The South Beach Diet Overview
The South beach diet regimen was formulated by Dr. Arthur Agatston and Marie Almon in the early 21st century. Cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston thoroughly studied the low-carb, revolutionary Atkin’s Diet popularized in the 1960s by Dr. Robert Atkins, and came to the conclusion that this diet, which limits the intake of carbohydrates by a large margin, and advocates the consumption of saturated fat may lead to an increased risk of heart diseases.
Agatston also proposed that practitioners of low-fat diets were not reducing the quantity of food they consumed per day, but were merely substituting fat with sugars and other simple carbohydrates. Sugar in the bloodstream promotes the release of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, which in turn facilitates the absorption of the sugar by the cells.
But frequent release of sugar into the blood streams leads to cells becoming immune to the action of insulin, as a result of which sugar is present in the blood stream for a greater period of time and this leads to release of more insulin, which drives the blood glucose level down, below normal hence increasing the risk of diabetes.
Diet Dictats
The South Beach diet promotes the consumption of “good carbs” rather than “bad carbs”. Whole grains, legumes and fruits count as good carbs whereas sugar, flour and refined carbohydrate products like pasta are categorized as bad carbs.
Fats are a big no no in this diet. Trans fat and saturated fat consumption are to be kept to a minimum. The South Beach Diet encourages consumption of food rich in beneficial omega-3-fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids.
Phases
There are three phases in the South beach diet. Phase I is very similar to the Induction phase of the Atkins Diet. It encourages the elimination of all sugars, food made from refined carbohydrates and some starchy vegetables. It lasts for two weeks. Phase II continues for as long as the practitioner desires to lose weight. Fruits and vegetables, which are of a higher glycemic index, are gradually re-introduced into the diet, along with whole grain products. Phase III is the maintenance phase and is to be followed throughout the practitioner’s life-span.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that there is hardly any difference between the Atkin’s and the South Beach Diet. This is not the case. The South beach diet, unlike the Atkins diet does not require practitioners to stringently monitor their carbohydrate intake. It basically focuses on the source of these carbohydrates. For instance rice, white bread and other refined carbohydrate products are to be excluded from the dieter’s menu, but many vegetables which are not permitted in the Atkin’s diet can be freely consumed by followers of the South beach Diet.
Following a diet is useless unless you complement it with a regular exercise routine. Being active is the best way to lose weight or ensure that you still get to indulge in your favorite foods from time to time. So make sure you are getting adequate exercise while following the South Beach diet.
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