point out the errors of RELIGIOUS WAY’s….with a simple little exercise…If you walk into a car dealership and say “I want to buy this $45,000 car”, and the salesman says to you” I ve got the car for you and we have the Best warranty in the industry and not to mention this car has never had one mechanical problem with it since its production. You would respond with really how do I know that? He would say because of GOD and faith, if you have faith and believe what I’am telling you it will be so. You would walk out of that dealership without hesitation and laugh on your way home,,,,Because there was not a guaranty to protect your investment…Makes sense right? Of Course….Now on the other hand Billions and Billions of people are willing to bet their lives which are worth far more than 45k on the simple fact that a book says that “GOD” commanded them to do this. And even though there is not one single Archaeological, or scientific proof for any of the thousands of biblical claims that we hold as truth. So many are willing to blindly follow the herd because it was what the Great grandmother taught the grandmother that taught mother that taught the daughter that no matter what makes sense to you…you are wrong, GOD IS RIGHT and you must let go and let god…..Please answer this creationist …?? If god clearly states I’am the ALPHA and OMEGA then surely “GOD” must have existed prior to the “ALPHA”….?? well that leaves a Paradox if he was their before the beginning then Who created “GOD”…??? and if you don’t understand the question then talk to the senior theoretical physicist at your local university….AND BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE …!!

      • @Cpl. Cook, J: i’m tired of people bashing other’s faith (especially christianity) I see it’s the in-thing these days. Also, you make almost no sense in any of your “arguments”.

  20. I juice everyday all of my fruit and veggie. I get the same comments about how young I look. My skin is very clear, I get up at around 5am in the morning and ready to work it out……… So I have a true fan.

  21. Absolutely inspiring!

  22. Wowww, she is amazing!

  23. That is the most sound bite-able interview on raw agelessness!
    Annette is mega inspiring. Not only is she committed to her own vitality, she is also growing her own food, spreading the word, and keeping her marriage vital even though their lifestyles are so different. She “does six impossible things before breakfast”!

  24. My grandfather is 90, looks like he is in his 70s, still walks upright without a cane, does everything himself, wears glasses only to read a book and consumes meat. Idk, i think this is more than a vegan diet, obviously genetics play a role. But kudos to her yo!

  25. But her waistline though! That intrigued me the most. She looks fab!

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  27. It is not the fact that she eats vegan, it is the fact that she eats RAW. Live food = live you!

  28. SexyYungVeganQueen

    Eating natural is easier and less-expensive than it seems.
    Ppl just have to get their minds out of the old programmed way of thinking (ie: that we HAVE to have meat). Ppl only eat meat and other junk food because that’s what they’re used to.

    Also, eating correctly (live plant-based foods) like this vibrant Queen Mrs Annette, does NOT take a toll on your hair… it actually helps it grow thicker, healthier and stronger. Plus, from what I overstand, that IS her hair.

    Contrary to what doctors say, dis-eases like heart-dis-ease, diabetes and high blood-pressure are NOT genetic or “runs in the family”. Everyone in the family who eats the same way and has the same habits, gets the same problems and dis-eases, for the most part. Don’t believe me? Pay attention closely to ppl around u. And yes, there are a tiny FEW exceptions that sorta slip thru the cracks, but JUST because somebody who eats meat/junk-food, smokes AND drinks liquor happens to be able to ”stand up straight” or is still alive, does NOT mean they are healthy.

    Mrs Annette is goooooorgeous AND healthy! SHE is the perfect example of someone who takes great care of herself and values her health and sadly, her HUSBAND is an example of the typical american… in his eating AND his thinking.

  29. I am 60 and vegetarian, after seeing this I’m headed for a vegan-raw life style. This woman looks wonderful!

  30. I’m on my way to a vegan-raw lifestyle too. Another vegan suggested that I start the transition by doing a detox to reset my system and get a fresh start so, I did. It was for 21-days. When I finished, I felt so much better and lost almost 19 lbs. I am so grateful for her advice. Good luck to all and cheers to a more healthy lifestyle! 🙂

    • That is fabulous! I strongly believe that a plant-based diet IS the fountain of youth! A plant-based nutrition and active lifestyle has transformed my life inside and out, it’s just amazing! <3

  31. I am 70 years old, do about the same as Annette, with a Taoist garden. I still eat a little meat and cooked food. It would be good to start a dialogue with other 70 year olds to see if we can reach the Blue Zone here in the US. If so, email: bchee at yahoo.

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