Twenty-eight years ago, Ann Powers was faced with a puzzling set of health problems that seemed unresponsive to all the treatments offered by the many doctors she saw. On the advice of a friend of a friend of a friend, she embarked on a grueling three-week process to detoxify her body, after which she slowly introduced different foods back into her now healthier diet. Through this process, she learned which foods triggered adverse reactions for her, and found salt, sugar, and processed foods were the worst offenders. Holding degrees in business and accounting, Powers's busy lifestyle left her little choice but to learn how to easily create tasty, healthy meals rather than relying on the fast food and processed items so common and convenient. With cooking being one of the ways she relaxed, she began experimenting with various herbs and spices in combination with the fresher ingredients in her new diet, and she took copious notes.Realizing that a host of modern ailments can be traced to our poor diets and unhealthy lifestyles, she embarked on a more intensive study of the herbs and spices she'd been using and the cuisines around the world that relied on them. After decades of learning, she now seeks to share this wisdom, teaching others how to eat healthily without sacrificing taste and without spending your life in the kitchen. With a focus on fresh produce and minimal meat, the suggestions and advice she's given in Herbs in My Kitchen: Reference Guide for Everyday Cooking will inspire even the busiest person. Now living with her husband and son outside Chicago, Ann Powers keeps active with swimming, skiing, biking, and travel, and of course, cooking delicious meals that keep her active and healthy every day.