The present invention is directed to a method of treating a patient suffering from the metabolic syndrome and/or related disorders including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory state, and pro-coagulative state, and comprising the steps of (a) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that decreases overactive CNS noradrenergic tone; followed by (b) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that increases dopaminergic tone while maintaining the above decreased overactive CNS noradrenergic tone. The present invention is also directed to food products useful in implementing the dietary regimens.