Dr. Ann

There is now robust evidence that dementia develops over several decades and that physical activity/exercise, because it benefits the brain through so many different ways, is arguably the single most powerful strategy available to protect our mental faculties. Simply taking a brisk 30-minute walk most days during your adult life may mean the difference between […]

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of the U.S. population above the age of 40 is in a pre-diabetic state. That is a frightening statistic because, although it is less extreme than with full-fledged diabetes, the body is being damaged during pre-diabetes. The good news is, 90 percent of type […]

According to exercise physiologists at Duke University, we have some powerful evidence for the best type of exercise to lose that infamous belly fat. Researchers completed a head-to-head comparison of aerobic exercise vs. resistance exercise vs. a combo of the two, and found that the fastest and most beneficial exercise route for burning belly fat was […]

A presentation at the International Association for Dental Research reported for the that the citric acid in sports beverages causes significant tooth enamel erosion compromising tooth integrity and predisposing to fissures and cracks. I consider sports beverages a close cousin to soda and never recommend their use except for those engaging in vigorous physical activity […]

I am frequently queried about nutrition in the realm of athletic performance.  Although the specifics can vary dependent on the type of sport or activity – the broad lessons remain the same and are as follows: By far the single greatest impact from food/diet on an athlete’s  performance derives from day to day nutrition overtime.  Meaning, […]

If shedding some weight via exercise is one of your health goals for the New Year and you want to get the most bang for your time, you would be best served to incorporate aerobic vs. resistance exercise. In a study that marks the largest randomized trial ever undertaken to directly quantify changes in body […]

If you want to add years to your life and life to your years, be sure to be physically active in your 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. We already have a mountain of irrefutable science that high fitness levels reduce the risk of premature death, but scientists had never examined how fitness in mid-life may impact […]

According to exercise physiologists at Duke University, aerobic activity is the best type of exercise to lose that infamous belly fat. Researchers completed a head-to-head comparison of aerobic exercise vs. resistance exercise vs. a combo of the two and found that the fastest and most beneficial exercise route for burning belly fat was moving the body […]

If you are looking for a healthier and more wholesome way to replenish your energy during exercise, you may want to go with the classic snack, peanut butter’s best friend, banana. Sounds like a smart snack to me! Exercise scientists at Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab compared eating bananas to drinking a sports beverage as a […]

Maintaining muscle mass is paramount for weight control, metabolic health, and overall functionality and quality of life. The International Osteoporosis Foundation recently sought to review past, worldwide studies to identify the most effective nutritional avenues for preventing loss of muscle mass, known as sarcopenia. Their scientific review identified the following key strategies: Optimal protein intake: […]

  Woohoo! Scientists uncovered a super-easy way to burn even more calories during walking– simply vary your walking speed. For this study, researchers had study subjects walk at varying speeds on a treadmill set at a constant rate. The researchers then measured the “metabolic cost” of alternating walking speeds as the study subjects purposely changed their […]

Want to dramatically improve the quality of your sleep and boost your daytime effectiveness? Get up and move! A wonderful report that carefully and accurately measured study subject’s daily physical activity found a striking relationship between physical activity levels and sound, effective sleep. Specifically, those who engaged in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity […]