The South Beach Diet is not all bad, but it certainly isn't the happy-go-lucky panacea to weight loss its tropical-colored website display and glamorous Miami moniker suggest. Even though Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, developed the diet, it is more of a commercial weight loss program than a program you typically follow under medical supervision from your own doctor, according to MayoClinic.com.
Two Red Flags
Two red flags of the South Beach diet are the claims that you can lose up to 13 lbs. in two weeks and that you can lose most of this weight from your midsection. MayoClinic.com points out that most dietitians and nutritionists recommend that you don't lose more than 1 or 2 lbs. per week. There are exceptions, such as when your doctor recommends that you lose weight rapidly because of obesity. But in general, if you lose more than 1 or 2 lbs. per week on a diet, you are likely to gain the weight back when you return to more regular eating habits. Also, a large initial weight loss could simply be mostly water weight. As far as losing most of the weight from your tummy, that is probably not going to happen. Registered dietitian Juliette Kellow says that it's almost impossible to lose weight from a specific area of your body.
Fruit Restrictions
Another problem with the South Beach diet is the restriction it places on eating bananas, carrots, pineapple and some other fruits. The reason for the restriction is that these are higher glycemic foods, and the South Beach Diet is based on the glycemic index. On this diet, you are to eliminate high glycemic foods because they tend to boost your blood sugar, which could boost your appetite as well. So, for the first two weeks, phase one of the diet, you cannot eat most carbohydrates, which include bread, pasta, rice and fruit. Ironically, even with the diet's Florida name, The Florida Citrus Industry fought the diet because of the orange juice restriction, according to PBS.
Ketosis
The South Beach Diet suggests that you restrict your carbohydrates. This could lead to ketosis, which could lead to more problems. Ketosis occurs when your body burns fat instead of burning carbs. You can achieve ketosis when you eat a high fat and protein diet combined with a low-carb diet, like the Atkins diet or the South Beach Diet. According to Medical News Today, the verdict is out on whether ketosis from your diet is bad for you. During the time that humans were hunter-gatherers, the body was in a ketogenic state, which suggests that humans can endure it, but ketosis can lead to kidney stones and a higher osteoporosis risk. A ketogenic diet also can lead to constipation and dehydration.
Requires Willpower
The South Beach Diet requires its adherents to possess a lot of willpower, particularly in the first two weeks. During this time, you cannot eat most carbs and can't drink fruit juices or alcohol. The danger with restrictive diets like this is that people might feel like giving up. The more successful way to lose weight is to change your eating and exercise habits permanently. You might be able to take some good from the South Beach Diet, like eating lean meats, high fiber vegetables and whole wheat grains -- when you get past phase one -- but no long-term clinical studies have proven the health benefits of the South Beach Diet.
References
- MayoClinic.com; South Beach Diet; November 2010
- PBS; Comparing the Diets; April 2004
- Colorado State University Extension; Weight Loss Diet Books; May 2010
- Weight Loss Resources; South Beach Under the Spotlight; Juliette Kellow
- Medical News Today; What is Ketosis? What Causes Ketosis?; March 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss: Choosing a Diet That's Right for You; June 2010
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