The GL Diet Cookbook: Over 150 tasty recipes for easy weight loss. Nigel Denby

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      Health bite: Rich in Vitamin E.

      Everyday uses: Nutty, rich and flavourful. A little goes a long way. Use in salad dressings with a bit of olive oil, goes well with asparagus. Can be used in baked goods.

      Olive oil

      History: The olive dates back to 17th century BC and was mentioned in Egyptian records and several times in the Bible. It has been a sign of peace and truce for millennia.

      Health bite: Heart healthy. Doesn’t need high temperature or chemical processing, since it is made from the flesh of the olive and not the seed. Look for extra-virgin olive oil as it comes from the first pressing of the olives and is therefore the highest quality.

      Everyday uses: Any salad dressings; try mixing with balsamic or red wine vinegar. You can cook with extra-virgin although it is more expensive. Fine for medium-temperature cooking but don’t overheat. Good shelf-life.

      Pumpkin seed oil

      History: First recorded reference in Austria 1739. Gourmets have appreciated the culinary and health properties of this delicacy for centuries.

      Health bite: Healthy monounsaturated fat, helps increase HDL (good cholesterol) and high in zinc.

      Everyday uses: Adding flavour to soups, salad dressings. Try mixing with olive oil, mustard and apple vinegar.

      Rice bran oil

      History: A newcomer on the block. Production first started in the US in 1960s.

      Health bite: A good healthy alternative oil. Great source of vitamin E, antioxidants and micronutrients. Studies in 1990s have demonstrated it helps reduce cholesterol levels.

      Everyday uses: Salads. Also has a very high smoke point, so ideal for pan- and stir-frying. Foods cooked in rice bran oil absorb less oil during cooking. Excellent shelf-life.

      Sesame oil

      History: Babylonians used it for making exotic perfumes, cooking, sesame cakes and as a medicine. A purchase of sesame oil was recorded on an Egyptian clay tablet in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace records in 6th century BC.

      Health bite: High in vitamin E. Dark in colour with strong, distinctive flavour.

      Everyday uses: Add small amount to stir-fries at end of cooking time, use in salad dressings, or drizzle over steak. Not suitable for cooking. Long shelf-life.

      Walnut oil

      History: Around 2,000BC, clay tablets in Mesopotamia revealed the existence of walnut groves within the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Produced in France, where it is well loved and used widely.

      Health bite: Very high in Omega 3.

      Everyday uses: Salad dressings: combine it with olive oil. Goes well with fruit, cheese and walnuts, often used with fish. Not suitable for cooking. Short shelf-life.

      Flavoured/Infused Olive Oils

       Chilli olive oil – great with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauces or chocolate

       Garlic olive oil – good for sauces, pasta, vegetables, fish or meat

       Basil olive oil – goes well with rice and pasta salads, soups and tomato sauces

       Rosemary olive oil – use with potatoes, fish, beans, risotto or chocolate

       Lemon olive oil – ideal for mayonnaise or with white or red meat or tomatoes

       Ginger olive oil – good for soups, fish, meat, rice and cakes

       Porcini mushroom olive oil – use in risottos, sauces, soups and with vegetables

       Chapter 4 GROOVY GRAINS AND FRIENDLY FLOURS

      What Are Wholegrains?

      When grains are milled or refined, the bran (the fibre-rich outer layer of the kernel) and germ (the nutrient-rich inner part) are removed, leaving only the endosperm (the middle starchy bit). Most of the nutritional value of the grain is lost in the process, because the bran and the germ contain the highest concentration of nutrients.

      To increase your intake of whole grains:

       Eat porridge which is made from wholegrain oats instead of highly refined cereals. Oats, in general, are a great food choice.

       Swap white bread for wholegrain rye/pumpernickel or soya and linseed bread.

       Try eating tabbouleh, a popular dish made with bulgur wheat.

       Use pearl barley (great as a rice substitute, as rice is a high-GL food).

       Substitute white flour for flours that are less processed and contain more fibre such as buckwheat flour, spelt flour, soya flour or gram flour.

      When looking at food labels, look for the word ‘whole’ in front of the name of the grain, for example 100 per cent whole wheat. Even popcorn is classed as a whole grain!

      Eating healthy wholegrains fits in very well with your new low-GL eating plan, as wholegrains have a lower GL than their highly processed counterparts.

      Why Eat Them?

      Recent research shows that eating wholegrains can help maintain the health of your heart. You will get more benefits from eating wholegrains as it is the combination of all three parts of the grain that provide the best health benefits.

      Which Wholegrains Are Low GL?

       Bulgur

       Buckwheat

       Corn on the cob and unsweetened popcorn

       Oats (porridge oats makes a great brekkie!)

       Pearl barley

       Quinoa – if you stick to 30g it brings the GL down to around 9, so is classed as low.

       Rice generally has a high GL, but wild rice and brown rice tend to have a lower GL than most other varieties – use sparingly or mix half-and-half with pearl barley or beans and pulses until you reach your target weight.

       Rye

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