Stress Less: The New Science That Shows Women How to Rejuvenate the Bodyand the Mind [Hardcover]

Thea Singer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 23, 2010

A landmark book that reveals how stress accelerates aging and how women can reverse the damage.

Forty-two million American women-those between the ages of forty and sixty-experience the most stress of anyone in the world. And it shows, inside and out: from wrinkles and gray hair to the cells at the very core of our bodies.

In Stress Less, prominent health and science journalist Thea Singer explores what the new science of stress can tell us about how to turn back the cellular clock. Drawing on cutting-edge information from a who's who of stress researchers, including Nobel Prize-winning biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, Singer explains how women's bodies react to stress, from shifts in mood to changes at a genetic level that affect how women look and feel, and even how long they live. But Singer also details how easy lifestyle changes can reduce the frequency and intensity of the body's reactions-thus minimizing the hazardous effects of stress and giving us the necessary tools to feel better, look younger, and live longer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her first book, journalist Singer argues that, while everyone is dealing with stress these days, the burden falls on women, particularly female baby boomers, who "essentially invented the Superwomen syndrome." Through extensive research and interviews with prominent scientists, the author examines stress as a genetic enemy and reveals the neurological and biological mechanisms that tie stress to aging. As we age, telomeres, the "chromosome life-savers" that govern the repair of DNA, erode as old or damaged cells are replaced; life-style factors such as smoking, diet, exercise, infection, and stress contribute, but studies have sown that the damage can be reversed. Singer refers to the most recent science as motivation for employing tried-and-true remedies for coping with stress, like meditation, sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Singer, who has covered the science and health beat for over 30 years, has an accessible approach to difficult material, employing personal stories as a way into her lessons. Though these stories often feel overly functional, the message behind them is clear: if women stress less, they can turn back the clock.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review

ONE OF WALL STREET JOURNAL'S TOP 5 PICKS OF 2010 FOR WELLNESS READING

"We can modify our responses to stress, which benefits not only our well-being but even our genes. In Stress Less, Thea Singer shows us how. Do more, age less. Highly recommended."
-Dean Ornish, M.D. Founder & President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute and New York Times bestselling author of The Spectrum

"This book is a gem. Beautiful science and practical, helpful, life-changing information."
-Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers: Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

"Stress Less is a wonderfully engaging compilation of all the most recent scientific findings about stress. Full of wise suggestions, fascinating studies, and impressive examples, it's a book that could change your life and your health. It's done both for me."
-Martha Beck, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Your Own North Star

"Stress Less is a very readable and practical guide to counteracting stress that should be read by men as well as women! The book is also full of up-to-date scientific information."
-Bruce McEwen, author of The End of Stress As We Know It

"With lyricism and wit, Thea Singer plumbs revolutionary science to reveal the latest ways to slow aging -- from the inside out. Stress Less will change the way you see the world, and yourself in it."
-Pamela Redmond Satran, author of How Not to Act Old

"Well-written and accessible, Stress Less gives readers insight into the many ways that people can control their own aging. Singer summarizes a wide array of empirical studies in an accessible yet scientifically accurate fashion which she spices up with her own personal reflections. Readers can take brief diagnostic tests to find out their own levels of stress and, just as importantly, can learn simple and specific ways to reduce the stress in their daily lives through such empirically validated methods as exercise, diet control, sleep management, and social support. Enjoyable, informative, and perhaps even life-saving, this book is a must-read for midlife women seeking to live longer and better."
-Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst and author, The Search for Fulfillment: Revolutionary New Research That Reveals the Secret to Long-Term Happiness

"Thea Singer has done a marvelous job researching, translating, and disseminating scientific knowledge on an extremely important, difficult, and debated topic: the new science of stress and aging. She has a great way of expressing complex concepts -- not just succinctly and to the point but also with humor and panache. What an instructive -- and enjoyable! -- read."
-Zofia Zukowska, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center

