What Is The Source of Your Energy?

by Kelly Jad'on

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!

Book Review: The Source--A FirstLook Feature

Are you tired of feeling tired? About 75 million of us believe that we feel "extreme fatigue" while at work. An estimated 38% of the workforce really is tired, resulting in $100 billion of healthcare costs.

A newly published book, The Source: Unleash Your Natural Energy, Power Up Your Health, and Feel 10 Years Younger (Free Press, Sept 2008), written by Woodson Merrell, M.D.* with Kathleen Merrell*, explains that our bodies aren't designed to be simply energy consumers, but also energy creators. A beneficial book for those on a healing journey and wellness guide for everyone else, The Source helps the reader positively alter his life, become an energy producer--without the caffeine fix, and live a healthier life. Dr. Merrell writes that over the counter solutions to energy loss consumed as coffee, energy drinks, sleeping pills, and alertness drugs, do not address the sources of energy drain and they don't really rejuvenate the inner source of natural energy. Energy loss, he continues, is one of the top five complaints doctors get, yet only 3% of those with fatigue are actually found to have a related health condition.

Utilizing recent research, Dr. Merrell presents innovative integrated ideas which he has already put into practice. Often seeing patients who have been seen by a conventional doctor with a prescription pad but had shown no improvement, he has been able to prevent or reverse primary lifestyle problems which begin disease. Dr. Merrell blends into his practice various aspects of foreign cultures views on health, homeopathy, quantum physics, and spirituality. His research has led to the development of the new medical discipline known as Integrative Medicine. In this field, the patient is treated as a whole person, rather than just the disease. Dr. Merrell combines a unique connective approach between the mind, body, heart, and spirit.

Part one of The Source generates "Six Ways to Reclaim Your Vitality." Dr. Merrell highlights the links between energy and the mind, food, detoxification, exercise, rest, and the power of connection. This beginning of the book is stocked with research that's written not for a doctor, but in layman's language for the general population to ingest and understand.

Ever wake up more tired than when you went to bed? I have. I'll say, "I feel like a semi ran over me in the night." The Source includes within Part 1, a section on sleep. It explains why we sleep, what's happening within the body during the night, and which factors lead to energy draining sleep. Bad sleep causes generally are a result of aging and hormone shifts (for both men and women), stress, sleep apnea, snoring, chronic sinus congestion, GERD, chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, alcohol in the system, caffeine, and some medications. Fortunately, Dr. Merrell describes several solutions for a better rest.

Part 2--"21 Days to Optimal Energy" is a guide to assist the reader through a three-week program of detoxifying, energizing, and maximizing the body's energy output. Week one is a gradual elimination of stressors on the body--alcohol, red meat, wheat, sugar, processed food. Healthier food is eaten incrementally, more water is drunk, and relaxation is begun. A daily stress log is kept.

Week two moves on to resetting the metabolism by "cleaning out" toxins through a one-day juice cleanse. With increased ingestion of power foods--green tea, greens, mushrooms, fish, berries, stress becomes reduced and manageable. Week three extends into energy -generating techniques which will maximize energy. The body may be ready for Reiki or acupuncture.

Part 3, "Menus and Recipes" was written with Stefanie Bryn Sacks, M.S., a Culinary Nutritionist. Stefanie has incorporated many "in" power foods for her recipes:

Agave Syrup

Quinoa

Curry Powder

Miso

Cardamon

Notable unique recipes you'll find worth trying: Dr. Merrell's Veggie Juice, Warm French Lentils, Shitake-Miso Soup.

Throughout The Source, Dr. Merrell has placed an emphasis on a balanced stress-reduced life, one which incorporates rest, exercise, healthier eating, and proper breathing. Dr. Merrell has a host of famous followers who support his work and say so publicly--Donna Karan, Cindy Crawford, Richard Gere, Christiane Northrup, Mehmet Oz, and Daniel Goleman.

The Source offers hope. Hope to those who live with chronic conditions and who are unaware that there may still be a way to improve their health. This book receives five stars! It is well worth reading and will provide new insight into ways we all can live a better life.

*Dr. Woodson Merrell, affectionately known as "Woody," was named by New York magazine as a "Leader for the New Millennium" is chairman of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is also an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He maintains a private practice in Manhattan.

*Kathleen Merrell is Dr. Merrell's writing partner and spouse, and is also an award-winning freelance journalist who specializes in holistic and preventive health. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Real Simple, and Allure. ( )