The South Beach Diet

Are you looking for a diet to help you lose weight and get healthy? One diet program that offers help is the South Beach diet. Read on to learn about the high points of the diet and how it has helped thousands of people to lose unwanted pounds.

The South Beach diet was developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist. Dr. Agatston noticed many of his patients who followed a low fat diet were not seeing lowered blood pressures or improvements in their blood work. The South Beach diet grew out of a need to improve the overall health of his patients.

The South Beach diet has become a household word. Manufacturers have gotten behind the South Beach diet and included labels on their food products identifying foods as being a part of one of the three phases of the diet. Also, South Beach diet frozen meals, cereals, and other products can be found on grocer's shelves.

The South Beach diet hinges on the principle of the glycemic index. The glycemic index is the idea that all carbs have a certain effect on the blood sugar. Those with a low glycemic index (below 55) provide a steady release of fuel for the body throughout the day. We don't feel as hungry and can fight cravings.

Foods with glycemic index higher than 55 are more likely to raise our blood sugar to high levels. We receive a burst of energy and then our butts are dragging the ground an hour later. On the South Beach diet, these high glycemic index foods are eliminated from our eating plan.

The South Beach diet is divided into three phases. Phase One of the South Beach diet is designed to break old habits of eating bad carbs. According to Dr. Agatston, bad carbs are those that cause the blood sugar to spike and then bottom out. Spiking blood sugar increases our cravings for more carbs usually in the form of quick sugary snacks which are not recommended on the South Beach diet.

People following the South Beach diet eliminate all carbohydrates for the first two weeks of the program. This is difficult since most of us are addicted to our carbohydrates. One thing that the South Beach diet does is help people realize how many foods actually contain carbohydrates. It includes vegetables.

During Phase Two of the South Beach diet, carbohydrates are added back into the diet a little at a time. This is managed according to a list of South Beach diet approved carbohydrates. The carb choices have a low glycemic index.

Someone trying the South Beach diet is not restricted to low glycemic index carbohydrates in Phase Two. Even high glycemic carbs are okay on a limit basis, but according to the South Beach literature, it is harder to lose weight when we consume them.

For people who can resist eating bread and many other carbohydrates for two weeks, the South Beach diet may be the answer to your weight loss prayers.