Unleash the Power of the Female Brain

February 18, 2013
In this comprehensive manual, psychiatrist and bestselling author Amen (Use Your Brain to Change Your Age) pep-talks women into optimizing their brains in order to intensify focus and happiness, not to mention orgasms. Emphasizing the need for "brain envy" in lasting motivation, Amen strategically intersperses SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans that evidence diversity in blood flow and activity not only between fit and junk-fed brains but also in a woman's brain between points of her cycle. The latter effectively underscores his argument for balancing hormones as part of one's overall brain-training regimen. His advice itself isn't revolutionary: get adequate rest; consume fish oil, a multivitamin, the right probiotic; don't cling to stress or negative thoughts. What differentiates Amen's work is the research, accompanied by visuals, into the ramifications of ignoring one's mental and physical health. Applying his "four circles" approach to the female brain in particular, he recommends encompassing strategies for maintaining both serenity and acute cognitive function throughout the hormonal whirlwinds of PMS, pregnancy, and menopause in addition to hectic daily schedules. Representing a necessary intersection of biology, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, Amen's approach to conditioning the brain does justice to the complexity of its subject.

January 15, 2013
A handbook for better health in women. "You don't think about your brain because you cannot see it," writes Amen (The Amen Solution: The Brain Healthy Way to Get Thinner, Smarter, Happier, 2011, etc.); however, this "is a huge mistake, because success in everything you do starts with a healthy brain." Without a vigorous brain, every other aspect of life suffers. Based on brain scans, questionnaires and blood work, Amen shows women how they can optimize their brain health through diet, exercise, supplements, meditation, friendships and loving relationships. In a reader-friendly fashion, the author breaks down complex issues such as attention deficit disorder and the numerous hormones at work in the body. Mood swings, weight changes, negativity and menopause are just a few of the challenges Amen states are easy to fix once women begin to follow his prescribed regimes, and he provides real-life stories from patients who have successfully altered their lifestyles for the better. The author includes numerous lists of what to do and what not to do to optimize overall brain health, but many more are referenced that can only be found on Amen's website. Annoyingly, this requires a paid membership to access the full scope of available information. Simple one-hour exercises reinforce the lessons, requiring readers to list goals, worries and failures, among other topics. Although most of the information is common knowledge, Amen's easy-to-follow instructions will aid readers in retaining and implementing the information.

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