"Stress Less is a contemporary, complete, and accurate summary of how the body deals with stress. Written with wit and humor, the book offers advice that applies to both women and men of all ages, and could well serve as a companion for introductory courses for future doctors and scientists."
-William Thomas Thach, Jr., M.D., Professor of Neurobiology in the Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Neurology, and Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Street Press (September 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594630607
• ISBN-13: 978-1594630606
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #855,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Diet and Exercise Debunked December 8, 2010

By Story Circle Book Reviews

Format:Hardcover

In case you're tired of hearing "Diet and exercise!" over and over again, Thea Singer's engaging style presents a very convincing argument about the benefits of reducing stress to live a healthier, longer, more fulfilling life. Reporting research beginning with 1911 up to the present, she shows that right down to the tips of our DNA strands (telomeres), stress causes shortened telomeres, belly fat, confused thinking, poor memory, and faster aging.

As we learned back in seventh grade science, when cells divide, or undergo mitosis, they replicate themselves exactly. But when strands of DNA in our cells divide, scientists have discovered that the telomeres, little tips of each strand, don't divide. They have to split themselves in half and give some to one DNA strand and some to the other. That's what contributes to aging, obesity, wrinkles, gray hair, weak muscles, and pain in our joints. The older we get, the more our cells divide, and the shorter the bits of telomeres become.

But listen up! Those telomeres can be bulked up, reversing aging in some cases or just slowing down the process for the rest of us. Reducing stress appears to be the key in every study. In addition to the research data about how our bodies deteriorate from stress, Singer gives us additional research to show how to reduce stress and regain our health. One way is to exercise, but not in a stressful way. Having to complete a physical fitness regimen can be very stressful, but Singer shows through documenting research how to exercise in a healthy way.

Singer also shows us how diets can cause stress: we have to count calories, weigh and measure our food, or purchase meals high in salt to make up for lack of flavor from fat. Memorizing the new food pyramid and simply eating the whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and foods on the widest part of the pyramid can reduce this stress, as well helping us to lose weight.

And what about our attitudes? When comparing female optimists with female pessimists, "the optimists were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause and 30 percent less likely to die from coronary heart disease than the pessimists." Meditation techniques, sleep, and changing our social circles also help to reduce stress and lead us to a younger self. Within each section, Singer gives us a short test to help us determine our level of stress in that category. Then she gives us the strategies to help reduce that particular stress. (For example, my biggest stressor is lack of sleep. Singer found studies showing "truncated sleep as an important risk factor for obesity." Singer offers a link on her website where we can volunteer to participate in a sleep study and receive suggestions on how to improve our sleep patterns, thus slowing down our shrinking telomeres.) Looking at stress as the cause of obesity and aging rather than other symptoms, it makes sense to read this book and find research-based methods for reducing that stress and feeling better physically, mentally, and spiritually.

by Susan M. Andrus
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Learned a lot from this book! November 3, 2010

By MALIBU READER

Format:Hardcover

This is a really interesting book due to the science Thea Singer covers. And, what I really like about it is that it gives you very clear ways
that you can lower your stress levels and improve your health. Its really great to actually understand the reasons why we should be doing
certain things. And, she tells the story in a really accessible and nice way. I highly recommend this. And, don't think its just for women,
it has information for men too.
Its great!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong science AND a fun read! January 21, 2011

By Megan Honor Pesch

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book on a whim after hearing the author on CNN and have not been able to put it down since! I was delighted at how fun "Stress Less" was to read. Thea Singer strikes the perfect balance making this topic both accessible and educational. As a woman in the medical field I am sometimes leery about books that claim to tell the reader how to manage stress, but this book lives up to it's promises! It does a great job of explaining complicated experiments in a way that is easy to understand without scarifying scientific accuracy. Singer writes about stress in a way that is applicable to her readers unique lives. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding how stress impacts their bodies and how to reduce stress in their daily lives.