The Brain Fix: What's the Matter with Your Gray Matter: Improve Your Memory, Moods, and Mind by Carson LD RD PhD, Ralph E. (2012) Paperback

by Ralph E. Carson

Do you feel anxious, frazzled, or fatigued? Are you struggling with addiction, attention deficits, depression, or compulsive behaviors? Could your mind or memory be sharper? If so, these are tell-tale signs that your brain could use a tune-up. Fortunately, as author Ralph Carson explains, the brain is a very forgiving organ, and in this compelling guide, he reveals the many ways we can heal our brains from the assaults of everyday life and avoid specific situations that injure brain health. With a prescriptive blend of science, personal anecdotes, and advice, Carson shares what he has gleaned on the front lines, helping thousands of people overcome brain-based conditions and mood disorders including ADD, anxiety, depression, psychological trauma, and more. In The Brain Fix, Carson reveals an arsenal of proven tools and techniques that help regenerate new cells and connections in the brain. He shares a myriad of simple changes to make in your environment, diet, sleep habits, exercise routines, and emotional life that will yield both immediate and long-term changes to your brain. Carson's desire to learn about the brain was deeply When he was a teenager, his mother died unexpectedly from a cerebral hemorrhage at forty-four; his grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in her early sixties; and his sister died from a rare form of brain cancer in her fifties. In this illuminating and empowering guide, Carson reveals why--and how--we should give rightful attention to the body's most complex organ with essential advice for bettering your brain. You'll How to rewrite your genetic blueprint when it comes to decision making, impulse control, creativity, and mood Although genetics play a key role in individual susceptibility, vulnerability, and capacity to heal from brain-based disorders, heredity is not necessarily destiny. Learn the best practices to follow that can rewrite your brain's blueprint and put you in control.How to feed your brain for optimal Discover how to fuel your brain with the right foods and supplements that foster brain plasticity—foods which can reverse years of damage from poor diet, addictions, or eating disorders.How to be mindful and why it Discover why being mindful can aid in poor decision making and a lack of impulse control and how to master this elusive skill.How to alter your stress response. Learn how chronic worry can take a toll on your brain; by learning how to control your stress response, you lessen the the damaging effects of the daily grind.How to design a brain-friendly While the modern world offers many conveniences, it also assaults your brain on a daily basis, sapping it of its full potential; learn some key fixes for your home and habits.

Genres: Health, Self Help

Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Trudy Nye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the recommendations to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and get a good night's sleep have been around (and largely ignored by most of us) for a long time, this book gives the reader a very clear picture of what our poor habits are doing to our BRAINS! I am finding this a bit more motivating than the diet gurus, though Dr. Carson is giving much the same advice. There is quite a bit of technical information presented to back up his recommendations, and this is what I find so valuable about The Brain Fix. If you have to know WHY before you can cut out sugar and even diet drinks, this book is for you.

One note: on page 167, there is a significant typo. The sentence "Simply cutting out one sugary drink per day can result in 2.5 pounds of weight loss in eighteen months!" is inaccurate. The number should be a much more impressive (and deserving of the exclamation point) 25 pounds, not 2.5. Given the average 160 calories in a sugar-laden soft drink, multiply by 546 (the number of days in eighteen months) and divide by 3500 (the number of calories you must cut to lose a pound)...you get 24.96...25.00 if it's a leap year and you use 547 days! Now that's impressive.

Added note: Dr. Ralph E. Carson is from the Huntsville, AL area.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Brain lover I can't avoid to read every book about it I found around. This was interesting and easy and most of all gives a lot of tips and advises to slowly and easily change some of the usual stuff we do to obtain a major stress control and an easier life specially on the long distance.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HCI FOR THE PREVIEW

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about 1/2 of the book and then ended up skimming the rest. It was OK. I loved the principles and ideas, but you could just read the chapter headings and get the gist. It was weirdly uninformative. But I love this guy and his ideas and philosophy.

[Ghizlane Eddiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book as it was based on scientific facts.

[Erick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specific easy to understand neuroscience perspectives

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book with excitement- I've seen Ralph Carson speak a couple of times, and I always enjoy it and get something out of it. I expected the same here.

Sadly, that's not what I got. While I was able to pull a few nuggets out of this, mostly I found it.. dense and far too in line with diets/weight loss/fear based writing. I mean, the end of the book is essentially a sell for the Mediterranean diet. That's a bummer.

None of this is to say that there isn't useful information in here- I'm certain there is, and it's definitely got tons of science.

So, overall, I found this disappointing. I'm sure others would feel differently.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carson has meticulously researched the effects of how simple things can make powerful impacts upon our brain and thus our total being. He starts with the basics like diet, exercise, and sleep, but where he excels is in making direct references to how this affects somebody struggling with addiction be it drug, alcohol, food, and more. My only critique is he's been in the academic field so long that he's forgotten simple communication techniques (more stories or a lived out human element) that could have made this a five star. In fact, if he would have combined Brain Fix with Brain Rules it would have been a masterpiece.

[Lisa Crego · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read!

I loved this book from page one. For sure by the time you finish this book it will improve your memory, moods and mind. Thank you Dr. Carson for an excellent book I always keep close by. I've been fortunate to hear you speak at several conferences and each time I learn something new, I'm blown away. Thank you for bringing your knowledge to a reading platform for all to learn and grow from.

[Clare]

netgalley declined

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out our review here: http://cedarridgeacademy.blogspot.com...