Dr. Ann

As a physician and nutrition expert, here are five of my favorite tips for radically improving your diet. Welcome to Make It Happen Monday, your weekly dose from The Healthy Living School. Today I want to share 5 simple and delicious ways to radically–yes, radically–improve your health.  1. Give yourself an “oil change.”  Make  extra […]

~ ~ ~ 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 […]

Soluble fiber is great for you! This indigestible form of plant carbohydrate has many health benefits including: lowering cholesterol, stabilizing insulin and glucose levels, promoting satiety, and protecting against belly fat accumulation. Here are the foods that provide the most soluble fiber: Beans (any variety) Peas Barley Flax seeds Chia seeds Oats Oat bran Avocado Carrots […]

Some foods are better for you than others and are true nutritional powerhouses! Here are five foods that are exceptional for you and that you should strive to include in your daily diet. Dark Leafy Greens Nuts Berries Whole Citrus Beans Dr. Ann’s Cure-All Kale Salad Serves 8-10 When I feel like I am coming […]

They provide “complete” (all the essential amino acids) protein that is gentler on your bones, your digestive system, and the environment. They provide all the essential fatty acids including a big hit of those precious omega 3 fats. They provide a comprehensive package of minerals including lots of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. They are […]

I’ll never forget the medical mission my family and I went on in Peru (which included a 28 mile hike to Machu Picchu on the ancient Inca trail) and how it gave me a renewed appreciation for fitness, Mother Earth, and quinoa! Commonly considered a grain, but actually a protein-rich seed, quinoa was revered as ” […]

I’m nuts about nuts. Here are six reasons to include nuts in your diet daily! Regular nut consumption reduces the risk of heart-related death by up to 30-50%. People who eat nuts regularly live longer. People who eat nuts regularly get less type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. People who eat nuts regularly are less […]

Nuts are off-the-charts for disease protection and for taste. Here are 5 great reasons to eat them daily: Better weight control Cardiovascular protection Improved metabolic health Vision protection Longevity (longer life) I eat nuts as a snack, and I also love to add them to breakfasts or salads like this one! Plum, Cucumber, and Spinach Salad […]

Walnuts are crunchy, delicious, and oh-so-good for heart health. It is clearly established that walnuts lower cholesterol levels, but scientists recently set out to take a more in-depth look into other ways walnuts may shine for cardiovascular health. For this evaluation, scientist fed study subjects a single feeding of walnuts, walnut oil, walnut skin, and de-fatted walnut meal […]

Sesame seeds are exceptionally rich in key minerals. They house special plant chemicals from the lignan family that lower cholesterol and boost the activity of vitamin E. They provide heart-healthy fats. (I love tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds!) RELATED Carrot-Sesame Burgers [RECIPE]

I am wildly enthusiastic about eating nuts because the science behind this delectable food group is simply glorious. And just when I thought it could not get any better, scientists have uncovered yet another reason to be nuts about nuts. Because past studies had indicated that nuts provide protection against metabolic syndrome (MetS), scientists sought […]