7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, practical cookbook, May 18, 2009
This review is from: The GL Cookbook and Diet Plan: A Glycemic Load Weight-Loss Program with Over 150 Delicious Recipes (Paperback)
The GL Cookbook and Diet Plan offers practical advice for substituting foods with lower glycemic index scores for those with higher scores. Recipes were also created looking at the total glycemic load which differs based on food combinations and portion sizes.
The authors provide sample meal plans and easy to read charts with food substitutions and methods for reaching the daily recommended servings for food groups. They also add interesting facts about various foods to keep things interesting. While stressing good choices in eating, the authors also understand that a severely restricted diet will lead to failure and so provide a great deal of flexibility.
The recipes are nicely organized and labeled by how much time they take to prepare. Vegetarian recipes are also clearly labeled. Some of the recipes do use some less familiar ingredients but others are simply new combinations of familiar foods. The recipes in this book are a jumping off point for creating your own low GL recipes for your favorite dishes by using some simple substitutions.
I think it is important to note that this book was originally published in the UK and uses some terminology that may not resonate with a North American audience. Also the website mentioned frequently in the book (http://www.dietfreedom.co.uk/) as a resource for locating vendors is a UK based website with most information only available to paying members.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and Easy-to-read, May 7, 2009
This review is from: The GL Cookbook and Diet Plan: A Glycemic Load Weight-Loss Program with Over 150 Delicious Recipes (Paperback)
"The GL Cookbook and Diet Plan" show an easy-to-follow plan for health weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes. This is the third book by Nigel Denby, Tina Michelucci, and Deborah Pyner, the others being "The 7-Day GL Diet" and "The GL Diet."
The Glycemic index is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly during digestion releasing glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI. Carbohydrates that break down slowly releasing glucose gradually into the bloodstream have a low GI. For most people, foods with a low GI have significant health benefits.
GL stands for Glycemic Load, which, according to Nigel Demby, is a simpler and more accurate way of determining the glycemic index for apportion of food. This book provides simple charts, easy to follow advice, and good-sounding recipes to help keep a low GL. It covers the main points of glycemic index and its effects on diabetes and weight control. Also covered is what affects food's GI and how to cook them.
I found the topic, Adding Acidity, to be really interesting. Test show that adding lemon juice or vinegar to a high carb meal will lower the glycemic response by 30%. Also researchers from Sweden found a direct link between increased vinegar intake and satiety after eating.
Simple recipes like Bacon Frittata for one made with 2 eggs and 2 slices of bacon (15 minutes total time) and a Spinach and Egg soufflé with eggs, spinach, cheddar and parmesan cheese (45 minutes total time) make it easy to add new low GL dishes to the menu.
This is an informative, easy-to-read, and helpful book for those who have a glycemic problem and those looking to incorporate some healthy tips in their daily eating habits.
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