From Publishers Weekly
Larson, author of the bestselling Seven Weeks to Sobriety, believes that many doctors misdiagnose nutritional imbalances as psychological disorders. She argues that most people who are depressed, fatigued or addicted to food, cigarettes or alcohol suffer from a deficiency of vitamins or amino acids that is only exacerbated by drugs like Xanax, Prozac and lithium. Larson provides checklists of symptoms, possible disorders and corrective formulas along with simple but thorough explanations of how the biochemistry works. She plausibly links biochemical emotional problems with the gradual shift in the American diet over the past 60 years toward sugary, carbohydrate-laden and processed foods, which disturb the body's insulin production and deprive the brain of much needed vitamins and nutrients. The author urges readers to seek out doctors to run lab tests in order to identify possible deficiencies, blood-sugar abnormalities and food allergies. Occasionally, Larson's advice gets lost in her sales pitch for her Health Recovery Center in Minnesota ("The nutrients used at Health Recovery Center are the best quality we can find"). Still, anyone who has suffered from mental lapses, mood swings and stress will find plenty to mull over here. Author tour. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Larson, a nutritionist and director of the Health Recovery Center in Minneapolis, contends that an imbalance of body chemicals often causes emotional problems and that making appropriate dietary changes will restore the brain's equilibrium. In addition to suggesting which foods to avoid or to eat, Larson provides lists of supplements to be taken on a daily basis and numerous questionnaires for detecting deficiencies. The long list of recommended supplements promotes extensive pill-popping, and there are regular reminders that those available from the Health Recovery Center at their 800-number are "the best quality." Larson's advice about the value of nutritional repair for depression and other emotional woes is sound, but with no clarification, her jargon is often confusing, e.g., "Symptoms indicating tyrosine or 1-phenylalanine is needed to increase norespinephine levels." The final chapter on anti-aging hormones seems somewhat out of place. Appropriate for larger public libraries.AIlse Heidmann, San Marcos, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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