Dr. Ann

If you enjoy eating mushrooms, you will be excited to know that this superfood appears to lower the risk of depression. Go fungi! In a study that followed the diets and mental health status of about 24,00 US adults between 2005 and 20016, scientists noted a strong link between mushroom consumption and lower odds of depression. […]

Cheerfulness helps maintain a sharp mind as we age. That was the uplifting conclusion from scientists at Northwestern University who monitored the emotional states and memory of aging adults over an extended period. Using a scientifically validated questionnaire, 991 middle-age and older adults reported on their emotional status in the previous 30 days on three […]

Roasting is arguably the healthiest and tastiest way to prepare your veggies.  It preserves their nutrients while concentrating their natural sugars and flavors which makes them particularly yummy to even the pickiest palates.  Roasting also dramatically shrinks them in size (because it removes their water), making it easier to consume more in 1 sitting.  Based […]

According to the scientific data, the long term success of “diets” for weight loss is truly abysmal. In fact, “dieting” has been identified as a risk factor for future weight gain.  A report in Psychosomatic Medicine provides a viable explanation for these discouraging findings. For the first time in humans, researchers documented that restricting calories […]

              Wild, organic blueberries or mixed berries A variety of bulk raw nuts Fresh frozen fish Packaged spinach Packaged peas Packaged shelled edamame Packaged organic chicken breast and thighs Frozen butter beans 100% whole grain corn tortillas Ground flax seed  

  As the saying goes – “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” Shifting more of your daily calories from lunch and/or dinner to breakfast may represent a powerful strategy for slowing the highly predictable middle-age spread. Cambridge scientists followed over 6,700 adults, age 40 to 75, over a […]

Although they quite literally bring us to tears, the organosulfur phytochemicals unique to onions and the other members of the allyl food group (garlic, leeks, chives, and scallions) are truly medicinal in their power to protect our health. Red onions are the true superstar standout of this bunch however, as they are uniquely high in […]

In one of the most uplifting studies I have reviewed, researchers reported that as little as a few minutes of physical activity in the great outdoors provides a significant mental lift. In the evaluation, which included over 1,100 people of all ages and genders, scientists determined that just 5 minutes of “green exercise” (physical activity in […]

  One of the most common questions I get from consumers is “should I buy organic?” The answer ultimately rests with your pocket book, your feelings towards the environment, and your comfort with pesticide exposure.  Here are the “organic facts” based on the best science to guide you in making an informed decision. Choosing organic […]

A clinical trial from the University of Exeter reported that we can eat our way to more energy with the venerable beet.  The 8 young males in the study who consumed beet juice for 8 consecutive days prior to cycling on an exercise bike were able to cycle up to 16% longer than when they consumed […]

Indeed, I consider high quality dark chocolate (60% or greater cocoa content) an excellent desert choice and recommend it as a truly healthy way to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.  Dark chocolate continues to score one scientific triumph after another, including studies that show it can boost brain power, elevate mood and improve cardiovascular health. We […]

~ ~ ~ Like their nut cousins, sesame seeds are concentrated nuggets of nutritional excellence. They are exceptionally rich in a host of key minerals, and provide two very special and unique phytochemicals, sesamin and sesamolin. Both are super-potent antioxidants from the lignan family that have been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, and boost the […]