Publisher's Weekly Review

Authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan Program and The Carbohydrate's Addict's Diet, husband and wife physicians Richard and Rachel Heller have now compiled a series of recipes designed for readers following their popular eating plan. The recipes follow the principle of "insulin balance." When a person's insulin level is lower, he or she craves fewer carbohydrates, eats less sugar and, therefore, loses weight. In addition, having a balanced insulin level leads to overall good health by lowering the risk of diabetes and heart problems. An array of easy-to-follow recipes for appetizers, salads, main dishes, breakfasts and snacks are included. The recipes are generally simple and require relatively few ingredients. Seafood dishes such as Broiled Swordfish with Cilantro Oil and Steamed Mussels Peppercorn are particularly appealing. However, readers unfamiliar with the principles of the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet may find the fat-content of many recipes disconcerting. Creamy Veal Chops call for a cup of heavy cream, for example, and Hungarian Chicken Paprikash requires a cup of sour cream. The Hellers use a lot of red meat, and other recipes also include mayonnaise, butter or bacon. The book would have been more helpful if sample daily or weekly meal plans were included, as well as basic information on the carbohydrate plan itself. In the end, this new title works better as a companion to the Hellers' other books than it does as than a stand-alone volume. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved