The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is one of the most popular diet programs in the market today. It was created by cardiac physician Arthur Agatston, M.D., who wanted to help his patients who have insulin resistance syndrome. The usual diet programs designed to lower the risk factors for heart disease are not working much for his patients. Agatston combined the elements of some of the popular diets such as the Zone and Protein Power to come up with the effective formula for the South Beach program.

The South Beach Diet works because it identifies the difference between ?good carbs? and ?bad carbs.? Those who are in the program can eat a wide variety of foods because the South Beach is not the usual low-carb diet that restricts practically all foods containing carbohydrates. Because of this, people find it easy to stick to the eating plan designed by the South Beach.

The program is famous for being able to make people lose weight in a healthy way. The difference between South Beach and other low-card diets is that in South Beach, people can choose between good barb and bad carb foods. Because of this, people can eat more fruit and whole grain bread under the South Beach program as opposed to other diets. In this respect, the South Beach Diet is more balanced compared to other programs.

The South Beach focuses on the effect of the food you eat on your blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is used to measure the difference between good carbs and bad carbs.

The program has three phases. The eating restrictions become more relaxed as one approaches the last phase of the diet. A dieter will find himself losing more weight on the start of the program rather than the latter part. This makes it easy for dieters to stick with the program; being on the South Beach Diet does not make one feel that he is on a permanent diet. Heavy restrictions apply only on the first two weeks. But even with the restrictions, the South Beach program does not make a dieter hungry; in fact, he can eat six meals a day, each meal with normal food portions designed to satisfy real hunger, nothing more. The food items included in each meal has good fats and has the lowest glycemic index essential to control blood sugar levels.
Dieters are not allowed to eat rice, bread, pasta, potatoes and fruits for two weeks.

The second phase of the diet allows you to eat foods with healthy carbs. Fruit and whole grains are allowed. Meals are less restricted and more food choices are introduced during this stage of the program.

The third phase introduces an eating plan that dieters will stick with for the rest of their lives. More foods are allowed in this stage, and by this time, your craving for foods with bad carbs will be reduced to minimum. You will settle into a permanent eating plan that not only leaves you hungry, but allows you to eat a lot of your favorite foods and still maintain the weight that you have lost.