Dr. Ann

Caution! Consuming a diet high in red meat and refined carbs will spike your blood stream with toxic compounds called advanced glycation end products, AGE’s for short. That was the conclusion of a new study that pitted two calorie-matched diets – one including lots of red meat and processed carbs (HMD) to one including whole grains, […]

A prescription for honey anyone? With cold and flu season approaching, you will be pleased to hear that honey just received superior marks as a remedy for symptoms of upper respiratory infections relative to standard over-the-counter meds. For this report, scientists reviewed 14 previously published studies looking at the use of honey for typical cold symptoms […]

Eating a “big” breakfast relative to other meals has been shown in past studies to be helpful with appetite control and weight loss.  According to an intriguing laboratory evaluation, it may be especially wise to include a hefty dose of fat in this first feeding of the day. In this study, mice fed a breakfast […]

Eating “ultra-palatable” foods with any regularity. Foods high in fat and/or sugar and salt can directly stimulate the brain’s pleasure centers predisposing to food addiction and chronic loss of appetite control. The worst offenders are traditional fast foods, along with ice cream, cookies, pastries, cake, donuts, and other sweets/desserts. Using fat-free salad dressings. Most are excessive […]

Like other green vegetables, asparagus are chock full of nutrients, providing 20 different vitamins and minerals including a huge dose of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin A. This terrific trio makes them particularly valuable for heart health, healthy pregnancy, and keeping the immune system in good working order. Here is one of my favorite recipes to boost […]

  Avocados Are Awesome I am always amazed by the number of people who consider avocados “unhealthy” or “fattening” when the delicious reality is that they are true wonder foods.  Avocados are filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that lower bad (LDL) cholesterol while boosting good (HDL) cholesterol. This delicacy also offers a remarkably long list of […]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of adult blindness, and eating fish may offer a big catch for prevention.  According to the powerful, Harvard-based Women’s Health Study, women who consumed one or more servings of fish weekly were 42 percent less likely to develop AMD versus those eating fish once or less a […]

I am totally bullish on regularly drinking freshly brewed tea as a quick, easy, and highly effective means of delivering a hefty dose of healthful antioxidants to your cells. Thanks to a report from Food Research International (Sept 09), there is a simple and tasty way to turbo charge the process – add some vitamin […]

If you want to sharpen your focus, eat more greens! That was the conclusion of a study that sought to investigate the relationship between lutein, a potent antioxidant abundant in dark leafy greens, and brain activation during a period of focused attention. For this study, the researchers measured the lutein levels in the back of […]

Because of the wholesome words commonly used to describe muffin offerings like “bran”, “carrot walnut”, or “cranberry”, these no icing, jumbo cupcakes have a healthier reputation than they deserve. Some come with upwards of 550 calories and ten teaspoons of sugar (which makes a donut seem benign.) Do not be taken by the low-fat options […]

When we eat and how often we eat may impact our weight control for better or for worse. In a provocative report that included data from more than 50,000 healthy adults followed over several years, scientists uncovered definite associations between meal timing and meal frequency and weight control. Here were the key take home findings. […]

One of the most delicious, easiest and effective ways to ensure that you get the recommended 5 or more servings of veggies a day is to eat lots of salads. Here is how to get the most nutritional bang for your efforts: Well stocked salad bars offer a quick and convenient opportunity to tap into the […]