Ageless Aging

June 24, 2019
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

We are living much longer than our parents and grandparents did, but are we aging well?

As I close in on my 70th birthday, I want to share what I’ve learned about staying strong and vital — even as my years advance.

When I get out of bed in the morning and look at my reflection in the mirror, I see bright, sparkling eyes looking back at me, glowing skin that shows no sign of sagging, and I remember my life in great detail – all the way back to my early childhood. My mentor, Dr. Hazel Parcells, would be proud. She lived a long, healthy life – to 106 years old – and taught me much of what I know about aging with strength and vitality.

Sadly, not many my age see what I see when they look in the mirror each morning. Instead, they wake with aches and pains, and see beauty fading and their health declining at a far too rapid rate. Rather than seeing aging as a graceful and natural transition, they feel betrayed by their bodies and see themselves as fading away.

Part of the legacy I want to leave behind is to not only be the First Lady of Nutrition, but to be the voice that radically changes our longevity – for the better. To be clear, I’m not anti-aging – I simply want us all to have the opportunity to grow in all ways as we age, with power, grace, and beauty. It’s time to say goodbye to sagging skin, painful joints, blood sugar imbalances, and a weakened heart. It’s time for ageless aging.

Radical Longevity – Lessons I’ve Learned

Dr. Parcells was 84 years young when I met her, and her longevity taught me that 100 is the new 70. She was a true pioneer and visionary ahead of her time – and was the capstone of all my studies. She brought together the nutrition I had studied from Adelle Davis and alternative therapies I had learned from Linda Clark, and taught me how to think outside of the box while searching for the underlying causes of disease. She motivated me to return to school and further my studies at Columbia University, learning more about clinical and integrative nutrition.

Dr. Parcells taught me that parasites – which I never in my wildest dreams thought were an issue here in the modern day U.S. – are a hidden epidemic behind many of our chronic diseases. She went into detail about how heavy metals like lead, aluminum, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel are toxic at the cellular level and are another hidden cause of our diseases. And she discussed the insidious effects of mold, fungus and yeast stealth infections, even way back then.

Perhaps the greatest threat facing us today – hidden radiation – was of great concern to her. Dr. Parcells had worked with Los Alamos and The Manhattan Project, the developers of the atomic bomb. She determined ways to neutralize the nuclear radiation from the fallout that we can still use today with the ionizing and non-ionizing radiation from cell phones, cell towers, and WiFi that are now ubiquitous in our environment.

On her 106th birthday, with all her senses and intellect still fully intact, she answered the question on all of our minds:

“So many times I’m asked about the secret of my longevity. I can assure you there are no secrets. There is only the understanding of nature and the everyday practice of nature’s laws.”

Leaving a Legacy

We all yearn to maintain our health as we advance in years and leave a legacy. Dr. Hazel Parcells left hers, and even decades later I still hold the baton she passed and am working on mine. I have already brought light to issues like “the Change” that our mothers and grandmothers were only allowed to whisper about. I have developed innovative ways to “flush fat” and regain health that have withstood the test of time in the decades since they were introduced. And I am far from done!

We can all fearlessly and boldly embrace lifestyle strategies that address our physical and mental needs. We can sift through the information overload that is at our fingertips to learn what our bodies are really trying to tell us. On fire with purpose and possibility, we can enter the third trimester of our lives.

Kris Machnick began rock and ice climbing at the age of 64 years old. She has only grown stronger as she’s advanced in years, but she’s watched with sadness as her loved ones have lost their battles with Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Lewy Body Dementia. She decided to do something about it.

In January of 2018, she launched her 8 for 80 project where she promised to climb 8 of the toughest ice and rock routes before her 80th birthday this year, not only to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research, but as a celebration of her own life and longevity. Despite injuries along the way, she not only finished her 8 climbs, but added 2 more.

While her story is incredibly inspiring, you don’t need to climb mountains or jump out of planes to age with strength and power. What we can learn from Kris is that physical fitness as you age is also an important component of mental health. Her advice for getting physically and mentally fit applies to all of us:

“I think you have to start where you’re at, do it for yourself, and not compare yourself to someone that’s 20 years old. Instead of going back and feeling grief over things you have lost, you just have to look forward… What I’m working on is being more efficient; you have to do things methodically and correctly, so you don’t waste energy.”

Just Getting Started

I approach my 70th birthday with renewed purpose and passion, because despite 4 decades of nutrition and alternative health experience, I know I am just getting started in leaving my legacy. These are challenging times for everyone’s health, as well as the health of our planet. Every day, our bodies struggle against relentless assaults from toxins in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

There are cancer-causing chemicals like glyphosate in our soils and food supply; endocrine disruptors in our personal care products, sanitary supplies, and cosmetics; heavy metals in the water we drink and in the marine life we eat; rocket fuel and nano-aluminum in the air we breathe; and non-stop radiation from EMFs and 5G are on the rise. These are some of the biggest threats I see to our overall health and aging potential, not to mention the chronic lack of sleep and emotional stress that have become a way of life. It’s no wonder we feel so drained and depleted!

I have a clear vision for forestalling the degenerative aging process and preventing the diseases associated with growing older. I plan to continue to look younger and feel more vital than my peers – and I’m taking you on this journey with me. Here’s to defying the status quo, pioneering radical longevity, and turning back the clock for ageless aging!

For a daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more… check out my Radical Health Tips.

 

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Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

1 Comment

  1. Lorraine

    The bright light of inspiration and wisdom you share make this world a healthier and happier place. What a joy to come along with you on your journey of ageless aging……Happy Birthday and celebrating everything extraordinary that you are, Ann Louise…..xox

    Reply

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