The South Beach Diet
Dr. Arthur Agatston and The South Beach Diet
Topics
a)Origin Of The South Beach Diet
b)What is the South Beach Diet?
c)What are Good or Complex Carbohydrates?
e)Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet
f)Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet
g)Phase 3 of the South Beach Diet
h)Benefits of the South Beach Diet
Origin
Cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston created the South Beach Diet whilst practicing cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital. This need came from a strong desire of finding a solution for his heart patients, many of whom were overweight. Some of his patients were finding it extremely difficult to consistently maintain a healthy weight while on low carbohydrate or low fat diets.
What is the South Beach Diet?
The South Beach Diet is based on the principal that by eating fruits and vegetables and combining this with the right carbohydrates and the right fats, it is possible for people to lose weight. The key components to this diet are determining which foods have the good fats and good carbohydrates from the bad.
What Are Good Carbohydrates – (Complex Carbohydrates)?
Good Carbohydrates (also known as complex carbohydrates) are those foods that the body breaks down at a gradual rate, into glucose. This glucose is used for energy, which is an important function of the body.
Examples of complex carbohydrates are wheat, grains, cereals, vegetables, pasta, and starches.
What Are Bad Carbohydrates – (Simple Carbohydrates)?
Bad Carbohydrates (also known as simple carbohydrates) are those foods that are high in sugar content. If large portions of food high in sugar are consumed, the excess glucose that is not converted by the body to be used as energy, will be stored as fat to be used later. Because of the high sugar content, these foods should be consumed in moderation, or eliminated entirely, as these foods provide no nutritional value or benefits.
Examples of simple carbohydrates are sugars, pastries, and candies.
Fresh Fruits are also classified as simple carbohydrates because of their natural juices. Fruits, however, when consumed in moderation, provide a healthier alternative to the foods listed above.
The South Beach Diet consists of 3 phases, with each phase just as important as the next, so it is strongly advised to follow the guidelines as much as possible for each phase, in order to achieve the maximum benefit and results from this diet.
Phase 1 – The Strictest Phase of the South Beach Diet
The first phase of the South Beach Diet is the strictest phase as most dieters will achieve the most weight loss during this phase. (Between 8 – 10 pounds, however these results may vary). The first phase lasts for 2 weeks. During the 2 weeks, most carbohydrates (example starches, pastas, pastries, fruits and breads) are eliminated. Only meals consisting of poultry, fish, vegetables, whole eggs, fat free cheeses, nuts, lean meats, and salads may be eaten 3 times a day. The meal portions should be sufficient enough that you do not experience hunger pains during the course of the day.
Phase 2 – A Less Restrictive Phase
During this phase, the foods that were eliminated in Phase 1 (ex. starches, pastas, fruits, breads etc) are slowly introduced back into the diet. The food portions should be smaller and are not consumed as often as before. This phase is a less restrictive phase. There is no time limit as to how long a person can be on this particular phase of the diet. The goal here is to continue with Phase 2 until your weight loss goal is achieved.
Phase 3 – The Maintenance Phase
Phase 3 is the ‘Maintenance Phase’ of the diet. The ultimate goal of this phase is to maintain your weight through healthy food choices as well as incorporating an exercise program as part of your daily lifestyle. If individuals experience an increase in their weight, this diet can be resumed at any time.
Benefits of the South Beach Diet
One of the main benefits of this diet is that individuals can continue to enjoy all the major food groups. There is also the added benefit of the ease in which this diet can be repeated if an increase of weight is experienced.
