Marielle Rucker notices that when she eats a lot of fruit and vegetables, she thinks more clearly and has more energy.

"I feel lighter and cleaner after taking red meat out of my diet. I find that I am now regular and not as lethargic," she says.

Rucker, 30, recently underwent a detoxification that included fruits and vegetables for a boot camp cardio fitness program called NuLife. She says she has truly found a new way of life.

She says she has a rejuvenated perspective on her relationships and career.

"I actually feel better about myself, and that translates into everything else that I have to do in life," she says. "I find that I am proud of myself for taking time out for me because it is very easy to spend time taking care of everything and everyone else."

Dr. Eric Braverman, author of Younger, Thinner You Diet, would likely argue that the Rucker’s new way of eating plays a major role in her overall wellness by balancing the chemicals in her brain.

His plan, which is similar to Rucker’s meal plan, includes lowering red meat intake, drinking plenty of water and eating fruits and vegetables.

Brain Chemicals

However, Braverman’s book outlines a diet that includes food that will keep critical brain chemicals such as dopamine, acetylcholine, gama-aminobutryric acid -- or GABA -- and serotonin -- in balance.

Without dopamine, the metabolism slows down.

"Dopamine also controls how we quantify the feeling of satisfaction when we are eating a meal," he writes. "When this brain chemical is balanced, we can eat until we feel physically full in our stomachs and emotionally satisfied in the brain."

If dopamine is low, the brain will not let the body know it is satisfied.

Acetylcholine controls the speed at which the electrical signals from the brain are sent throughout the body. A deficiency will make a person crave foods high in fat.

Early symptoms of an acetycholine deficiency are similar to depression. They include loss of thought, being really sad, having poor relationships, increased paranoia, frequent urination, sexual dysfunction and dry skin and dry mouth.

"The slowing down of the brain brings about a slowing down of the body … affecting any of the four domains of brain function," Braverman says. "Depression is mostly a serotonin deficiency and, even though there could be a similarity in some of the symptoms, the treatment options for both these deficiencies vary."

A GABA deficiency can make one overly emotional and mentally or physically rocky, Braverman says. This may cause one to yearn for comfort and sometimes look for it in food.

Serotonin acts as an "off" switch for the body and allows it to shut down and therefore reinvigorate. Serotonin balance also helps control cravings for salt and carbohydrates.

Braverman is also the director of PATH Medical Center in New York. PATH combines conventional wisdom with what the author says is unique knowledge of the workings of the brain.

Braverman’s approach is not to count calories. However, there are 10 rules to the diet. He says people should upgrade every meal with spices, drink tea with every meal, eat yogurt, choose proteins carefully, choose expanding and balanced foods, eat fiber-filled foods, drink water throughout the day, add color to every meal, eat fruits and vegetables and have three foods for each meal.

Teas And Spices

One of the most unique features of the diet is in the inclusion of various spices and teas.

In the book, Braverman outlines spices’ benefits and the brain chemical benefits.

For example, cumin lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and it affects acetycholine and dopamine levels. Garlic reduces the risk of heart attack and prevents blood clots and atherosclerosis. It also affects the dopamine level.

"Teas and spices have a myriad of different nutrients with medicinal value and aid weight loss, blood sugar regulation, appetite control and a host of other valuable properties," he says.

Exercise Does Body Good, Too

Braverman also suggests exercising to help with weight loss but to also build bone and muscle density.

"Exercise is as important as following a nutritious and well balanced diet," he says. "Every person must have at least 7 hours of exercise per week, which should be a combination of cardio, aerobic exercise and weight training."

Paige Waehner, a personal trainer, say in order to lose weight and keep it off there must be a good mix of a good nutrition and exercise.

"Not only does exercise burn calories, which is what you want for weight loss, but some activities -- especially high-intensity exercise -- can actually suppress the appetite for a period of time after the workout, which may help control calorie intake," she said.

While Braverman’s diet plan does not focus on caloric intake, Waehner says cutting calories is crucial to weight loss and overall healthful lifestyle.

"Cutting calories from your diet is also very important but combining calorie control with exercise allows you to get the most out of your weight loss program," she says.

Certain foods can make one feel better, but Waehner says exercise can make you feel good and help with concentration.

"There is evidence that the body releases feel-good hormones when you exercise," she says. "There are also emotional and psychological responses that can make you feel good. (This includes) satisfaction for completing a difficult task, building more confidence, getting stronger and knowing you can stick to your commitment to be healthy."