Dr. Ann

The darlings of the healthy fat world, namely those long-chained omega 3 fats, DHA and EPA, just received a glowing endorsement thanks to a new report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (August 09).  After an exhaustive review of a slew of studies that included tens of thousands of subjects, cardiovascular experts […]

Restrict the Great White Hazards – white flour products, white rice, white potatoes, and sugar/sweets.  They drive your blood sugar down quickly which triggers sugar cravings. Avoid artificial sweeteners.  These exquisitely sweet agents keep your inner cookie monster primed and ready. Eat regularly – 3 meals a day with a mid-afternoon snack and be sure […]

Through the ages, vinegar has enjoyed a rich and colorful position as an agent of folk medicine and intriguing new science supports that it may be of particular benefit on the weight control front.  Past studies have already shown that it attenuates the glycemic response (rise in blood glucose) when consumed with carb foods (which […]

Here are some of my favorite, healthy substitutions: 100% spreadable fruit for regular jelly/jams Trans fat free spreads for stick butter or margarines Part-skim or 2% cheeses for full fat varieties Omega 3 fortified eggs for standard eggs Romaine hearts for iceberg lettuce Ground turkey breast for ground beef Greek-style plain yogurt for sour cream […]

54% of the American population has unhealthy cholesterol levels.  Soluble fiber and phytosterols are nature’s most potent cholesterol-lowering agents.  Here is where you can get the most of each from mother earth’s apothecary: Soluble fiber – beans, peas, barley, flax seeds, oats, oat bran, chia seeds, avocado, carrots, collards, and oranges. Phytosterols – sesame seeds, […]

Cantaloupe is a summer food standout on the healthy living front.  One cup of this juicy, sweet, refreshing fruit provides more than 100% of your daily requirement for vitamins A and C, all for just 56 calories!  To make the tastiest choice, sniff the stem end to ensure a sweet fragrance and choose one that […]

I consider beans to be the most underutilized superfood.  Here are 7 compelling reasons to include them in your diet every day. Beans have megawatt nutritional power.  They provide a hefty dose of vegetable protein, more fiber and folate than any other food group, a load of potent antioxidant flavonoids, and key minerals including iron, […]

Here are some quick highlights from a number of cool, new studies on the weight loss front: High intensity aerobic exercise is effective for reshaping body contour. (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Oct 08).  If you want to “spot” reduce your waistline, high intensity workouts appear to do the trick.  Spinning has definitely […]

Of all the radical changes in the modern American diet compared to that consumed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors, our record consumption (3 fold increase since 1970!) of sweetened beverages (soda, sports drinks, etc.) is arguably the most profound and tops my list as one of the most high risk of all our unhealthy habits.  Sweetened […]

Eating high glycemic carbs like white bread, white potatoes, and sweets (“The Great White Hazards” in my lingo), that send blood glucose soaring, appear to disrupt the function of the all-important cells lining our arteries known as endothelial cells.  Endothelial cells, when functioning properly, work like a Teflon coating in our arteries and maintain a […]

Given our toxic food culture, cultivating self-discipline on the eating front is an invaluable practice. According to an intriguing new study, keeping “some” high-risk, tempting foods in your midst is an effective means to build will power.  Investigators found that study subjects who had been previously tempted by forbidden foods exercised more self-restraint when offered […]

Cancer of the pancreas remains one of the most deadly of all malignancies and a new study provides the most powerful evidence yet, linking grilled or charred red meat with this ominous disease.  After closely following the deaths of 62,000 healthy adults over a nine year period, investigators reported that those with the highest intakes […]