Dr. Ann

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 […]

Prolonged sitting has been aptly dubbed “the new smoking” with a compelling and growing pile of data linking it to premature disease and death. Thanks to a new analysis, scientists have identified what appears to be an effective antidote—a reasonable dose of daily exercise. For this study researchers monitored the activity levels of over 44,000 […]

Including a tossed salad as a pre-meal appetizer is a delicious and super-nutritious means to help you eat less. In fact, if you dress your salad with a little olive-oil based vinaigrette, this simple mealtime tactic can rein in your appetite through five separate means: The bulkiness of the lettuce and raw veggies rapidly fills the […]

Inflammation is a key driver of most chronic diseases and the anti-inflammatory power in ginger is off-the-charts.The potent inflammation busters in ginger are called xanthines. These valuable agents are also work horses for boosting immunity and fighting viral infections. For optimal results, include ginger, powdered or fresh, in your diet regularly – daily is best. […]

Dark leafy greens are one of the healthiest foods (arguably THE healthiest food) on the planet and thanks to this study, their disease-busting credentials are bigger than ever. Based on a review of six studies including over 220,000 people, eating more leafy green vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes (British Medical […]

Stress is bad to the belly. Here are some tips to help you stay cool and trim. Make sure you move! Regular physical activity is arguably the most powerful means to lower your stress level. Commit to walking briskly or some other form of aerobic activity for 30 minutes or more daily (the more the […]

Make sure you move.  As little as 20 minutes of aerobic activity, like a brisk walk, has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress for up to 12 full hours. Go for the right carbs – carbohydrate foods can boost one of our bodies’ feel good neurotransmitters, serotonin.  Steer clear of nutritionally defunct sugar and refined carb foods, […]

Past studies have shown a stark relationship between sitting and heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death. Another study is sounding the alarm on the brain health front as well. For this report, UCLA scientists recruited 35 adults ages 45 to 75 and had them detail their physical activity levels, as well as how many […]

Although no one likes to be fooled, researchers from Penn State University have done that. For this clever evaluation, researchers offered 41 unsuspecting young men and women breakfast, lunch and dinner once a week for three weeks.  At each meal, a single dish was altered to substitute pureed “hidden” steamed vegetables in place of other ingredients.  […]

In an uplifting study performed by one of my favorite eating behavior scientists, Dr. Brian Wansink, vegetables proved to “make the meal”. We already know that including vegetables at mealtime is a healthy thing to do, but it appears vegetable’s virtues really do extend far beyond enhancing nutritional value with fringe benefits both for the cook […]

Here are 10 simple, yet powerful things you can do that are guaranteed to place you on the path to optimal wellness. Give yourself an “oil change.”  Make extra virgin olive oil your oil of choice for room temperature, low heat and cold food preparations.  This “make-me-healthier” fat is filled with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory […]

When it comes to diet and health, it is the full spectrum of foods you consume that matters the most. In an evaluation from Sweden’s Lund University, scientists documented the awesome, collective health-boosting power multiple great-for-you foods can provide vs. individual ones. For this evaluation, 44 healthy, but overweight study subjects were put on a dietary regime […]