The Montignac Method

The Montignac Method, developed by Michel Montignac, is a low glycemic diet plan that focuses on foods low on the glycemic index and advocates certain food combinations for optimum weight loss.

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Type - Glycaemic Index

Are special products required? - No

Is eating out possible? - Yes

Is the plan family friendly? - Yes

Do you have to buy a book? - Yes

Is the diet easy to maintain? - Yes

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So how does it work?...

Like other low glycemic diet plans, the Montignac Method is based on reducing the intake of high glycemic index foods. The diet also calls for low fat content and high fiber content.


For low fat foods the diet recommends lean meat, dairy, and oils (calling this entire group “lipids”) and for high fiber foods it recommends vegetables and whole grains.


Good and bad carbohydrates are also identified in the plan.


Specific food combinations are also advised due to their supposed special abilities to promote weight loss when eaten in that specific combination.


For example, lipids and carbohydrates are not allowed in the same meal in this plan. Fruits must be eaten alone, like in many other food combining diet plans.


As long as these rules are followed regarding the type of food eaten, the quantity eaten can be unrestricted.

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The Diet Plan...

Three meals per day are eaten on the Montignac Method with special care given to the types of food eaten and strictly combining food only in the approved combinations.


As a two phase diet, the Montignac Method begins with a first phase that completely eliminates bad carbohydrates and fully introduces all of the food combination rules.


Phase two allows the reintroduction of select bad carbohydrates as well as wine.


Drinking lots of water is very important in this diet plan.

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Is it good for you?...

Many of the claims that are in the Montignac Method are unscientific with no evidence. It is also pointed out that the author is not a health-care professional and as such is not qualified to be making such claims in the first place.


Some of the reasoning he uses is flawed, for example in claiming that North Americans have decreased their caloric intake in the last century by 30% when the fact is that North Americans have increased their intake by 10% -- this explains the otherwise unexplained and puzzling rise in obesity that the author goes on to blame on food combinations.


He does not take into account the decreased physical activity levels that accompanied this rise in caloric intake, exacerbating the problem of obesity further.


Weight loss on this diet plan is possible due to the low caloric intake. When the average person eliminates bad carbohydrates it usually creates a large caloric hole in their diet.


The food combinations that the author adamantly supports are unlikely to benefit you in your weight loss efforts, but the focus on the glycemic index is not without merit.


A vitamin supplement is required on this diet, though a more balanced diet overall would be more advisable.

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Example Day...

Early Morning
• Grapes

Breakfast
• Porridge with skimmed milk

Lunch
• Roast chicken with whole-grain (brown) rice, tomatoes, and courgettes
• Fat-free cheese
• Apple puree

Dinner
• Chicory salad with sliced hard-boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, grated hard cheese, and a sugar-free dressing

Snacks
• Not allowed in phase I. Dark chocolate in phase II.

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