Rampant sex is the secret to living past the age of 100

Here it is… the secret on how to live a long, happy, healthy life.

Well, that is according to the residents of Acciaroli in Italy, where one in 10 locals lives past 100-years-old.

Scientists spent six months looking into why people living in the tiny community seemed to live so long, and how they ended up basically immune to medical conditions like dementia and heart disease.

Italian Antonio Vassallo, 100 years-old, and his wife Amina Fedollo, 93, pose in their house in Acciaroli, southern Italy, on August 23, 2016. Situated on the western coast of southern Italy, the town of Acciaroli has a disproportionately high number of centenarians in its population of about 2,000. A study conducted by American and Italian scientists attempt to find out why 300 people there have hit the 100 mark. Acciaroli is renowned for its low rates of heart disease and Alzheimer's, but it is the first time researchers studied the local population.

And it turns out to be all down to a great sex life, and a good Mediterranean diet based on olive oil and rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and fish.

People wave Venezuelan flags and shout slogans as they march during a protest against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, in Madrid, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016.

In fact, when the mayor last counted, an astonishing 81 of the village’s 700 residents had passed the century mark.

One of these residents was 100-year-old Antonio Vassalo, who said: ‘We only eat healthy stuff.’

Stefano Pisani, mayor of Acciaroli, southern Italy, poses on August 23, 2016. Situated on the western coast of southern Italy, the town of Acciaroli has a disproportionately high number of centenarians in its population of about 2,000. A study conducted by American and Italian scientists attempt to find out why 300 people there have hit the 100 mark. Acciaroli is renowned for its low rates of heart disease and Alzheimer's, but it is the first time researchers studied the local population.

But Alan S. Maisel, the San Diego cardiologist who looked into the village, suspected there was something else keeping the town’s elderly alive for so long.

‘Sexual activity among the elderly appears to be rampant,’ he said.

‘Maybe living long has something to do with that, it’s probably the good air and the joie de vivre.’

Well, there you go then – what better excuse do you need?

And make sure you eat well too (har, har…).