Is The South Beach Diet A High Protein Diet?

The South Beach Diet was developed in 2003 by cardiologist Arthur Agatston as a weight-loss diet. It is a moderately low- carbohydrate diet, with higher intakes of fat and protein and lower carbohydrate intake than the typical eating plan. There are three phases to the diet, with the first two weeks removing almost all carbohydrates, placing a concentration on protein sources like meat, fish, eggs, nuts and cheese. The following two phases slowly add in whole food carbohydrates.

Key Principles

According to the South Beach Diet Plan website, there are five key principles emphasized. 1) Select the right carbohydrates like whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and good fats, including oily fish, nuts, olive oil and canola oil; 2) there is no need to count calories or fat and carbohydrate grams if wholesome foods in satisfying portions are chosen; 3) choose foods from the "Foods to Enjoy" list, while staying away from those on the "Avoid" list; 4) the diet is about lifestyle changes, not a fad, short-term diet. Choose healthful foods and increase physical activity; 5) the diet provides benefits besides weight loss including lower cholesterol and glucose levels and reduced heart disease and Type 2 diabetes risk.

Macronutrients and Weight Loss

The Brigham and Women's Hospital coordinated a study published in the February 2009 "New England Journal of Medicine" to determine if emphasis on particular macronutrients -- fat, carbohydrate or protein -- led to a difference in weight loss. The authors concluded that any type of diet, when used to increase weight loss "with enthusiasm and persistence," can lead to weight loss. "The specific macronutrient composition is of minor importance."

Micronutrient Deficiencies

A study published in the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" in 2010 analyzed the suggested menus of four popular diets, including the South Beach Diet, to determine if the minimum level of 27 nutrients would be supplied if the plan was followed. The South Beach diet provided 100 percent of the recommended dietary intake for only six of the 27 micronutrients, the lowest level of sufficiency out of the four diets. If you chose to follow this diet, be sure to include a multi-vitamin to prevent deficiencies.

Considerations

Restricting carbohydrates to below 20 g a day can lead to ketoacidosis. This can develop in individuals when glucose levels drop and ketones are produced from the breakdown of fat. While this is a normal process, it can be dangerous for some individuals, leading to coma and death. Check with your doctor if you are considering the south beach diet; particularly if you have diabetes or kidney disease.