After falling foul of the diet police in recent years, bread is set to enjoy a renaissance. A new book puts the humble loaf back on top by asserting the pound-shedding merits of The Bread for Life Diet.

Olga Raz, a nutritionist from Israel, argues that sandwiches and toast - made taboo by the protein-laden Atkins Diet because of their high level of carbohydrates - are in fact good for you. She claims that eating eight to 12 slices of wholemeal light bread a day can help dieters lose 10lb in two weeks.

Read more about the Bread for Life Diet plan at http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1593199,00.html.