Do you feel drowsy, sluggish, tense, moody, and disinterested in sex? Do you have trouble sleeping, controlling your eating (especially sweets), and concentrating? If you answered yes to several of these questions, you may have the "body blues" (or "vegetative depressive symptoms"). Authors Marie-Annette Brown and Jo Robinson name these blues, which are caused by low or fluctuating hormones, "women's most misdiagnosed, undertreated, and mistreated mood problem." To combat the body blues, Brown, Robinson, and colleagues at the University of Washington developed "LEVITY" therapy based on three activities: increasing exposure to natural light, walking outside five or more times a week, and taking six inexpensive vitamins and minerals.

When Your Body Gets the Blues explains the causes and symptoms of the syndrome, illustrated by numerous case studies; the authors' research study and supporting science behind LEVITY therapy; the LEVITY program; and easy ways to put it into action. For example, you can double the amount of light you receive by looking straight ahead instead of at the ground when walking outside, and a see-through umbrella helps you get the benefits of natural light when walking in the rain. The program makes sense and is easy to implement. When Your Body Gets the Blues is recommended for women who are tired of being dominated by mood swings, fatigue, emotional eating, and stress. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly
Based on the results of a study they conducted, Robinson, who writes in the field of consumer health, and Brown, a specialist of women's medical issues, advocate a solution to alleviate what they call the "body blues." Characterized by such symptoms as weight gain, problems sleeping, fatigue and a decreased interest in sex, this condition, according to the authors, is caused by low serotonin activity. Brown and Robinson describe this as an annoying physiological condition that results from hormonal interactions occurring over a female's lifetime and whose chemical complexities are detailed at length here. Their findings from the controlled study and interviews they conducted with 112 women indicated that the "body blues" could be greatly relieved by a treatment they designed and named the "Levity Program." Consisting of bright light, brisk walking and six vitamins and minerals, these recommendations for mood elevation are drug free and virtually harmless. Walking five times weekly and getting more natural light has been suggested elsewhere by medical providers as beneficial to overall health. The suggested "antidepressant cocktail," a combination of vitamins, is available at any drug or health food store; however, the authors do promote their own all-in-one tablet. This will interest readers of alternative health literature and those who are convinced by the "body blues" theory. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
Based on a program that combines sunlight, exercise, and vitamins, When Your Body Gets the Blues can help women who don't feel their best, but aren't sure why. The clinically proven, drug-free LEVITY program has been tested on women and shown to be effective in eight weeks or less, helping them think clearly, sleep soundly, cope easily with stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and lose unwanted pounds.

FROM OUR EDITORS

This eye-opening book identifies the "Body Blues" as a collection of common, mood-related symptoms (ranging from fatigue and disturbed sleeping patterns to weight gain) afflicting about a quarter of all women throughout their lives. More prevalent among women because of the way their supply of seratonin is used up and replenished, the Body Blues are too often discounted by sufferers and overlooked by medical professionals. To help women gain control over these symptoms, the authors prescribe the LEVITY plan, consisting of moderate regular exercise (brisk walking), natural lighting, and an affordable regimen of vitamins and minerals. This informative and well-researched effort -- with frequent question-and-answer sections that make it extremely approachable -- will put readers on the road to increased energy, less stress, and effortless weight control.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Millions of women don't feel their best and don't know why. They're not out-right depressed, but they aren't really happy either. They eat too much or have gained weight lately. They find it hard to concentrate or have trouble sleeping. They feel tense, anxious, or irritable, or they're highly sensitive to criticism. They're tired and not very interested in sex (or even everyday life). When Your Body Gets the Blues offers a clinically proven solution. A simple, drug-free treatment known as the Levity program -- Light, Exercise, and Vitamin Intervention Therapy -- can help women think clearly, sleep soundly, cope easily with stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and lose unwanted pounds -- in 8 weeks or less! The author's easy-to-follow program includes self-quizzes, tips for increasing exposure to light and getting mood-elevating exercise even on dark or rainy days, and six recommended vitamins and minerals proven to relieve the Body Blues.

Marie-Annette Brown, Ph.D., R.N., tested the Lrvity program on real women, and they improved significantly -- far more than women who took placebo pills. In fact, many participants cut their feelings of depression in half. One woman who completed the Levity program said, "I know that if I ever feel blue again, I have my own way of feeling better -- I won't have to run to my doctor for a prescription." Now, for the first time, When Your Body Gets the Blues offers the groundbreaking Levity program to women everywhere. All it takes is a small investment of 20 minutes and a few pennies a day. With this clinically proven program, any woman -- young or old, active or inactive -- can regain control over her mood and her life.

SYNOPSIS

Based on the groundbreaking LEVITY study, a program using sunlight, exercise, and vitamins to overcome women's most underdiagnosed mood problem

Do you have the "Body Blues"? Do you eat too much? Have you gained weight? Do you have difficulty concentrating? Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you irritable or tense? Do you feel tired all the time? Do you feel drowsy during the day? Is sex no longer enjoyable? Are you anxious or down? Do you fear rejection or criticism?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"Marie-Annette Brown has identified a syndrome of subclinical depression in women that seems common today. In this book she and Jo Robinson present a common-sense, all-natural approach to beating the 'Body Blues' that is very much in line with my own philosophy of treatment. I know many people who would benefit from the health advice in this program, men and women alike."  — Andrew Weil

Christiane Northrup