Information About the South Beach Diet

Overview

When people hear the words "South Beach," they traditionally envisioned sun, sand and bikini-clad women strolling on a Florida beach. However, since 2003 when the first "South Beach Diet" book was published, dieters around the world now picture something quite different when hearing those words: a shrinking waist line and a dropping scale read-out.

Origins

Cardiologist Arthur Agatston is the creator of The South Beach Diet. Agatston did not set out to develop a diet; he was trying to help his obese cardiology patients combat the variety of ailments they faced, which eventually led to creation of The South Beach Diet.

Time Frame

The South Beach Diet is broken into three "phases." Phase I is designed to last two weeks. Phase II is considered the primary "weight loss phase." And Phase III is maintenance--designed to become the user's new way of eating for life.

Philosophy

The diet does not focus on calories, but rather on types of foods and portions. Dr. Agatston's belief is that if you eat the right foods, it will take less to fill you up. The primary components of The South Beach Diet are: nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, low-fat dairy and "good" fats.

Misconceptions

Critics of the diet, or individuals who simply aren't familiar with it, often mischaracterize The South Beach Diet as "just like The Atkins Diet," or "just another low-carbohydrate" fad diet. This is not the case. Unlike Atkins, South Beach does not promote eating large amounts of unhealthy fats, nor does it eliminate/drastically reduce carbohydrate intake in the long term. It is only during Phase I, or for two weeks, that carbs are greatly reduced. What South Beach does require the dieter to eliminate, during Phase I and II, are "bad" carbohydrates such as sugar, white bread, white rice and white pasta.

Benefits

The South Beach Diet emphasizes eating low-glycemic foods, which means foods that have a lesser effect on your blood sugar levels. According to a study reported by the "Journal of the American Medical Association" on Dec. 17, 2008, Type 2 diabetics who ate a low-glycemic diet saw more improvements in control of their glucose levels and heart-disease risks than those who ate a high-fiber diet.