Gwyneth Paltrow pens cookbook based on 'elimination diet'

UNITED STATES - After writing a cookbook based on her childhood experiences cooking with filmmaker dad Bruce - an endeavour that received mixed reviews last year - actress Gwyneth Paltrow has released a follow-up cookery book based on a restrictive "elimination diet" which she claims helped her shed pounds and feel more energetic.

The book "It's All Good: Delicious, Easy, Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great" is a collection of 185 "restorative" dishes that also come with a slew of food restrictions: recipes are sugar-free, non-dairy, vegetarian, wheat-free and non-alcoholic.

Not unlike a detox plan, the book is based on an "elimination diet" prescribed by her doctor when she was feeling fatigued and faint, anemic, vitamin D-deficient and stressed, reads the official publisher's book description.

An elimination diet is a method of identifying foods that an individual cannot consume without adverse effects. Such effects may be due to food allergy, food intolerance, other physiological mechanisms (such as metabolic or toxins), or a combination of these.

"After changing her diet, Paltrow healed totally, felt more energetic and looked great."

The pitch? Eat like Paltrow and readers will likewise shed the pounds and find more energy.

In the book, Paltrow explains that she, along with husband Chris Martin and kids Apple and Moses, has given up dairy, sugar, gluten and soy, and opts for other ingredients instead.

Recipes include dishes like Huevos Rancheros, Hummus Tartine with Scallion-Mint Pesto, Salmon Burgers with Pickled Ginger, Power Brownies and Banana "Ice Cream."

Criticisms

Criticism

Meanwhile, though the book has yet to be published, popular food blog Eater.com - which doled out a merciless review of "My Father's Daughter" - has shown no signs of backing down from its anti-Paltrow perch and panned her sophomore effort already, based on her debut effort last year:

"Will the followup book continue down this path of faux-populism and rich person dietary condemnation? You betcha."

Eater called "My Father's Daughter" a "vanity project from a rich person completely unafraid to casually boast about her life of privilege."

Others have expressed horror and accused Paltrow of being an "unfit" mother who is starving her children.

Publisher's Weekly, however, called it "a warm and inviting collection" filled with "charming personal anecdotes."

"It's All Good" is to be published April 2 as both an ebook and hardcover by publishing house Hachette Book Group.

Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz seems to have been inspired by Paltrow's success in the publishing world and is said to be working on a book about nutrition and health for teen girls.

Additional information by YourHealth, AsiaOne.