Indian cookbook for Britons' health

Health-conscious Britons can now dig into spicy curries without guilt, courtesy Sudhesh Kumar's cookbook Spice For Life.

Health-conscious Britons can now dig into rich and spicy curries without guilt as a cookbook of Indian cuisine featuring low calorie recipes is being distributed free to doctor's clinics.

Written by Sudhesh Kumar, a professor of Medicine at the Warwick University, the curries are low on salt and oil and retain their flavour with herbs rather than ghee. Kumar, who is based in Coventry where half the population is overweight, graduated from the University of Madras in 1986 and is an expert on obesity-driven diabetes.

Coventry has a large minority who trace their origin to the Indian sub-continent. "We all have to remember that obesity is the single most important factor in predicting who will develop diabetes. Sadly those whose origins are in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh are four to five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes," said Kumar.

Warwick University paid for the production of 5,000 copies of Spice For Life which was written in collaboration with Akhtar Islam, a chef based in Birmingham. "The availability of healthier oils makes it possible to retain authentic cooking practices and flavour. This book offers the chance to enjoy your favourite curry without guilt," said Islam, who cooks for the popular Lasan restaurants in Birmingham.

Kumar believes that the meals recommended in the cook book were delicious as there was less salt and more herbs. The portions were smaller and vegetable oil was recommended for use instead of ghee. Coventry resident Sudha Iyer told PTI that Kumar's recipe for "lamb madras and tandoori salmon" was tantalisingly delicious and also low on calorie content.