Dr. Ann

November 11, 2019 • Heart Health

Almonds for Heart Health

Like other nuts, almonds are on a roll for health, and this delicious food has landed another scientific triumph. For this study, scientists had a group of young to middle age men consume a handful of almonds as a snack everyday for one month. A control group of study subjects consumed their regular diets without adding […]

Based on a growing and impressive volume of science, drinking coffee may come with a number of powerful health benefits including: liver cancer protection, diabetes protection and a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. Thanks to this report, another healthy coffee perk may be protection from prostate cancer. In a study that included 48,000 men whose […]

Butternut Squash Soup This is a fabulous Sunday night soup for the cooler months. Ingredients 3 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 in chunks 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4+ cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 1/2 […]

An international team of scientists have uncovered that mouthwash dramatically reduces the natural blood-pressure lowering effects of exercise – horrors! For this blinded clinical trial, the scientists had 23 healthy adults run on a treadmill for 30 minutes on two separate occasions. Immediately after each run, the study subjects rinsed their mouths with either an […]

Exercise is simply stellar for weight control. Check out all the different ways exercise can help you stay lean! Exercise burns calories. Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity (insulin action) which boosts calorie burning potential. Exercise builds lean body mass (muscle). The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn.  Muscles burn fat very effectively […]

Based on the latest science, the single most powerful predictor of functionality in older age is strength capacity. Let me repeat – as we age, maintaining muscular strength is the most important factor in maintaining independence. Unfortunately, the average person becomes more sedentary with age which accelerates the loss of muscles mass and strength that […]

Eat more beans! I consider beans the most underutilized and under-appreciated economical superfood. Here are some tips to help you succeed in eating more of them. Keep them “top of mind” with the goal of including a serving each day. Know that canned beans are just as nutritious (and often more convenient!) than dried, fresh […]

Quick and Easy Vinaigrette: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup vinegar of choice (apple cider, balsamic, rice, sherry, white wine, red wine, etc.) 1 heaping tsp. dijon mustard 1 tsp. honey Optional – Herbs or spices (fresh or dried) as desired (garlic, rosemary, basil, chives, curry, cumin, turmeric, dill, cilantro, etc.) I prefer […]

For the morbidly obese at imminent risk of life-threatening obesity-related complications, weight loss surgery can be acutely life-saving.  However, its extraordinary initial efficacy, like any other lose-weight-quick scheme, is clearly attenuated over time as many patients find they can eventually consume at or near their pre-bypass level.  I once met a clinical psychologist whose job […]

September 23, 2019 • Heart Health

Women Take Heart

Heart attacks remain the leading killer of women – killing more women than the next 5 causes of death combined.  Additionally, heart attacks tend to be more deadly in women vs. men.  So it was especially good news and incredibly empowering that a provocative study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (October 2007) reported that women could […]

As dairy foods go – low-fat, plain yogurt is a superstar standout.  I want you to include it in your diet regularly. Here are 3 big reasons why you should: Yogurt is the richest and most bio-available source of calcium of any food.  An 8oz serving provides 30-40 percent of your daily calcium requirements. In […]

Whether you are trying to lose a few pounds or keep the scale steady – here are some super-easy steps for priming your fat-burning machinery and revving up metabolism. Steer clear of the “Great White Hazards.” (white flour products, white rice, white potatoes, and sugar)  These foods lead to rapid surges in blood glucose and […]