Ann Wigmore
Encyclopedia
Ann Wigmore was an American holistic health
practitioner, nutritionist
, whole foods
advocate, health educator, author and a doctor of Divinity.
On December 25,1930, Anna Marie married Everett Arnold Wigmore of Stoughton, Massachusetts, where they resided during their marriage. A daughter, Wilma, was born on July 9, 1941. On January 12, 1942, Wigmore became a United States citizen under Certificate No. 5302785, U.S. District Court, Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1968, Ann Wigmore co-founded the Hippocrates Health Institute, a health resort in the United States, with Viktoras Kulvinskas
. Known as "the mother of living foods", she was an early pioneer in the use of wheatgrass
juice and living foods for detoxifying and healing the body, mind, and spirit. She died in Boston on February 16, 1994 of smoke inhalation from a fire at the Ann Wigmore Foundation.
In her autobiography, Why Suffer?: How I Overcame Illness & Pain Naturally, Wigmore recalls observing her grandmother using herbs and natural remedies as a child in Lithuania
. As an adult, she began researching and testing various whole foods and diet approaches, which she credits with solving her medical problems and changing her life.
, "It's not supported by scientific literature at all. Man has used fire to cook food for ages. To refrain from heating or processing foods could even be risky. Some studies also suggest that cooked tomatoes release more phytonutrients than raw ones. The lycopene
found in tomatoes is a strong antioxidant linked to preventing several different diseases — and it's released with heat."
Diane Stadler of the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, worry that claims of cures of serious diseases such as cancer may discourage individuals from seeking more conventional treatments that medical research has shown to be effective. Stadler says, "Some raw food web sites suggest that you can treat certain chronic diseases by consuming a raw food diet. That frightens me as a medical professional. Some people will accept that as truth and delay seeking appropriate diagnosis and treatment...[which] could seriously impact long-term well-being."
Holistic health
Holistic health is a concept in medical practice upholding that all aspects of people's needs, psychological, physical and social should be taken into account and seen as a whole. As defined above, the holistic view on treatment is widely accepted in medicine...
practitioner, nutritionist
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
, whole foods
Whole foods
Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, beans, fruits, vegetables...
advocate, health educator, author and a doctor of Divinity.
Biography
Wigmore was born Anna Marie Warapicki in Lithuania on March 4, 1909 to Antanas and Anna Warapicki. Her father emmigrated to America in 1908, settling in Middleboro, Massachusetts; her mother followed five years later, aboard the ship Erlangen, on June 16, 1913. After WWI, Anna Marie, then 13, and her brother, Mykola, age 15, accompanied by an uncle, arrived at Ellis Island on December 9, 1922 on the ship USS America, to join their parents and younger sister Helen, born February 16, 1921 in Middleboro. The 1930 Federal Census found Wigmore working as a hospital maid under the name of Anna Warap.On December 25,1930, Anna Marie married Everett Arnold Wigmore of Stoughton, Massachusetts, where they resided during their marriage. A daughter, Wilma, was born on July 9, 1941. On January 12, 1942, Wigmore became a United States citizen under Certificate No. 5302785, U.S. District Court, Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1968, Ann Wigmore co-founded the Hippocrates Health Institute, a health resort in the United States, with Viktoras Kulvinskas
Viktoras Kulvinskas
Viktoras Peter Kulvinskas M.S. is an American holistic health practitioner, nutritionist, raw foods advocate and author.- Background :After joining Ann Wigmore's Boston based Rising Sun Christianity movement, Kulvinskas co-founded, with Wigmore, the Hippocrates Health Institute, a health resort in...
. Known as "the mother of living foods", she was an early pioneer in the use of wheatgrass
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a food prepared from the cotyledons of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. It is sold either as a juice or powder concentrate. Wheatgrass differs from wheat malt in that it is served freeze-dried or fresh, while wheat malt is convectively dried. Wheatgrass is also allowed to...
juice and living foods for detoxifying and healing the body, mind, and spirit. She died in Boston on February 16, 1994 of smoke inhalation from a fire at the Ann Wigmore Foundation.
In her autobiography, Why Suffer?: How I Overcame Illness & Pain Naturally, Wigmore recalls observing her grandmother using herbs and natural remedies as a child in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. As an adult, she began researching and testing various whole foods and diet approaches, which she credits with solving her medical problems and changing her life.
Institutes
A number of institutes carry on her work by offering educational programs and retreats, home study courses, recipes, books, and other resources. These include:- Hippocrates Health Institute - branches in West Palm Beach, Florida; and Mayacamas, California
- Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute, Puerto Rico
- Ann Wigmore Foundation, San Fidel, New Mexico
- Creative Health Institute, Michigan (near Battle Creek)
- Living Foods Institute, Atlanta, GA
- Living Foods Wellness Center, Michigan (near Lansing)
- Optimum Health Institutes of San Diego and Austin
- Mitzpe Alummot located at Kibbutz Alummot, Israel overlooking the Sea of Galilee
- Living Foods Global Center, Valdemarsvik, Sweden
Criticism
According to Julie Walsh, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic AssociationAmerican Dietetic Association
The American Dietetic Association is the United States' largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with nearly 72,000 members. The American Dietetic Association is officially changing its name to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The announcement was made Saturday, September...
, "It's not supported by scientific literature at all. Man has used fire to cook food for ages. To refrain from heating or processing foods could even be risky. Some studies also suggest that cooked tomatoes release more phytonutrients than raw ones. The lycopene
Lycopene
Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas...
found in tomatoes is a strong antioxidant linked to preventing several different diseases — and it's released with heat."
Diane Stadler of the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, worry that claims of cures of serious diseases such as cancer may discourage individuals from seeking more conventional treatments that medical research has shown to be effective. Stadler says, "Some raw food web sites suggest that you can treat certain chronic diseases by consuming a raw food diet. That frightens me as a medical professional. Some people will accept that as truth and delay seeking appropriate diagnosis and treatment...[which] could seriously impact long-term well-being."
See also
- Gerson diet
- Raw foods diet
- FruitarianismFruitarianismFruitarianism involves the practice of following a diet that includes fruits, nuts and seeds, without animal products, vegetables and grains. Fruitarianism is a subset of dietary veganism....
- FastingFastingFasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
- Arnold EhretArnold EhretArnold Ehret was a German health educator and author of several books on diet, detoxification, fruitarianism, fasting, food combining, health, longevity, naturopathy, physical culture and vitalism.- Background :...