Dr. Ann

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 […]

Healthy Eating & Nutrition, Healthy Living


Why My Wellness Mantra is “ENJOY!”

What are the fundamental 5? E – Eat real food (in 12-hours or less daily). N – Nurture your microbiome. J – Join me in moving daily. O – Optimize your breathing. Y – Yes to restorative sleep. Why have I decided on this acronym? Because experiencing joy is the highest of all positive emotions; and that is my ultimate […]

Looking for another way to reduce stress? Eating fruits and vegetables for peace may be just what the doctor ordered! Got stress? Eat more fruits and veggies! In a first-of-its-kind evaluation, scientists found that produce has the power to mitigate feelings of stress.  The study included 8,640 adults ages 33-53 and compared fruit and vegetable […]

As a physician and nutrition expert, here are five of my favorite tips for radically improving your diet. Welcome to Make It Happen Monday, your weekly dose from The Healthy Living School. Today I want to share 5 simple and delicious ways to radically–yes, radically–improve your health.  1. Give yourself an “oil change.”  Make  extra […]

Science has determined the best diet for a healthy microbiome. Your microbiome is the gateway to health and healing. Here’s why your gut microbiome matters and the key steps to feeding it right! I cannot stress more emphatically how important it is to “nurture your microbiome” as a primary focus of living a healthy life. Thankfully, […]

The benefits of fermented foods continue to mount. An Exciting Study Fermented foods recently scored a huge scientific victory.  In an elegantly conducted clinical trial by one of the world’s most esteemed microbiome scientists, we learned that stepping up the intake of fermented foods is a quick and highly effective way to boost gut microbial […]

Learn why you should try to include the top prebiotic foods in your diet often! Today I want to educate and inspire you to make a concerted effort to include more prebiotics in your diet. Prebiotics are a special category of dietary fiber that serve as the preferred source of fuel or food for your […]

Too many Americans have high cholesterol. Healthy eating can help you avoid being one of them! The top foods for lowering cholesterol are some of my favorite parts of my diet! Today I want to share my “Top 10 Foods for Lowering Cholesterol” Over HALF of Americans have elevated cholesterol levels so please make note […]

Apparently the sky’s the limit when it comes to physical activity and heart health. In the largest and most accurate study of its type to date, scientists concluded that the more we move, the lower our chances of developing cardiovascular disease —with no ceiling effect, meaning more is better.  For this study the physical activity level […]

Knowing how to throw together a quick healthy lunch is a game changer. Making extra food to have left over is not only smart, it’s a great way to make a gourmet, great-for-you meal in minutes! Today I want to show you how to prepare a quick, simple, nutritionally turbo-charged dish that is one of […]

Beware of these food additives; They are everywhere! An important message for anyone who cares about maintaining lifelong good health. Today I want to be sure you know to beware of emulsifiers! This notoriously common class of food additives are raising major alarms. A slew of recent reports have indicated that emulsifiers radically alter gut bacteria and interfere […]

August 11, 2022 •

The Perils of Processed Foods

Today my passionate plea to you is to GET REAL, meaning stop eating processed foods and eat real foods instead! After all, the first directive of our mantra “ENJOY” is to Eat Real Food!  So, why the sense of urgency here? Because recent reports are telling us that a whopping 61% of the calories consumed […]

Enjoy this healthy asian noodle recipe without the guilt by using bean-based or whole wheat versions. Trust me, they’re delicious! Healthy Asian Noodle Alternatives Most everyone loves noodles–they’re such a comfort food! Thankfully there are lots of healthy choices available nowadays. One of the most improved areas in the grocery store, health-wise, is the pasta […]

Or can they lead to weight gain, type II diabetes, and inflammation? Today I want to share a word of caution for Sugar Substitutes: We are consuming record amounts of sugar substitutes, yet rates of obesity continue to mount.  There is little to no evidence that sugar substitutes help us with weight control over time. […]