Dr. Ann

A healthy lifestyle offers enormous protection against depression. That was the uplifting conclusion of a powerful new study from scientists at Cambridge University.  What’s more, there are seven specific lifestyle habits that we can leverage to mitigate our chances of depression.  For this study scientists analyzed the genes, the lifestyles, the brain structure, and the […]

In a promising new study, scientists found that just six minutes of high intensity exercise can dramatically boost the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), better known as “miracle grow” for the brain. BDNF is a growth factor known to promote the formation of new brain cells and new brain cell connections, as well as […]

Deep sleep is vital for detoxing, regenerating, and healing our tissues, especially in the brain. Here are the top things you can do to improve your deep sleep. Don’t miss this Thursday’s Live Virtual Training: Get Your FATS in Order! There will be plenty of time for Q&A at the end. Everyone will receive a […]

How to consume the optimal ratio of these essential fats is critical for overall brain and body health. Consume the Optimal Ratio Consuming optimal amounts of omega 3 fats relative to omega 6 fats is vitally important for brain health, heart health, and lowering inflammation in the body. And because these three things are EVERYTHING, […]

10 Foods Dr. Ann Strives to Eat Daily Nuts (Any Variety) Berries (Any Variety) Avocados Dark Chocolate (70% or higher cacao) Extra Virgin Olive Oil Freshly Brewed Tea (Especially Matcha) Dark Leafy Greens (Raw or Cooked) Legumes (Beans, Peas, Lentils) Seeds (Ground Flax, Chia, Hemp) Fermented Foods (2-3 Servings Per Day) Here’s one of my favorite […]

They may be the most diminutive of all fruits, but berries’ health-boosting, anti-aging credentials are astounding! Past studies have shown that berries’ potent one-two punch of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power is especially protective for an aging brain. Scientists have identified yet another berry brain benefit. Reporting at the American Chemical Society Meeting, scientists determined that […]

Did you know eating more fiber can help protect from dementia? That’s right–you can eat to avoid dementia. More fiber, less dementia! This was the encouraging conclusion of a new study measuring fiber intake and dementia status.  For the study, scientists followed the fiber intake and dementia status of 3,739 adults aged 40-64 for a […]

Maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D is essential for avoiding heart disease. That was the conclusion from a first-of-its-kind study involving 267,980 study subjects.  For this study scientists used a sophisticated technique called non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses across all study subjects to assess how increasing vitamin D levels impacted heart disease. They were able to show […]

Exercise is a godsend for those with anxiety disorders. That was the upshot of a pivotal new study evaluating how a prescribed regimen of regular physical activity impacted anxiety scores.  For this study 286 adults suffering from clinical anxiety syndromes, some for over a decade, were placed in one of three study groups. Group 1 […]

A convincing body of data supports that excess body fat and depression are strongly linked. To tease out whether being overweight causes depression through social influences, like discrimination, or via physiological pathways, like elevated blood pressure or elevated blood sugar, scientists conducted a series of sophisticated genetic studies using data from the UK Biobank. The […]

A diet high in processed foods quickly leads to brain inflammation and memory decline. That was the alarming conclusion from a study in lab rats by scientists known for their expertise in evaluating how everyday life events impact brain inflammation.  For this study scientists put both young rats and older rats on one of three […]

If you enjoy eating mushrooms, you will be excited to know that this superfood appears to lower the risk of depression. Go fungi! In a study that followed the diets and mental health status of about 24,00 US adults between 2005 and 20016, scientists noted a strong link between mushroom consumption and lower odds of depression. […]