Dr Arthur Agatston, a prominent Miami cardiologist, developed the South Beach diet to improve the health of his patients. He believes other low-carbohydrate diets overlook the healthy aspects of carbohydrates and promote saturated fats and proteins. In contrast, his diet encourages good carbohydrates and limits the bad.
Diet Plan Type: Low Carb, Carb Controlled, Carbohydrate-Controlled
Best for: Long term weight loss and to maintain weight loss.
How does the South Beach diet plan work?
Dr Arthur Agatston, a prominent Miami cardiologist, developed the South Beach diet plan to improve the health of his patients. He believes other low-carbohydrate diets overlook the healthy aspects of carbohydrates and promote saturated fats and proteins. In contrast, his diet encourages good carbohydrates and limits the bad.
The South Beach diet is divided into 3 phases.
South Beach Phase 1, lasts for two weeks and completely eliminates carbohydrates including fruits and alcohol. The reasoning is “to eliminate cravings for sugar and refined starches – and to jump-start your weight loss”.
During the South Beach Phase 2, the long-term weight loss phase, some foods are gradually reintroduced. It encourages eating permitted foods until huger is satisfied. The theory being that maintaining satiety prevents you from snacking on bad carbohydrates.
South Beach Phase 3 is the maintenance phase, when your ideal weight has been achieved. Almost all foods are now included and occasional indulges in forbidden foods are permitted.
Eating three regular meals along with two snacks diminishes hunger pangs and cravings for unhealthy foods.
What food can I eat?
Each phase has different forbidden and permitted foods. Phase 1 is the most restrictive. It excludes all carbohydrates including fruits, sweets and alcohol.
Phase two reintroduces foods such as fruit and wine along with one forbidden food. Staples, during this phase, include lean meats, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and eggs.
Phase three includes almost every kind of food.
During all phases, it encourages an abundance of vegetables and places limits on fats and proteins.
Is it a Healthy Diet?
A very healthy diet reasonably restricting fats while encouraging unlimited intake of vegetables.
Top Marks
- Claimed to be an easy diet to follow.
- Flexible diet that understands you may gain weight during a holiday and recommends reverting to the initial phase when you return home.
- Practical and helpful suggestions for ordering food at a restaurant.
- Concerned with not only weight loss but also maintaining your weight.
Potential Problems
- Can you follow a recipe? Basic cookery skills seem to be a requirement to following this diet.
- The absence of fruit in phase one is questionable.
- It will be difficult for some people to completely give up carbohydrates in phase one.
- No scientific evidence provided other than what Dr Agatston witnessed.
Will I lose weight?
The South Beach diet appears to be a safe, effective plan that can help you lose weight. It provides logical and helpful advice to people trying to lose weight. However, one overlooked factor is exercise which is an essential component in weight control.
Our Rating:
How to Get Started
Begin following the South Beach Diet with these resources:
Disclaimer: The “typical” visitor will not change their behavior as a result of reading or purchasing any products. Resulting in no weight loss. A few may read the material and not act on it. And a small minority will read and follow the program. This small minority actually has a chance of losing weight. Be different. Take action.
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