Dr. Ann

All carbonated beverages, including diet brands, are acidic in nature. The acids from carbonated beverages enter your bloodstream and are buffered by calcium. However, if the calcium levels in the bloodstream are inadequate, your bones will supply it. Studies have shown that even modest levels of cola consumption are associated with lower bone mineral density scores. And […]

Walnuts are crunchy, delicious, and oh-so-good for heart health. It is clearly established that walnuts lower cholesterol levels, but scientists recently set out to take a more in-depth look into other ways walnuts may shine for cardiovascular health. For this evaluation, scientist fed study subjects a single feeding of walnuts, walnut oil, walnut skin, and de-fatted walnut meal […]

If you are embarking on healthy behavior change, a first-of-its-kind study suggests that making changes in both your diet and your exercise simultaneously will give you the most bang for your efforts. For this eye-opening intervention study, scientist specifically selected study subjects who felt their busy lifestyles made it very difficult to be healthy. 200 adults with poor […]

If you take fish oil supplements, check to be sure they’re in the natural “triglyceride” form vs. the “ethyl ester” form. Although it is always best to get your vital omega 3 fats from oily fish like wild salmon, fish oil supplements are a convenient alternative for those who cannot or do not eat oily fish. In a recent […]

Roasting is arguably the easiest and tastiest way to prepare your veggies. It preserves their nutrients while concentrating their natural sugars and flavors, which makes them particularly yummy to even the pickiest palates. Roasting also shrinks them in size (because it removes their water), making it easier to consume more in one sitting. Based on […]

If you want to live longer and significantly reduce your risk of death from heart disease ­- put eating fish on your healthy to do list. In a first-of-its-kind study, scientist determined that study subjects with the highest blood levels of omega 3 fatty acids (a reliable marker for fish consumption) lowered their overall risk of death by 27% […]

Consuming breakfast with a nice dose of protein may be a powerful strategy to help us eat less, especially later in the day. In a novel study conducted in a group of overweight young adults who regularly skipped breakfast, researchers found that including a protein-rich breakfast reduced appetite throughout the day and decreased evening snacking. For the […]

Want to eat less now AND later – come to full attention! In a compelling new review of 24 former studies that focused on eating while distracted vs. eating while attentive – the results were noteworthy. The more distracted and the less mindful we are during eating, the more we tend to eat in that sitting, and […]

A systematic review of 11 controlled studies that included 833 study subjects concluded that exercising outdoors offers significant benefits for the body and the mind.  Relative to indoor exercise, being physically active in a natural environment was associated with numerous advantages including a greater lift in mood, stronger feelings of revitalization, better clarity of thought, and less tension and anger. […]

Processed meats repeatedly rear their unhealthy heads in scientific circles and, a mammoth new evaluation (over half a million adults) echoed former findings linking processed meats to poorer health. In this new study, the more processed meats consumed, the greater the risk of premature death from heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Risks were apparent with intakes as […]

No matter how you slice it – all varieties of cabbage are a stellar food for health and vitality. For just 30 calories per cup, cabbage serves up a huge dose of vitamins K, C, and beta-carotene, along with 8 other key nutrients. Like its cruciferous cousins – cabbage is most prized for that terrific trio […]

If you want to improve your sleep – get moving! In a new poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation – the results were compelling – exercise is fantastic for sleep. Highlights from this evaluation included the following… (National Sleep Foundation, news release, March 4, 2013) People who engaged in any level of exercise were much more […]