The Thinner You diet plan is meant to reverse aging and unlock your weight loss with a dopamine-based diet approach. Officially named The Younger (Thinner) You Diet, the plan was created by Dr. Eric Braverman, director of New York's PATH Medical as well as a clinical assistant neurological surgery professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Braverman believes that obesity is an addictive disorder which you can overcome by eating to enhance dopamine production and boosting your brain function.
Theories/Speculation
Braverman's theory is that as your brain function slows, you gain weight, so altering your brain chemistry is the key to effective and long-term weight loss. When your brain functions better, you are able to switch off cravings and overcome addictions to various foods. Changing your brain chemistry also reverses your aging process, allowing you to have a younger and more energetic body and mind, claims Braverman. He simplifies brain chemistry into four main neurotransmitters. These are dopamine/catecholamine, which provide energy; acetylcholine which affects cognition; serotonin/sleep/endorphin which is your pain-relieving system; and GABA which is involved in stability. He says the brain impacts every human illness. His theories are outlined in his book, "The Younger (Thinner) You Diet."
Features
In essence, the diet plan involves a low-fat, low-carb and high protein eating approach, notes the Diets in Review website. Dieters consume nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily, most of which are low on the glycemic index. The plan also calls for using herbs, spices and teas. For example, according to the PATH Medical website, a typical daily eating plan would include: Yogurt and fruit with cinnamon for breakfast; a corn, black bean, jicama and mango salad for lunch; popcorn with herbs like rosemary and garlic for a snack; and salmon with rice and herbs for dinner.
Function
Braverman makes three main assertions in his book, according to Diet Spotlight. The diet is supposed to be personalized and work for you, no matter what kind of health problems you have. You are not supposed to feel deprived or hungry because you'll learn to choose foods that help you lose weight without leading to these feelings. Finally, you will learn which foods increase dopamine in your body. Braverman says dopamine sends the message on when to burn fat to your brain.
Expert Insight
Diet review sites have mixed levels of enthusiasm for this eating plan. The Diet Spotlight website calls it one of many plans that are a dime a dozen, cites reviews that say the diet book is difficult to read due to the medical terminology it contains and other issues, and characterizes its recipes as bland. However, the site does note that healthy eating concepts contained in the plan can cut your overall daily calorie intake. The Diets in Review site touts it as a plan that encourages healthy and long-term weight loss based on a healthy eating plan, coupled with exercise.
Considerations
This diet also advocates use of thermogenic--meaning metabolism-boosting--foods. Effectiveness of such foods is still under debate, notes Diets in Review. It also relies on artificial sweeteners, which the Diet Spotlight site says are typically avoided in healthy meal plans because they contain chemicals that may increase hunger.
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