The South Beach Diet is an eating plan that can help with weight loss while also purportedly improving several medical conditions. Dr. Arthur Agatston, a well-known cardiologist from South Beach, Florida, originally developed the South Beach Diet for heart patients that were having trouble getting healthy on low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. The diet revolves around eliminating insulin-spiking sugars and refined carbs and focuses on eating whole foods that are good for you.
Change in Lifestyle
A permanent change in your lifestyle is one of the long-term effects of the South Beach Diet. Dr. Agatston believes that eating too many of the wrong type of carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour, is what leads to weight gain and an increase in cardiovascular diseases. Agatson's method is based on teaching you how to break that cycle and develop a healthy eating plan that will sustain you through life. Sensational.com reports that the first of three phases of the South Beach Diet is often the most difficult because it attempts to remove the poor food habits that participants have become accustomed to. For the first two weeks, almost all carbs are restricted. Phase two allows you to slowly reintroduce carbs back into your diet, while teaching you how to choose healthy whole-grains, fruits and vegetables; Phase three teaches you how to maintain these tools for the rest of your life.
Lower risk of Medical Conditions
Dr. Agatston originally developed the South Beach Diet for his patients that were at risk of heart disease, and the program is designed to eliminate potential problem-causing foods by replacing them with heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, lean meats, fish and poly and monounsaturated fats. The Mayo Clinic reports that healthy poly- and monounsaturated fats are beneficial to your health and those containing omega-3's can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease. As the South Beach Diet advocates consuming omega-3 rich foods such as salmon, olive oil, nuts and avocados, if followed consistently it may reduce risks of high blood pressure, stroke, some cancers and type-2 diabetes.
Lose Weight
The South Beach Diet is primarily marketed as a weight loss program. Since the South Beach Diet consists mostly of healthy, low-calorie and low or no-sugar foods, participants experience weight loss while following the plan. Dietsinreview.com reports that 80 percent of people that they polled who tried this diet, liked it. Whenever you eliminate sugars, processed foods and refined carbohydrates from your diet, you greatly increase your chances of losing weight, as well as maintaining a healthier, more robust lifestyle.
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