5 Steps to a PMS Free Life: Proven to Stop the Monthly Rollercoaster, Conquer Stress and Awaken Energy Take Control Today

Irritability, mood swings, bloating, anxiety, food cravings--80 percent of menstruating women experience some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), impacting emotional and physical health, work, and relationships. In 5 Steps to a PMS-Free Life, George Kallins, a physician specializing in women's health, teams up with a mind-body fitness/health instructor to offer a program that combines the best of both approaches. The authors give you enough information to start incorporating the following five steps into your life:

• Mind-body techniques, including diaphragmatic breathing, several styles of meditation, and illustrations of yoga, tai chi, and Pilates.
  

• Aerobic exercise, which stabilizes blood-sugar levels (leaving you less susceptible to cravings) and raises the brain's "feel good" chemicals.
  

• Dietary improvement, such as reducing alcohol, caffeine, sodium, and simple carbohydrates; eating more soy; drinking more water and tea; and choosing better sources of protein and complex carbohydrates.
  

• Nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, and herbs), including calcium, B6 and magnesium, dong quai, and others that can help you manage your symptoms.
  

• Pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants, if symptoms are still out of control after following steps one through four.
  

The style is simple and the content practical, with specific action steps. Dr. Kallins is the former Director of the Center for Women's Mood Disorders at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Gloria Keeling is the founder of the Strong, Stretched and Centered Mind/Body Fitness Training Institute in Maui, Hawaii. --Joan Price