WHAT IS THE SOUTH BEACH DIET?

The South Beach Diet emphasizes eating fiber, lean protein, and low-glycemic carbohydrates. Cardiologist Arthur Agatson introduced this fad diet in his 2003 best-selling novel, “The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss.” Many people consider this weight-loss plan to be the granddaddy of low-carb dieting.

The South Beach Diet markets itself as a life-long dieting plan that focuses on macronutrients. Its creators claim that there are two classes of carbohydrates: good and bad.

PHASES OF THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

This diet has three distinct stages:

• Phase 1: This phase aims to stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings. In the first two weeks, you leave behind foods high in sugars and refined carbohydrates, while also avoiding rice, bread, pasta, alcohol, fruit, and fruit juices. In phase one, you are allowed fibrous vegetables, seafood, skinless chicken, low-fat dairy, and soy. As a rule of thumb, South Beach provides a daily allowance of two cups of milk and four-and-a-half servings of vegetables. If you still end up hungry, they suggest taking more time to finish your meals.
• Phase 2: The second phase continues from two weeks into the diet until you meet your weight loss goals. Your menu expands to include fruits, whole-wheat pasta, more diverse vegetables, and small amounts of brown rice. Phase 2 allows three servings of starch and fruit per day, and a couple of snacks.
• Phase 3: The third phase is intended to last until you kick the bucket. You continue to follow the principles laid out in Phase 1 and Phase 2. At this stage of the South Beach diet, you can eat anything you like (if it’s in moderation). You can eat two to four servings of starch, three pieces of fruit, and up to two tablespoons’ worth of healthy fat each day.

THE CLAIMS AND SCIENCE OF THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

South Beach Diet is clear about one thing: adhering to this diet is difficult. Side effects and cravings are common, especially in the first few weeks.

But, if you persevere, the book claims you can lose 13 pounds in two weeks. Dawn Jackson criticized this claim. She went on to remind dieters that anything higher than a pound a week of weight loss is potentially hazardous.
Weekly weight-loss claims higher than two pounds might indicate a diet plan that’s unsafe, or exaggerated. In the case of South Beach Diet, according to a clinical review by Yale University, it seems to be the latter:

“some statements in the book are clearly misleading or incorrect”

“We find that over 67% of nutrition facts… may not be supported in the peer-reviewed literature”

Harvard’s clinical review echoes that of its Ivy League sister:

“The South Beach diet has problems typical of diet books: lack of proof and some dubious claims”

In conclusion, many of the nutritional claims seem to be marketing ploys. No clinical research exists to verify the effectiveness or claims made by this diet. This weight-loss book is more than dishonest, however, it’s claims are potentially dangerous.

SIDE EFFECTS OF SOUTH BEACH DIET

When you greatly reduce your intake of carbohydrates, you can drive your body into ketosis. this stems from a lack of easily-accessible glucose in the blood. The effects of ketosis include:

• Headaches, nausea, and mental fatigue.
• Bad breath and dehydration.
• Stomach cramps, low blood sugar, and dizziness.

QUALITY OF THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

A study by the University of Minnesota’s Department of Food Science and Nutrition concluded that “average fiber intake of adults in the United States is less than half the recommend levels and is lower still among those who follow… South Beach.” A lack of fiber can produce dangerous side effects, including: blood sugar fluctuations, constipation, weight gain, nausea, and diet-related fatigue.

If you lose weight with South Beach, it’s likely to be water weight. When a person reduces carbohydrates, he or she also lowers the amount of water retained in the body. Once the low-carb diet ends, however, this weight quickly returns.

PRICING OF THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

Total pricing of this program depends on where you shop. As all meals are mad at home, you’ll be responsible for determining the pricing of the ingredients. You can buy the book itself on Amazon for $3.62.

Business of South Beach Diet

You can contact the owners of the South Beach by:
Phone: (888) 841-2620
Snail Mail: 600 Office Center Drive Fort Washington, Pennsylvania 19034
Email: gettingstarted@southbeachdiet.com

Customer Opinions of South Beach Diet

Here are some quotes taken directly from customer reviews:

“This book is just a lower-fat version of Atkins. I learned nothing new. Basically a recipe book.”

“Great book for quick weight loss but the weight comes back on as soon as you start adding the no no foods back to your diet.”

“ don’t see how anyone can stick to a diet that makes you give up everything you enjoy, then S L O W L Y lets you add them back in…in small quantities. ”

“Really a disappointment.”

“These are NOT simple easy recipes.you will also have to buy a million seasonings and sauces to follow the recipes. 20 bucks wasted.”

Some dieters took issue with the book’s format, lackluster recipes, confusing writing style and exaggerated weight loss claims. Others also found themselves beleaguered by a variety of side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and stomach pains. In total, we found over 300 negative reviews of The South Beach Diet.

Conclusion – Does South Beach Diet Work?

The South Beach Diet is a popular weight loss program that uses three unique phases to help you lose weight. The first phase, commonly linked to ketosis, drastically reduces carbohydrates. The second helps regulate your body, while the third lasts the rest of your life. It’s only the first stage, however, that helps you lose weight, primarily water weight. Once you resume normal eating, however, any weight loss quickly reappears. Furthermore, both Harvard and Yale University concluded that the book had a bad habit of making unsubstantiated, potentially dangerous recommendations.

With over 300 complaints online and a variety of reputable organizations set against it, DIETSiTRIED cannot endorse the South Beach Diet.