by A. Y. Ford

Created on: August 12, 2009

Younger (Thinner) You Diet by Eric R. Braverman, MD. is a wonderful book to help you understand how spices, teas, and certain foods can help balance chemicals in your brain to help you feel better.

Braverman introduces the reader to different chemicals in the brain and how they affect aging, weight gain, energy levels, etc. It is through understanding these chemicals and the deficiencies of each that the reader can begin to recognize and implement dietary changes that will bring the chemicals into proper balance.

The reader is asked to take a test to access what chemical deficiencies he or she has and at what level each deficiency is. It is after taking that test he gives you ways to determine which chemical to begin to balance first. The test consists of a list of symptoms that show deficiencies. The main chemicals Braverman discusses are dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and serotonin. The subtitles for each chemical are as follows: "Dopamine Creates Brain Power." "Acetylcholine Controls Brain Speed," "GABA Maintains Brain Rhythm," "Serotonin Keeps Your Brain in Sync." He goes into great depth informing how a lack of a certain chemical can affect a person's life.

Braverman also goes into depth on food addiction and how it relates to certain chemical problems in the brain. The information he gives, relieves the hopelessness many food addicted people live with. It is not just about will power it is about changing the way your brain is working by putting in proper fuel and allowing your body to feel what it is like to live without addiction to harmful foods and chemicals.

The book has many recipes for healthy means and ways to make each meal better in treating certain deficiencies. Sometimes it is just a matter of adding a spice or one extra ingredient to a dish to make it more helpful to your body. Many of the ingredients that he suggests adding to your meals are not that exotic or expensive.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels they have tried diets and failed as this book is not just another diet book. I have felt very positive changes after implementing some of the suggestions Braverman gave in this book. I have also been able to change some of the eating habits of my family without there being a revolt against health food. Simple things like adding cinnamon to many recipes or switching the vegetables because certain ones contain the nutrients we need have been easy yet helpful adjustments after reading this book.

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