Dr. Ann

Starches are “comfort foods” that we all tend to want and even crave. Some are great for you while others are bad for you. Here are the lists of both to guide you to better health. Good Starches Any form of beans, peas, or lentils Any form of winter squash – butternut, acorn, kabocha, pumpkin, etc. […]

The “Great White Hazards” strike again, this time on the mood front. In an analysis that followed the dietary habits of over 70,000 post-menopausal women for several years, those who consumed diets higher in refined, “high glycemic” carbs were significantly more likely to develop depression. High glycemic carbs are those that give rise to steep […]

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 […]

Reduce Your Intake of the Great White Hazards. This includes the refined, high glycemic carbs – white flour products, white rice, white potatoes, and sugars/sweets. Increase Your Levels of Physical Activity.  Strive for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, but more is even better. Additionally, avoid prolonged sitting. Increase Your […]

September 11, 2018 • Weight Control

The Dangers of Belly Fat

It is now firmly established that not all body fat is created equal when it comes to making us sick.  Although we may not like the appearance of fat deposited on our arms, legs, hips, and thighs, this fat is a rather benign metabolic slug that basically just its sits there.  This is in sharp […]

Because even small amounts of excess body fat, especially if deposited in the belly, can boost the risk of many chronic diseases – taking steps to power up your metabolism can pay big health dividends. Simply stated, metabolism is the calories burned for the production of energy necessary to keep the body functioning properly. Whether […]

Taking in any amount of trans fats. Science knows no safe level of intake for this truly “toxic” form of fat. Strictly avoid all processed foods that list “partially hydrogenated oil” in their ingredients list. Eating “ultra-palatable” foods with any regularity. Foods high in fat and/or sugar and salt can directly stimulate the brain’s pleasure […]

    In a powerful, first-of-its-kind evaluation, Harvard researchers recently uncovered some valuable new insights concerning weight control. For this study, the researchers carefully monitored the diets and weights of 120,784 adult men and women over a 16 to 24 year period of time. They were specifically looking for relationships between eating more of various […]

A healthy HDL level (>50) is associated with less risk of heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s and colon cancer. Follow these simple strategies to raise your HDL (good) cholesterol level. (Mine is 93!) Lose weight if overweight. Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) most days of the week. (Talk to […]

Weight control is of monumental importance to your overall health and functionality.  If you are a non-smoker, weight control is the most powerful tool you have to increase your chances of a long, healthy, and productive life.  Here are nine strategies that I consider “essential” for lasting success with weight loss and weigh control.  Meaning, if you […]

In an analysis of four former studies including a total of 352,384 study subjects, those consuming the most white rice were 27% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes relative to those eating the least. The relationship between white rice and diabetes was especially marked in Asian populations with a 55% higher risk in the […]

The underlying metabolic problem in type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. Victims of type 2 diabetes typically suffer from some degree of insulin resistance for many years prior to developing the disease in full. If your insulin doesn’t work well and you eat the Great White Hazards, your pancreas is forced to release that much […]