How would you like to
diet dieting?
The South Beach diet is THE diet for you!
This heart healthy diet was created by top cardiologist Dr Arthur Agatston, a Miami based specialist who decided to help his cardiac patients lose weight and improve their chances of keeping it off, by combining diet with a balanced nutrition plan.
Although Dr Agatston says that the South Beach diet, which is called after the famous South Beach in Miami where all the 'beautiful people' hang out, is not low carb, the fact is that the first stage, at least, runs the risk of being pretty scarce in carbohydrates.
I guess that the beach people down there don't eat much rice, potatoes and pasta anyway, but fruit, alcohol and all baked goods are off limits in the first two weeks,which is NOT what the South Beach people are usually like!
This means that most carbohydrates come from vegetables and low glycemic alternatives like whole grains and beans, and even these are limited, which makes the diet is really low calorie in this first stage.
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After this big bang start, the diet fizzles out a bit, with the second and third stages unspectacular. However, there are several thousand people who have lost a good amount of weight on this regime, and say they are keeping it off. |
The education part of the diet consists really of three basic facts; omega 3 oils are better than other oils, and monounsaturated oils are best of all low glycemic index carbohydrates help keep blood sugar stable and stop weight yo yoing more protein and healthy fats and less carbohydrates give a better metabolic balance |
The other side of this diet is the list of foods you CAN eat, and Dr Agatston has gone over board making the recipes sound delicious, with haute cuisine the norm.
The recipes usually depend on lean meat and lots of fresh vegetables, which means that they aren't cheap to prepare, and seem a bit summery, but I guess in the south, where the diet originates, that would seem natural. There are healthy snack ideas, these meant to stop you breaking down and grabbing a tacos, and you're encouraged to eat small, frequent meals.
The first South Beach Diet book, which has been around since 2003, has been followed by the South Beach Food Guide and the South Beach Cookbook, both best sellers.
These make a complete diet system, but if you need that extra bit of encouragement, there is an official website, southbeachdiet.com, where Dr Agatston answers questions and there is an online forum, recipe base and South Beach diet aids.
By the way, this is considered a fairly balanced diet, so you can manage it without supplements, although each to his or her own, I guess!