Right Carbs, Right Fats, The Secret Behind The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet occupies a very unique diet niche very different from the Low fat and carb variations it is erroneously associated with. That is the first misconception we have to clarify. Instead of limiting fats and carbohydrates in general, it ascribes to good fats and carbohydrates, favoring unsaturated fats and omega3 rich fatty acids over trans-fats and saturated fats and consumption of carbohydrates that take more time to break down. So it isn’t a low fat or carb diet but a smart carb and fat diet.

Initially, the nutrition plan was developed to aid in the prevention of heart disease by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon but as patients discovered the considerable weight loss the diet initiated, the diet gained popularity with its patients, and through word of mouth, outside the doctor’s practice. Dr. Agatston focused on the effects of carbohydrates that were rapidly digested into glucose in inducing hunger pangs and elevated insulin levels that resulted in low blood sugar levels. To solve this problem, they planned a diet that focused on carbohydrates that weren’t quickly broken down so that instead of fast and voluminous introduction of sugar to the bloodstream, the carbohydrates were slowly and gradually broken down.

It is with this design and its basis on the Glycemic Index, a standard form of measurement of carbohydrates based on how quickly it is digested and converted to glucose developed by Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto in 1981, that lends the South Beach diet it’s unique niche in the lexicon of diet plans. Broken into three phases, the plan gets less restrictive as the patient progresses.Stage one lasts two weeks and prohibits the consumption of sugars, fruits, select vegetables with higher Glycemic ratings as well as processed and simple carbohydrates. This effectively combats the hunger cycles and is the one with the most weight lost. The second stage allows for a little whole grains and most fruits and veggies. The last stage is a lifestyle change where, instead of being just a simple diet plan, the patient imbibes the good fats and carbs principles of the South Beach Diet and lives by it so as to maintain all the benefits of the program.

For people looking for a steady life-long diet plan with a specific focus on health, knowing the process and reasoning behind the South Beach Diet rather than listening to uninformed opinions may be an eye-opening and beneficial experience. The more recent erroneous associations to low fat and carbs diet overshadow the science and healthy benefits behind the South Beach Diet. But remember one thing, the weight loss that the South Beach Diet brings is a mere result of the main thrust of the program: heart disease prevention through a remedial and not prohibitive dietary plan and not as a over-promising fad diet.

This is definitely a great diet plan to consider, not only for weight loss, but for excellent long term health as well. In fact, it is one of the best diet plans available on the market today.

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