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.

The theory is that bread's 'feelgood factor' makes people less likely to turn to sugary snacks. Bread's carbohydrate content causes the body to release tryptophan, which helps it produce the chemical serotonin, a mood-booster that means people are less in need of a sugar rush.

Serotonin also prevents the metabolism from slowing down, making it more likely that the person will burn calories than store fat.

But there is a downside: alcohol is banned and the dieter is expected to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Raz, director of nutrition at Sourasky Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, said the diet was about eating regular, small meals, and keeping away from foods high in simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and processed cereals, and from fat. 'I advise people to eat wholegrain and low-calorie breads, fresh fish, low-fat yoghurts, fruit and any favourite foods as long as they don't contain simple carbs or fat.

'You must remember to eat every three to four hours. The way your body works means you should have snacks or small meals regularly.'

Raz criticised the strict regime of the Atkins Diet. 'It is all about protein, and this is no way of living. We need many of the complex carbohydrates in bread and other foods, not just endless protein.

'People are really brainwashed that carbs are the enemy. This is true for simple carbs, like in sugar, but not for complex forms. Complex carbs are our friends. Eating bread, for example, makes the level of serotonin go up in your brain. Serotonin is important because it helps to stop cravings, improves your mood and tells your brain that you are satisfied with what you've eaten.

'I have spent the last 20 years working with obese people, and we found that wholegrain and low-calorie breads helped to stop their cravings and improve their mental health.'

She added: 'Me and my husband both follow the diet. My husband wasn't fat, but he used to be just a little too heavy. He has lost 25lb and feels very fit and happy.'

Bread for Life dieters can eat as many vegetables as they like along with the bread (which can be spread thinly with butter, cottage cheese or cream cheese), one serving of fruit a day, three or four eggs a week, two to three tablespoons of olive oil a day, and plenty of water.

For three meals a week the dieter can eat limitless amounts of lean meat and fish, but must reduce their carbs by two to four slices that day. In addition, vitamin D and calcium tablets should be taken daily.

After two weeks of bread, toast and sandwiches you can add some beans, brown rice, sweet potatoes, muesli or high-fibre cereals.

Raz says the diet is already very popular in Israel and Russia and she hopes it will boom elsewhere. But experts are unconvinced.

Claire MacEvilly of the Human Nutrition Research centre at Cambridge university, said: 'This is just another spin on healthy eating. We would say you should eat seven to eight carb servings per day such as bread, other cereals or potatoes. My worry with this is the idea of encouraging people to take supplements - there is no need if you have a healthy diet.'

She said the diet was not varied enough and people would get bored: 'After two weeks you will be sick of the sight of bread.'

MacEvilly said her department was researching the GI diet, where people eat foods with a low glycaemic index. She said that, although the evidence is not there to support its weight-loss advantages, it is 'interesting'.

A study recently suggested that the GI phenomenon may skip the 'fad' nature of most diets and last.

Fads tend to fail, say experts, because they are hard to stick to. Dr Becky Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: 'The main reason people lose weight on diets like these is that they are eating less - 10 slices of bread with lots of vegetables is probably fewer calories, and you cut out alcohol. The diet is repetitive and limited.'

However, Lang said that Raz had tried to include most food groups such as carbs, protein and fats. 'It is not horrific,' she said, but warned that it may not work in the long term.

The diet

8am-10am Two slices of toast with cottage cheese or a boiled egg. Coffee or tea, but if you like it sweet, make sure it's with sugar substitute.

11am-1pm Sandwich with wholegrain or low-calorie bread, filled with avocado, turkey or salmon. Limitless amount of vegetables, fresh fruit or low-fat yoghurt can be eaten as snacks.

2pm-4pm Scrambled eggs on one slice of bread.

5pm-7pm Large salad or sandwich with a kiwi fruit.

8pm-10pm Vegetable soup with toast.

11pm Low-fat yoghurt

Plus 7-8 glasses of fluid every day: tea, coffee, water or fruit juice. Olive oil is fine in moderate amounts. Three times a week, poultry or other light meats are allowed.