The South beach diet

Possibly the most marketed and widely used diet is the one created by Dr. Arthur Agatston, which is the South beach diet. This diet is composed of 3-phases similar to the Atkins diet – a carbohydrate restricted phase, a carbohydrate reintroduction phase, and a maintenance phase. However, this diet is differentiated with its emphasis on “bad carbs” as opposed to “good carbs”.

The general principle behind this diet is that the higher the Glycemic Index of the carbohydrate-laden food, the higher the insulin in the blood, thus a cause for craving for more carbohydrates. “Good Carbs” are carbohydrates with a low Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index of a food will determines how quickly it raises the blood sugar in the food, and in effect, the amount of insulin to be released in the blood. Foods to be avoided, “Bad Carbs”, include potatoes, sugar, candies, grains and even fruits.

Because of the carbohydrate-restrictive phase, the South beach diet, a person is loses weight fast within the prescribed 14-day period in Phase 1. And again, this leads to fatigue and while depriving the body of nutrients found in carbohydrate-rich foods.