Dr. Ann

Eating out, especially fast food, definitely makes eating healthy harder to do. But if you have to eat fast food, here are six tips for making the experience as healthy as possible. Seek out fast food establishments with the greatest selection of healthy options Avoid any fried foods Go for sandwiches or wraps made from whole […]

Yogi’s rejoice! A new review study reports that yoga serves up a slew of brain benefits, comparing favorably to aerobic exercise. For this evaluation, researchers focused on 11 previous studies looking at yoga and brain health. All of the studies used brain imaging techniques like MRI to assess brain structure. The findings were compelling. Many […]

Intermittent fasting (IF) is smoking hot in scientific circles and deservedly so. According to a comprehensive review of published studies to date, IF appears to have far-reaching positive effects throughout the body. IF encompasses two basic approaches: the 5:2 method or the 6-8 time-restricted method. In the 5:2 method, two days a week food is […]

MIRACLE BEANS Aim for 1 serving (1/2 cup) or more daily from any of the 24 varieties available. A great source of low-fat vegetable protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium and phytochemicals. Because of their high fiber and protein content, beans are fantastic for appetite control. They effectively “fill you up” and don’t elevate […]

Mounting evidence has shown that prolonged sitting is a massive driver of chronic disease risk. In a study that included over 63,000 adult males – those who sat for more than four hours a day were much more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure than those who sat less than four hours […]

The diminutive, yet all-powerful blueberry is a true work horse in terms of fortifying wellness and a new report gives us yet another reason to include them regularly in our diets – maintaining an abundance of healthy bacteria in our colons. There has been a recent explosion of research highlighting that the types and amounts […]

In an uplifting evaluation that proves the right foods can triumph over bad genes Spanish researchers found that the potent antioxidant phenol compounds in extra virgin olive oil stifle the activity of several genes that promote inflammation. They fed 20 study subjects controlled breakfasts on different occasions. Some were fed a breakfast enriched with high […]

An eye-popping report just shed some powerful and compelling light on how quickly physical inactivity can harm the body, and I want you and everyone you love to know about it. Researchers had a group of healthy moderately active young adults reduce their daily physical activity by 50% and carefully monitored their blood sugar (glucose) […]

Like their bean cousins, lentils are cheap, versatile, filling, and power-packed full of fiber, B-vitamins, protein, minerals, and antioxidant polyphenols.  They provide more folate than any other food and have an edge over other legumes because they cook quickly, require no pre-soaking, and tend to cause less gas. Try one of my favorite lentil recipes: Simple Lentil […]

Looking for a delectable way to sharpen your mind? Dark chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered! In a hot-off-the-press review that included the findings from 49 previously published studies –  scientists noted a slew of cognitive benefits that resulted after the ingestion of cocoa flavanols, potent antioxidants found in dark chocolate and cocoa. […]

A randomized, controlled clinical trial found that including 3 servings of whole grain foods daily reduced systolic blood pressure on par with prescription drugs and could reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke by at least 15% and 25%, respectively.  (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Oct 2010) Amongst 4,497 young adults followed for 20 […]

If you want to have healthy cholesterol levels I would recommend that you include some green tea with your repertoire of cholesterol-lowering foods. Sipping on green tea is one of my most cherished daily rituals so I was particularly inspired by a report that provided strong evidence that this is indeed a heart-healthy habit. For […]