Dr. Ann

Healthy Eating & Nutrition


Recipe: Incredibly Tasty Black Bean Burgers

I worked for a few months tweaking this recipe until I nailed it. This wholesome bean-based burger is everything you are looking for – delicious, filling, super-healthy and easy to make.

Healthy Eating & Nutrition, Healthy Living


Fermented Foods Score a Huge Win

This is really big! In an elegantly conducted clinical trial by one of the world’s most esteemed microbiome scientists we find that stepping up the intake of fermented foods is a quick and effective way to boost gut microbial diversity AND decrease damaging inflammation—even more so than stepping up your intake of fiber-rich plant foods! […]


Foods Highest In Flavonoids, Flavones, & Anthocyanins

These remarkable compounds have been linked to powerful health protection and are especially known for their anti-inflammatory and gut microbiome-enhancing properties. Flavonoids Dark Leafy Greens Onions Apples Berries Cherries Dark Chocolate Soybeans Coffee Red Wine Freshly Brewed Green and Black Tea Citrus Fruits  Flavones Parsley – fresh best Apples – organic best; eat the skin […]

Brain Health, Healthy Living


Tips for Better Sleep

  Sleep is paramount for health and weight control. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent sleep deprivation from putting a damper on your health and your diet. Here’s what I suggest: -Strive to get at least seven hours of restful sleep a night. Some people do even better with eight. -Make the room […]

Frozen produce, contrary to conventional wisdom, is just as nutritious, and in some cases may be even better for you than fresh.  Here’s why: Produce that will be frozen for transport can be picked at the “peak” of ripeness thanks to flash-freezing technology that literally locks in their nutritional value, while simultaneously imparting long-term preservation.  The phytochemical and nutrient content […]

When it comes to nutritional value and eating for better health, sweet potatoes trounce white potatoes. Whether your goals are improved weight control, heart health, cancer protection, or anti-aging, sweet potatoes are a far superior tuber. Here are 5 great reasons to choose sweet potatoes over white potatoes. Sweet potatoes have a much lower glycemic response—meaning they […]

In one of the most uplifting studies I have reviewed, researchers reported that as little as a few minutes of physical activity in the great outdoors provides a significant mental lift. In the evaluation, which included over 1,100 people of all ages and genders, scientists determined that just 5 minutes of “green exercise” (physical activity in […]

Serves 6 Just your classic recipe tweaked to be 100% healthy. Ingredients 2 large eggplants, sliced 1/4 inch thick Kosher salt 2 eggs, whisked 2-3 cups whole-wheat breadcrumbs 2 tbsp EVOO 2 tbsp canola oil 11/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1, 24-oz jar marinara sauce 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped Canola pan spray Directions Place […]

Serves 35-40 This is an amazing chili recipe that is perfect for a crowd. Ingredients 1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) 1 3/4 lbs. chopped yellow onion 3 red bell peppers, chopped 2 lbs venison sausage, casing removed (can substitute Andouille) 8 lbs ground venison (can substitute extra lean ground beef) 2 tbs […]

  One of the most common questions I get from consumers is “should I buy organic?” The answer ultimately rests with your pocket book, your feelings towards the environment, and your comfort with pesticide exposure.  Here are the “organic facts” based on the best science to guide you in making an informed decision. Choosing organic […]

A clinical trial from the University of Exeter reported that we can eat our way to more energy with the venerable beet.  The 8 young males in the study who consumed beet juice for 8 consecutive days prior to cycling on an exercise bike were able to cycle up to 16% longer than when they consumed […]

The diminutive, yet all-powerful blueberry is a true work horse in terms of fortifying wellness and this report gives us yet another reason to include them regularly in our diets – maintaining an abundance of healthy bacteria in our colons. There has been an explosion of research highlighting that the types and amounts of bacteria […]

Indeed, I consider high quality dark chocolate (60% or greater cocoa content) an excellent desert choice and recommend it as a truly healthy way to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.  Dark chocolate continues to score one scientific triumph after another, including studies that show it can boost brain power, elevate mood and improve cardiovascular health. We […]

~ ~ ~ Like their nut cousins, sesame seeds are concentrated nuggets of nutritional excellence. They are exceptionally rich in a host of key minerals, and provide two very special and unique phytochemicals, sesamin and sesamolin. Both are super-potent antioxidants from the lignan family that have been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, and boost the […]

Sugar substitutes’ reputation as a useful tool for weight control and a “safe” substitute for sugar just received a major setback. In this study, scientists could not identify a sufficient level of evidence to indicate that sugar substitutes help us with weight control. To the contrary, the studies that followed individuals for the longest periods […]

Unfortunately the standard American diet (SAD for short) is woefully deficient in fiber – an undigestible form of plant-carbohydrate that we now know plays a huge role in broad spectrum disease protection including promoting gastrointestinal health, aiding in maintenance of a healthy body weight along with reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, many cancers and […]