The Montignac Diet is a diet centered on eating low glycemic index foods, also called low GI foods. Though popular in France, it never really caught on in the United States. The diet creator, French nutritionist Michael Montignac, claims that he can show you how to eat foods you love like wine, cheese and chocolate and still lose weight. Always consult a health care professional before trying a new diet.
History
Diet creator Montignac is often called the "founding father of GI dieting." Montignac says he used low GI dieting to shed 30 lbs. and keep it off. His first dieting book, "Dine Out and Lose Weight," became a bestseller in France. It was written in 1986. Since then, Montignac has written 20 health and weight-loss books that are published in 40 countries. The Montignac diet can be considered a "precursor" to other well-known diets based on low GI foods including the GI Diet and the South Beach Diet.
Theories/Speculation
The theory behind this diet is eating to prevent the release of too much insulin, your fat storage hormone. High GI carbs are those that spike your blood sugar and prompt more insulin release, whereas low GI carbs are those that produce only small fluctuations in blood sugar and improve your insulin sensitivity. Because low GI carbs slowly trickle glucose into your bloodstream, you also stay fuller between meals and have more balanced energy levels.
Expert Insight
A growing body of scientific evidence does back this theory, reports Chloe Rhodes in the November 21, 2005 Telegraph newspaper article, "Diet Another Day: Montignac Diet." Such a diet also may reduce your risk for diabetes, Rhodes notes. The University of Sydney calls low GI carbs the "key to sustainable weight loss" on its Glycemic Index Database website.
Features
The Montignac rules out saturated fats as well as high GI carbs. Saturated fats are found in animal-based foods like whole milk and lard. High GI carbs include sugar, white bread and cereals like corn flakes. Low GI carbs include vegetables and cereals based on oats and bran.
Types
This diet is inspired by French cuisine, so you get to eat many foods disallowed on calorie-counting diets such as chocolate and red wine. Lunch is the biggest meal of your day when you follow this diet plan. In general, your meals consist mainly of high-fiber carbohydrates along with protein and fat. One example of a meal is oatcakes and non-fat cheese along with sliced apples. Another might be cherry, tomato and basil soup along with a chef salad made from cheese, boiled egg, ham, tomatoes and olive oil as well as a couple squares of dark chocolate. A snack could be hazelnuts and almonds.
Phases
There are two phases in the Montignac Diet. The first is for weight loss. You can consume foods with a glycemic index of 35 or less. You also increase your lean protein consumption. Foods are considered "low GI" if they have a GI of 55 or less. Medium GI foods have a value of 56 to 69, and those in the high GI classification have a GI of 70 or more. In the second phase, Montignac uses a formula called the glycemic outcome to minimize blood glucose spikes, even if you consume high-glycemic foods. These rules can be confusing and hard to follow, notes Diet Spotlight.
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