South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet was created by the cardiologist Arthur Agastson and emphasises the intact of "good carbs" and "good gats" as he wished to develop a diet for cardiac patients and then became a book.

Frequently the South Beach Diet is categorized similarly to the Atkins diet which mainly advocates a low-cobohydrate diet.

The main premise is of the South Beach Diet is that excessive consumption of "bad carbohydrates" such as those that can be found in foods with a high glycemic index (see eDiets / Tesco Diets) can create an insulin reistance syndrome. This condition means that the body can not correctly process fats or sugars. He also asserted that it would be improper for those looking to loose weight to have a diet exessive in saturated fat or trans fats as this leads to an increase chance of getting cardiovasular disease. As such, the South Beach Diet encourages the reduction of bad fats, bad carbs and the increased intake in good fats and good carbs.

There are three phases of the South Beach Diet. However, during all of the phases, consumption of the "bad fats". But in the first phase lasting two weeks the dieter trys to eliminate insulin resistance by avoiding high GI carbs such as sugar, sweets, bread, potatoes, fruit, cereals and grains. It is stated that during this phase the body should lose its insulin reistance and begin to use excess body fat which could amount to half a stone to a stone.

After this phase, the second means that you can have grain foods and fruits again although less than you had before you started the diet. When you're happy with your healthy weight you move into phase three.

This third phase is a more expansive diet where you can have three servings of whole grains and three servings of fruit a day.

But we've been talking about "good carbs" and "good fats". But what are they?

• Good carbs are high in fiber or high in good fats, and have a low glycemic index, that is, they are digested and absorbed slowly. Other preferred carbohydrates are those with more nutritional value than the alternatives. For instance, brown rice is allowed in moderation, but white rice is discouraged. When eating any carbohydrates, Dr. Agatston recommends also eating fiber or fat to slow digestion of the carbohydrates.
  
• Good fats are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids. Saturated and trans fats are bad fats.

The good element of this diet is that it encourages a permanent change in a diet and is not a crash diet. Also you have a variety of foods to have. You're not restricted to any one food group. Also you don't have to count calories or points.

Does it work?
A 2004 study of the South Beach Diet by Agatston, et al., reviewed a 1998-1999 trial completed by 54 participants over the course of a year and also a study of the South Beach Diet was conducted in 2005 by Kraft Foods was completed by 69 subjects over the course of just under three months. Both studies showed favorable results for the groups using The South Beach diet as created by Agatston.

South Beach Diet Books:
The South Beach Diet: A Doctor's Plan for Fast and Lasting Weight Loss (Paperback) by Arthur Agatston. Only £3.99.

Other South Beach Diet Books.