The X-Factor Diet

Do you want 'to see 'the fat... melt away', to 'gain sleek, smooth, beautifully shaped muscles' and to 'reach new levels of energy and vitality you may only have dreamed of until now'? With this book, Kenton says that 'you can transform your body into a radiantly healthy, fat-burning organism for life.' So what miracle formula will lead to this nirvana of well-being? Kenton suggests that permanent weight loss doesn't happen until we deal with Syndrome X, also known as 'insulin resistance syndrome'. Government directives in nutrition and health have for many years recommended that we should eat foods high in carbohydrates and low in fats. Unfortunately scientific advances now indicate that this manner of eating can have adverse effects on the human metabolism. The human body was not genetically designed to cope with processed foods. In fact the optimum diet should be higher in protein and good fats and much lower in carbohydrates - specifically non-starchy, low-glycaemic carbohydrates such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach. The X Factor outlines two principal eating plans: Ketogenics, a radical programme to kick-start the system, and the Insulin Balance programme, which can be employed by the moderately overweight. This book is crammed with facts, figures, tables, recipes, nutritional material and scientific data, and there are references galore within the appendix for those who wish to delve further into the research. Kenton is not the first or only health expert to extol the virtues of the high protein/low carb diet. As she herself informs us, 'the low-carbohydrate diet is as old as recorded history.' She cites many others including Richard Mackarness, Barry Sears and of course Dr Atkins who have all argued that eating this way is healthier for us. Those who are resolute about weight loss, and have the time to assimilate and act on the advice, may find this book invaluable. However, the sheer amount of information is almost overwhelming and for most this will not be a quick fix but instead require a complete life change. Although Kenton would have us believe that following a low-carbohydrate diet is easy when you're used to it, realistically only the dedicated will endure without longing for pizza, sweets, potatoes, pasta and bread. (Kirkus UK)