At the end of the 1990s, the Montignac Diet became very popular. In recent years, this method of eating has become popular again. In this article we explain how this diet works and when it can be followed. And, of course, we answer the most important question: is it really an effective diet?
According to its inventor Michel Montignac, it is not really a diet but more a method to lose a few pounds. Nevertheless, these two terms are used interchangeably today because the Montignac Diet focuses on a specific way of eating. After all, according to its inventor, weight gain is not due to excess calories but to the wrong combination of nutrients. So there is no point in counting nutritional values, but it is important to eat correctly. The goal is to change habits for life, which in fact makes this diet more of a way of eating new.
The Montignac Method has four objectives:
As you can see, the goal of this diet is more than just weight loss.
There is no point in counting calories when following the Montignac Diet since it is not about the quantity of calories but about the combination of nutrients. So how should one follow this diet?
First of all, it is important to eat the right carbohydrates and fats separately. Your diet should include both good carbohydrates and good fats, but not consumed at the same time. In addition, it is extremely important to provide your body with enough vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These nutrients are found in these “good” carbohydrates, among others. Finally, it is important to eat foods rich in fiber and protein.
Good carbohydrates are those that have a low glycemic index (GI) and thus cause a slow rise in blood sugar levels. The carbohydrates allowed on the Montignac Diet are those with a GI below 50, such as whole grains and legumes. Potatoes and sweets are not compatible with this diet.
Why is it necessary to separate fats from carbohydrates in this diet? Well, when you eat sugars, the body produces insulin to ensure their absorption. However, if the meal also contains fat, insulin makes it stored as body fat, according to Montignac. Thus, fat by itself does not cause weight gain but when combined with carbohydrates, it can lead to weight gain.
A big advantage of the Montignac Method is that you don’t have to count calories and you can eat a lot. It is about what you eat and not necessarily how much you eat. This method has a lasting effect on your health.
It can also help you find motivation to change your eating habits.
Studies have shown that eating a lot of carbohydrates with high GIs increases the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The Montignac Method recommends eating small amounts of these foods to help you lose weight.
First of all, there are no independent scientific studies proving that separating carbohydrates from fats helps you lose weight. Many followers of the Montignac Method claim to have lost weight thanks to this method but there are also researchers who believe that this is due to something else. Namely, skeptics believe that when you cannot eat certain food combinations, you eat less, which leads to weight loss. Thus, the effect is not due to the separation of foods, but to eating fewer calories. Furthermore, following this diet can be complicated. After all, many foods contain both fats and carbohydrates. From a practical point of view, putting food according to Montignac’s principles on the table every day can therefore be difficult
People who have followed (or still follow) the Montignac Diet report very different observations. It is a diet that one person loves and another hates. Some people like its strict structure while others have only negative experiences with it. The separation of carbohydrates and fats does not allow for many nutritional combinations. It requires a strong lifestyle change, among other things
The Montignac Diet can help you lose weight since it is based on eating only low-GI carbohydrates. However, it is debatable whether the separation of carbohydrates and fats also contributes to weight loss. From a practical point of view, eating according to Montignac’s principles can be difficult but, if successful, leads to the introduction of healthy eating habits
Photo: happyveganfit/Pixabay
