Review by Shellie: The SuperStress Solution by Roberta Lee, M.D.

Review and Synopsis:

I have read a number of books on health and diet over the years. I am no expert but one gets a feel for which are good and those containing junk or just fluff. The SuperStress Solution is of the good sort. It is both logical and comprehensive.

The SuperStress Solution is broad in scope, and almost exhausts the options for remedies to consider when you are  under, as Dr. Lee  terms it - SuperStress. It is intelligent, well written and its advice is from a medical doctor. She is also trained at  Dr. Andrew Weil’s Program in Integrative Medicine in AZ. Both of these facts are very comforting in a world where medical advice and prescriptions are dispensed randomly and often casually.

The Superstress Solution has natural suggestions to support and change stressful behaviors. As well as a plan to move away from uber-busy lives into a healthier state. Dr. Lee includes subject matter such as pathways to peace, healing foods, mindfulness, and connecting with others. She also has programs specific for each individual stress profile, which is determined by a diagnostic questionnaire. This assesses an individual’s level and type of stress. By asking questions it determines what your SuperStress type is, where in your body does the stress manifest itself,  and an individual’s resilience to SuperStress. It also includes a list to determine your personal level of stress in relation to current life events. All elements combine to create a personal profile so that focus can be on the areas where it is needed the most.

To get a flavor of the test, an example of a section is available online at The Superstress Solution.

My only thought is that because the scope of the book is so broad there is very little room to go into depth for each recommendation. Therefore I would say that The SuperStress Solution can be seen as a beginning place for exploring personal stress levels, and for considering the options available for caring for oneself in a reasonable and holistic way.

4 Stars – A very good health related book.

Here is a recent article by Dr. Lee which everyone should love!

Remedy SuperStress with Chocolate
By Roberta Lee M.D.,
Author of The SuperStress Solution

If you love chocolate, you're not alone. It turns out that the average person in the United States consumes approximately 12 pounds of chocolate a year. That might sound like a lot of chocolate, but I actually recommend that my patients -- especially those who are chronically stressed or what I would describe as SuperStressed -- indulge in 1 ounce of high quality and high cocoa mass chocolate a day, and that actually adds up to well more than 12 pounds over the course of the year. Sure, chocolate is a calorie laden food (with most of the calories coming from the cocoa butter), but in my opinion, the benefits of this treat outweigh the caloric load as long as you keep the portions small. Here are the benefits:

• On a gram for gram basis, chocolate has a terrifically high concentration of antioxidants known as flavonoids. More than berries and spinach, even. Flavonoids have been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes.

• Chocolate is rich in magnesium and potassium, two minerals that help promote the "relaxation response," as well as iron and zinc, which are minerals that many people don't often get enough of during the course of the day. Chocolate also contains a good amount of selenium, which enhances immune health.

• Chocolate contains several psychoactive compounds being studied and debated as responsible for the mood lift many of us experience when eating it. First, there's phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural trace amine that is a stimulant that is elevated in the brain when we are in love and is low when we are depressed. Secondly, there's theobromine, a compound that imparts energy and a sense of alertness. Finally, chocolate contains a small amount of a chemical known as N-arachidonoylethanolamine, a substance that keeps our endogenous happiness molecules -- or endorphins -- from breaking down. In other words, if we are happy, we just might stay happier longer with a little chocolate.

Of course, there's also ample consumer-proven evidence that chocolate tastes good, and that eating it can provide a little respite -- an oasis of pleasure and calm -- from our otherwise hectic days! And to me, that's what's so special about this sweet treat. I find chocolate has the ability to enhance sensory recruitment in every way. It's so inexpensive to have a piece of chocolate and it's so pleasurable, that if that's something you like and that's part of what living well is about, I say: go for it. The ideal cocoa mass is 75% or more -- this will be clear on the label and is most often found in dark chocolate -- and the ideal portion is 1 ounce (about 1/3 of an average bar or roughly the size of the palm of a woman's hand). Doctor's orders!

To reduce stress, and avoid SuperStress, try this today:
Simple as it sounds; focused breathing -- during which you think about your breath as you inhale and exhale -- is a very effective stress-management technique. A slow, full breath triggers physical and cognitive changes that promote relaxation. Deep breathing helps release tension and anxiety and is a great energizer because the deeper the breath, the more your body is flooded with life-fueling oxygen. A full breath begins with the diaphragm pushing downward so that the stomach extends out. As your lungs fill with air, your chest expands. When you exhale, the reverse occurs -- your chest settles first and then your stomach.

• When anxiety strikes or you find yourself focusing on negative thoughts, immediately exhale through your mouth.
• Now, open your lungs, and breathe in through your nose, drawing in a fresh, cleansing air to the count of four.
• Exhale again slowly to the count of five.
• Repeat four times.

Copyright © 2009 Roberta Lee M.D., author of The SuperStress Solution

For more information on, Dr. Lee, book stats, publisher’s book info, as well as links for pre-published purchasing see Layers of Thought’s Preview for The Superstress Solution.