Related Books:

Spokane Sizzle, March 1, 2008

“If nutrition could have glamour, she’s got it.” Dr. Robert Atkins

Ann Louise Gittleman has come a long way from her years as a religious schoolteacher back in West Hartford, Conn. This New York Times best-selling author has written more than 25 books in the past 20 years and has been a revolutionary in the field of nutrition.

Ann Louise was drawn to nutrition and its effects as a teenager. She noticed that what she ate affected not only her weight, but her skin as well. “It made me realize you are what you eat, literally and figuratively,” Ann Louise said. She firmly believes that the skin is an eliminating organ and shows what is going on in the body internally. Years later, she noticed the effects sugar had on her pupils’ behavior, noting their increased hyperactivity after eating their sugary school snacks. Because of these two factors, as well as others, Ann Louise made the decision to go back to school and seek not only her master's degree in nutrition education from Columbia University, but also a Ph.D. in holistic nutrition.

Ann Louise became the founding director of nutrition at the famed Pritikin Longevity Center in Santa Monica, Calif., where the focus was on a “no-to-low fat, high carbohydrate” diet. Ironically, during this time, Ann Louise also developed a close professional relationship with Dr. Robert Atkins, whose diet plan was exactly the opposite of that at Pritikin, promoting low carbohydrates, high protein and fat.

Ann Louise was a frequent guest and Atkins’ “favorite” nutritional expert on his widely listened to New York radio show on WOR. As Ann Louise said, “He was much more than a diet doctor. He was … an enlightened holistic medical practitioner.” Both she and Atkins saw eye-to-eye on the importance of the right fats, the moderation of carbohydrates and how crucial sufficient protein is in one’s diet.

It was actually Atkins who crowned her the “First Lady of Nutrition.” Ann Louise agrees that the Atkins Diet has been controversial over the years. “Had the food marketers who surrounded Atkins in his later years been true to his original philosophy, the Atkins Diet would still be recognized as a diet of merit and not a low-to-no carb fad,” Ann Louise said.

There are numerous factors that contribute to a healthy diet, and Ann Louise’s updated and revised book, “Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut the Sugar Out of Any Diet,” scheduled for release in January of 2008, focuses on eliminating sugars from one’s diet in simple and practical ways. She said just sticking to natural sugars is enough to maintain blood sugar equilibrium. Sugar impairs immunity and immobilizes white blood cells for up to five hours after ingestion. As Ann Louise believes and states in her book, “Nature provides us with all the sugar we require in vegetables and fruits.” She added, “You don’t need any more than two teaspoons [of sugar] at any one time.” She recommends two to three servings of fruit spread throughout the day, preferably as snacks.

Avoiding sugar is also the “easiest, safest and most permanent way” to stay healthy, she said. And, artificial sweeteners are just that, artificial, Ann Louise said, and “they are not native to the body.” She believes there are side effects that come along with these sweeteners that impact the brain and insulin levels negatively. Flora-Key, which is endorsed by Ann Louise, is a probiotic (beneficial flora) formula that can be used as a natural sweetener. Flora-Key cannot be added to hot liquids, such as coffee, because the healthy bacteria are killed. So for all those coffee drinkers out there, Ann Louise suggests using a ? tsp. of date sugar or maple syrup. It is distributed through UNI KEY, which also is the official distributor of all of Ann Louise’s detox and diet programs.

“Guess What Came to Dinner? Parasites and Your Health,” another of Ann Louise’s insightful books, discusses the hidden epidemic of “uninvited guests” in the body, how to get rid of them naturally and how to prevent reinfestation.

If you have never read one of Ann Louise’s books, she suggests first picking up “The Fat Flush Plan,” published in 2001. According to Ann Louise, “This book is about thinking outside the box. It’s about all the hidden weight gain factors that could be “weighing” you down: a tired and toxic liver, fear of eating the right fats, stress, insulin and inflammation, and water-logged tissues from food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances and lack of the right protein.”

Healthy living incorporates much more than a healthy diet, according to Ann Louise. Rest and reflection and “taking the time to smell the roses”—which she said could be her mantra—are extremely instrumental tools. She also believes in Bach Flower remedies, which address various emotional challenges, are important. They are available in local health food stores to include Huckleberry’s, the Flour Mill and Pilgrim’s Market.

Ann Louise has been a resident of Post Falls for the past five years and enjoys the environment; the natural beauty, the tranquility and the family values. As she said, “I like to be surrounded by things uplifting and wholesome.”

Ann Louise enjoys her downtime, but she is always thinking about a new book or project to take on. “I consider myself a Type-A personality in recovery; always thinking of something creative.” She loves music and drama, and is an avid movie goer. “If I didn’t get into this [profession], I probably would have been a country-western singer,” she said. “Music has always been an important part of my life.” She even taught music back when she was a religious school teacher. One of Ann Louise’s “dreams” is to be in one of the Coeur d’Alene productions. She has not yet had the chance because of her work-related travels, but she remains hopeful that one day she will be able to take part in the Summer Theatre. Whether you see her on TV or in magazines promoting her nutritional advice and “Fat Flush Plan,” or, who knows, in a local Coeur d’Alene musical production, Ann Louise is sure to have a positive impact on all she comes in contact with.