Puhn, author of The 5-Day Miracle Diet, believes people can feel healthier and more energetic, and by following her plan, they can lower the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. The key—understanding insulin and carbohydrate resistance—has become a buzz conceptamong diet gurus. Puhn asks readers to evaluate their eating habits, physical condition and level of activity, then poses questions in a true-and-false format: for example, "You never say no to a bagel" or "Every day deserves an afternoon candy bar." Once readers understand their individual weak points, they can start to follow the program's four steps, which will enable them to balance their blood sugar, control carbohydrate intake, take the right vitamins and begin an exercise regimen. She encourages readers to choose foods primarily from the "pure power" list rather than those in other categories. Then, after people have achieved this balance with regard to sugar, they move on to "carb careful" eating. This part of the program is sometimes more difficult because certain foods are eliminated—breakfast fruit or bread and cereal are replaced with vegetables and protein. To assist readers, Puhn includes basic daily snack and meal plans; however, the book does not include detailed recipes or specific food quantities, which is a shortcoming for dieters who need to follow a prescribed diet. Still, the book offers a straightforward and sensible way to treat carbohydrate and insulin resistance for people not suffering any serious illnesses. (Dec.)
