Dr. Ann

To fully leverage all of the glorious goodness in your vegetables – be sure to eat them along with some form of healthy fat. Fat improves their flavor and texture, but most importantly serves as a vehicle for transporting their fat soluble phytochemicals called carotenoids, from the digestive track into the bloodstream. Carotenoids are one of the most revered […]

The total number of known chemicals used intentionally in the packaging, storage, and processing of our foods exceeds 4,000 and the standard toxicology analysis required to be performed on them does not evaluate their capacity to disrupt our hormones.  So play it safe and eat Mother Nature’s REAL foods and avoid man-made processed foods.  (Epidemiology […]

Savory, yet sweet, naturally low in calories, yet filling because of their super-high fiber content – sweet potatoes are a nutritional treasure. This under-appreciated super-affordable tuber is an unsurpassed food source of immune-boosting, heart-happy beta-carotene (1 provides 250% of your daily value!) that comes along with 8 other essential nutrients. And despite their starchy texture […]

This refreshing fruit is at its yearly prime and thankfully is bursting with nutritional prowess.  Along with a concentrated dose of immune-boosting vitamin C, oranges provide a generous offering of folate, fiber, potassium, calcium and vitamin A.  This nutrient profile sings heart-health, but oranges stellar package of cancer-fighting phytochemicals is even sweeter music for your health.  Enjoy […]

Everyone loves dipping, especially kids. Done right, dips add yummy flavor and texture while boosting the nutritional quality of your diet. And let’s be honest-carrots and broccoli taste better dipped! Here are my top-rated dips for boosting health and pleasure, all conveniently found ready-made right in the grocery store. Hummus and other bean dips Guacamole Salsa Baba ghanoush All […]

Relative to ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, oatmeal, especially the steel- cut variety, offers greater satiety (feelings of fullness). Oatmeal has all the proven health benefits attributed to eating intact whole grains, which include protection from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Oatmeal is uniquely high in a special type of soluble fiber, beta-glucan, […]

Red wine lovers rejoice! One of the largest studies of its kind found that regular red wine drinkers had healthier gut microbiomes than their counterparts who consumed other types of alcoholic beverages. To remind you, the gut microbiome is the name of the all-important ecosystem of microorganisms in our GI tracts now known to play […]

Want a quick and tasty way to improve your good gut bacteria? Eat more walnuts! Loads of past studies have highlighted walnuts’ stellar health benefits, and according to a new study, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria may play a role in how walnuts work their healthy magic. For this clinical trial, researchers placed […]

There is now overwhelming evidence that the bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbiome, plays a major role in our mood and behavior. Knowing that what we eat is the primary determinate of the state of our gut microbes, European scientists performed an in-depth review of past studies looking at diet, mood, and gut […]

Mix of dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries – This terrific trio provides a turbo-charged dose of age-defying antioxidants that can double as powerful anti-inflammatory agents too.  Oxidation and inflammation are formidable partners in crime when it comes to cellular aging and blue/red anthocyanin pigments found in these fountain of youth fruits are amongst the most potent […]

Fuel for Life Breakfast Muffins Serves 12 These hearty and tasty breakfast muffins will fuel your body, mind, and soul. Ingredients 1 cup whole wheat flour 2/3’s cup old-fashioned oats 1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp. salt 2 omega 3 eggs 2 ripe bananas, mashed ¼ cup […]

No bones about it – dried plums (prunes) have emerged as an exceptional food for bone health. Researchers have reported that dried plums contain compounds that act as powerful suppressors of bone resorption. Bone resorption occurs as we age and contributes to osteoporosis. The lead scientist has tested numerous fruits over his career and reports that none […]