The French Diet
From LoveToKnow Diet
They say French women don't get fat, and one woman has even written a book to explain why. It's because French women are taught from the cradle what to eat, how to eat, and when to eat. And with The French Diet, everyone can learn the French way of eating and enjoy the French "immunity to obesity."
Definition
The French diet is a two-phase eating plan that combines the glycemic index with the theory of food combining and a Mediterranean-style menu to create an enjoyable and easy-to-follow health and weight-loss regimen. There are two books that are useful references for those wishing to explore this way of eating: French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano and The French Diet by Michel Montignac.
Food Combining?
The theory of food combining states that certain foods should never be eaten together because they act against each other in the digestive tract, while other foods should always be eaten together because, when combined, their nutritive value is increased. Montignac gives the example of combining whole-grain bread with omega-3 oils, which lowers the glycemic index of the bread.
Glycemic Index?
The glycemic index (GI) is a way of measuring the effect of a given food on blood glucose levels. Pure glucose has a GI of 100. Potatoes have a GI of about 95, bananas have a GI of about 65, green grapes have a GI of about 45, and an avocado has a GI of about 10. The higher the GI, the more of an increase in blood sugar, and the more insulin the body must secrete in order to maintain the proper blood sugar balance. The standard American diet relies heavily on high-GI foods, while the Mediterranean and French diets focus on low-GI foods.
Phase 1: Attaining the Ideal BMI
In Phase 1, white flour, sugar, potatoes, white rice, and modified food starches are to be avoided. Meals must be balanced so they contain all of the macronutrients: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Ideally, the fats will be omega-3 or omega-6 oils, or monounsaturated fats like olive oil. The carbs must be low- or very low-GI. Three meals a day are required -- no skipping breakfast. Like the Zone Diet, the desired ration of macronutrients is 30% each of protein and fats, and 40% carbohydrates.
Phase 2: Maintenance
The Maintenance Phase continues the principles followed in the first phase, but relaxes some of the strictures and teaches a person to keep the glycemic load of each meal below 50. High-GI foods may be eaten if "compensated" for by eating a larger portion of a very low-GI food at the same time.
What Are the Best Foods?
Many glycemic index lists are available as a reference for the dieter who is watching GI. Among the acceptable foods are eggs, fish, most non-processed meats, most cheeses, most fruits and vegetables (avoiding starchy ones during Phase 1), monounsaturated fats, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats, and chocolate.
Related Diet Links
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