The South Beach Diet is a meal plan that incorporates glycemic index factors. The glycemic index is a rating system for food that evaluates the rise in blood sugar levels after eating certain foods. The South Beach Diet promotes eating habits with foods that have a low glycemic index, meaning the plan reduces the amount of carbohydrates in the diet.
Significance
The purpose of the South Beach Diet is for dieters to lose weight quickly. The foods present in meal plans are very low in sugars, causing the body to use fat stores as a source of energy. This leads to weight loss in the dieter.
Phases
The South Beach Diet has three phases. The first limits all carbohydrates, and the dieter must avoid any starchy foods, including potatoes, pasta and bread. The next two phases slowly introduce carbs back into the diet.
Benefits
Weight loss is the main benefit of the South Beach Diet. People are able to lose several pounds in a reasonable amount of time.
Considerations
The South Beach Diet is low in calcium, so the elderly and growing children should not use this diet. Calcium supplements should be used.
Warning
People who use low-carb diets as a way to lose weight often gain the weight back quickly when resuming meal plans with carbohydrates.
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