Health and Weight Loss- The Healthy Way

An Overview of the South Beach Diet

South Beach diet Work

South Beach Diet weight loss plan started becoming very popular in the 1990’s, and is considered to be the updated version of the Atkins low carb diet.

The South Beach Diet is seen by many as being a much healthier approach to control carb dieting. It still teaches you to avoid many refined and processed and high carbohydrate foods such as breads, pastries, cakes, soda and chocolate. This diet helps the participants rely and understand on the right carbohydrates and the rights fats to take.

The South Beach Diet was designed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, an American cardiologist and Marie Almon, a dietician. Their original purpose for this diet was to prevent heart disease but it has a tremendous result that it has gained popularity as a proven means to lose weight. Unlike other diets, this one doesn’t label itself as “low fat” or “low carb”. Instead it tried to help dieters understand how to eat the best foods for them, from all food groups while teaching you that weight loss can be successfully achieved by eating both good carbs and good fats.

South Beach Diet Allowed Foods

South Beach Diet is divided into three phases with each having its own particular functions. The first phase is the strictest and is designed both to give a quick start to the weight loss and also to develop the pattern of eating a healthier, more stable diet. You will be encouraged to eat at least three good meals and two good snacks every day.

South Beach Diet Phase 1 Recipes

Phase one may seem a bit strict to some, because you’re trying to severely limit the amount of carbohydrates eaten each day. Though not as restricted as the Atkins diet, South Beach Diet generally allows about 30 grams of carbs per day during the first phase. This is done to help jump start your weight loss, and kick the carb cravings most of us have. During this stage, it eliminates all sugars, processed carbohydrates, fruits and some higher-glycemic vegetables, so it really entails more patience during this phase.

Phase two increases the amount of carbs allowed, and allowed in more dairy products so it is not considered too restrictive. If you’ve been following the diet plan properly, this phase will feel like a treat. Phase two is usually kept up for however long is needed to lose your desired amount of weight as it re-introduces most vegetables fruits and some whole grains.

Phase three is a lifelong maintenance stage which you should follow to maintain the ideal weight you want. Once you’ve lost all or most of the weight you needed to, you’ll want to slowly increase the amount of carbs – good carbs remember – eaten each day. This has to be done slowly or else you will again trigger the strong cravings for sweets and other simple carbs, and giving in to those cravings will put you right back at the beginning.

South Beach Diet is already a tried and tested weight loss method because it has already showed favorable results conducted by Kraft Foods with 69 subjects and in 1998-1999 trial completed by 54 participants. Both studies showed favorable results in three months. Consult the doctor first before trying this out and combine it with exercise and a healthy lifestyle.