State Change by Robin Berzin MD

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I get a small commission so I can buy more books to review! Full disclosure here.

Genre: Health & Wellness, Self-Help | Pub: 1.18.2022 by Simon Element

Purchase link: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Arielle’s Review Notes

Book Format & Source: Paperback arc via Simon Element. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Any ARC editing errors noticed are assumed corrected prior to the final published copy release.

Review & Thoughts:

State Change is a motivational self-help book that takes on a more holistic approach to health and focuses on the importance of your combined mental and physical wellness. You don’t need to follow every recommendation in this book to create change in your life and I will admit there were a few things I didn’t agree with in this book (referencing intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting) but I think the author did a good job of explaining that not everything she suggests is for everyone.
There are disclaimers throughout the book and the author acknowledges that not every item is applicable to all people. She recommends getting blood work testing before making big changes and stresses the importance of consulting with a doctor before making any major changes, especially since you may have an underlying issue that you’re not aware of that could be negatively effected by changes made.
It’s a bit technical but I felt like a lot of the information was very useful. I’m absolutely going to take some of the suggestions in the kick-starter plan like getting the basic blood work testing, eliminating some of the foods, adding in more intentional and varied exercise, and doing better to spend less time on my phone and with a screen in front of my face.
One of the things I found intriguing was that some of the changes can be extremely impactful for those that suffer from depression instead of medication or can be even more impactful when paired with medication. She absolutely does NOT discredit the real impact of medications like antidepressants but rather presents the argument that medication shouldn’t be the immediate or only solution.
The connection between the mind and body is so integral and it literally never occurred to me that it’s not often that you’ll find doctors that connect both together. When you go in with an ailment they just focus on treating the immediate symptoms rather than taking a deeper look at what’s happening and causing those symptoms. It’s extremely important to do what you can to prevent major issues happening before it’s too late.
There are some great tips on how to minimize screen time. It also had great reminders to clean up your digital space: your computer dashboard, your emails, etc. One great thing to do when you want to refresh: unsubscribe to all those emails you don’t need!
What you eat, what vitamins and supplements you take, how you move your body, how much sleep you get, how you manage your stress, how you eliminate unnecessary stress, how you take care of your body and your mind — it all comes together for your overall health and wellness.
I don’t know if she already has but I’d love to see a cookbook of recommended snacks and meals. It looks like she offers some content on her Instagram that may be beneficial.
This book opened my eyes to the importance of taking care of my mind and body in conjunction with one another and I’m in the process of actively working through some of her suggestions to create State Change in my own life!

Favorite Quote:

Just like you learned to brush your teeth and tie your shoes as a kid, you have to learn to create or find your own joy — it’s a life skill. And when you do, you’ll learn to take back something significant for yourself instead of allowing all your attention and time to be dominated by what others want to show or feed you.
I know from working with thousands of patients that simply telling people what to do isn’t really effective. People do better when they understand why something works.

Recommend for: those looking to create real change in their overall health and wellness

My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Book Jacket Synopsis:

A 30-day program for reaching a new level of energy, clarity, and calm, based on a paradigm shifting idea: You have to change your body to change your mind and mood.

Too often, conventional medicine treats the body as separate from the mind, ignoring physical issues like chronic illness and weight gain. Science shows that these issues are oftentimes intricately entwined with mood issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and persistent fatigue.

In State Change, Dr. Berzin draws on cutting-edge research and her work with thousands of patients to tell the complete story of how our bodies drive our minds, mood, and energy levels. This builds on her work at her nationally renowned holistic health service Parsley Health, where Dr. Berzin and her team of over 100 highly trained medical providers focus on treating the whole patient, yielding extraordinary results for those dealing with gastrointestinal, hormone-related, autoimmune, and mental health conditions.

This trailblazing book explores the new science of optimizing the body in ways that will help anyone attain a new baseline for energy, calm, and optimism. Dr. Berzin believes that treating common imbalances in the body is the only way to achieve what she calls a state change—a transformation to higher levels of mental focus, emotional stability, and flow.

Leveraging Parsley’s unique patient data and successful proprietary protocols, State Change includes a 30-day program for resetting the body, mind, and mood. With easy-to-understand advice and detailed personalized assessments, State Change is the ultimate gateway to a positive mental state and peak physical health.