Product Description

We all need a boost now and then. Sometimes just a cup of coffee or tea will do the trick. Maybe a candy bar or a soda to get over the afternoon slump. Or perhaps a cocktail or a cigarette to help relax at the end of the day.

And there are other "little helpers"-both legal and illegal-which millions of Americans rely on for feel-good purposes. Whether we're talking Prozac or pot, cigarettes or Sominex, we automatically reach for chemical crutches to calm us down or lift us up, energize us or help us get to sleep.

Unfortunately, all of them-from the French roast to the pharmaceuticals-have side effects. They don't begin to touch the underlying problems that are making us feel bad to begin with. And some can be addictive, setting us up for a an emotional roller coaster; we feel great one minute, then we crash and burn, plummeting into the black hole of withdrawal symptoms of fatigue, stress, and depression.

Fortunately, there is a new way to get the highs we need-naturally. In their groundbreaking new book, Natural Highs: Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind/Body Techniques to Help You Feel Good All the Time psychiatrist Hyla Cass and nutritional expert Patrick Holford offer a breakthrough program-based on nutrition supplements, herbs, and simple mind/body therapies-that will energize, relax, de-stress, and sharpen our mental focus without wreaking havoc on our minds and bodies.

Cass and Holford outline a perfect "brain food" diet, based on extensive research in the areas of nutrition, psychology, and brain chemistry:

* Hangover-free alternatives to relaxing with a beer, martini, or a glass of wine
* Natural, non-addictive ways to get the same energy kick that we get from coffee, tea, or cigarettes * Safe, natural, and effective alternatives to Prozac and Valium with no side effects
* Nourishing foods that can replenish and restore our brains and to counteract the depleting effects of stress or substance abuse
* Natural nutrients to help take us to higher states of awareness and connection, without the side effects of drugs
* Natural substances that can help us escape addictions-some of which we may not even realize we have.

With questionnaires, tips, and A-Z lists, Natural Highs also explores other feel-good strategies like breathing, meditation, exercise, deep sleep, positive thinking, sex, aromatherapy, and more.

Getting high has never been so healthy, non-addictive, and easy-as easy as picking up this book and taking a quick trip to the supermarket or health food store. Isn't it time we all started feeling good-and staying that way?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130419 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-03
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .91" h x 5.98" w x 8.96" l, .79 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

From Amazon.com
Boundless energy awaits anyone willing to trade their cigs, drugs, or lattés for the healthier alternatives prescribed in Natural Highs. According to authors Hyla Cass, M.D., and Patrick Holford, the first step toward bliss is eating right. In their lean yet satisfying nutrition chapter, they advocate a fairly even ratio of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats; plenty of water; high-potency multivitamins; and minerals. After establishing this balanced diet, those seeking to "get high" or "chill out" can select from a menu of natural supplements and substances: various stress busters, energizers, and mood enhancers that research shows can mimic--or surpass--the appealing effects of stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and nicotine or sedatives like dope, alcohol, and tranquilizers. Best of all, these good vibrations allegedly come without the typical letdowns or addictions. Historical tidbits, ample charts and diagrams, scientific data, and case studies from the authors' practices create a compelling argument for natural alternatives, including kava, ginseng, choline, and DMAE. Helpful sidebars outline the positive effects, cautions (rarely any), and recommended dosages associated with each item. Cass and Holford also delve into uplifting lifestyle enhancements like meditation, massage, dance, and sexual chemistry. Lots of reference material rounds out this guide to healthy--and legal--mood magic. --Liane Thomas

About the Author
Hyla Cass, M.D. is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. A prominent psychiatrist and expert on nutritional medicine, she is a frequently sought-after lecturer and consultant. She is the author of St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster, Kava: Nature's Answer to Stress and Insomnia, and All About Herbs.

Patrick Holford is the United Kingdom's leading nutritionist and founder of The Institute of Optimum Nutrition in London, the largest training school in the UK for nutrition consultants. He is the author of many books, including The Optimum Nutrition Bible and The Optimum Nutrition Cookbook.