The Glycaemic Loading Diet

“The GL Diet Recipe Book and Health Plan: Everything You Need to Know About the GL (glycaemic Loading) Approach to Weight Loss and Health, with Expert Advice and More Than 70 Delicious and Nutritious Recipes, Shown Step-by-step”  by Maggie Pannell

As the title indicates this book is all about the relatively new Glycaemic Load (GL) diet. This extends the concept of the GI (Glycaemic Index) by considering the quantity of carbohydrate in a typical serving, as well as the effect of that carbohydrate on levels of blood sugar, available energy, and weight gain. 

The introductory section provides clear explanations of the diet, the methods of categorizing foods according to their GL levels, and recommendations about foods to choose and to avoid.  Cooking and shopping tips, ideas for healthy breakfasts and lunches, and comprehensive low-GL meal planners make preparing for and following the diet plan simple.   Each of the more than 70 recipes is beautifully illustrated, carefully explained and uses ingredients which are widely available.

The only improvements I can think of would be a convenient table listing GL levels for a wide range of foods, plus more of the delicious and appealing recipes.  Overall this book provides an attractive, informative and easy-to-read introduction to the GL diet and health plan. 

Alison

Living well gluten-free

      There is a growing public awareness of individual sensitivity to certain types of food, and gluten is high on the list of culprits. However, recognizing symptoms of gluten-intolerance is not always straightforward. Also, once diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, how to avoid an ingredient which is so commonly used?

‘The living gluten-free answerbook’ by Suzanne Bowland answers many of the most pressing questions, such as the difference between food-allergies and food-intolerance, how to decipher food-labels, and how to negotiate eating out.

For practical recipe advice, the following book is highly recommended by one of our Hurunui library borrowers:

‘Everyday gluten-free cooking: living well without wheat’ by Bette Hagman

It tells you how to make your own gluten-free pasta, muesli, muffins, pies and even hot-cross buns from ingredients readily available in most supermarkets.

Sylvia