South Beach Diet

A popular diet plan developed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston, the South Beach diet was originally developed to prevent heart disease in Dr. Agatston’s patients. While often confused with the Atkins diet and other low-carb diet plans, the South Beach diet does restrict many carbohydrates but allows healthy ones in limited amounts. The South Beach plan consists of three phases: a strict induction phase followed by a less strict weight loss phase, and ultimately a maintenance phase when the participant is at their desired weight. The South Beach diet bans unhealthy saturated fats but encourages heart-healthy ones such as olive oil.
Phase One of the diet eliminates baked goods, pasta, potatoes, bread, rice, and fruit. All alcohol is completely banned, as are any type of sugary sweets. Dieters are allowed a small portion of low-fat dairy during this phase. When dieters are ready to move on to the second phase of the weight loss program, they are allowed to gradually reintroduce some of the banned foods. Carrots, tomatoes, onions, fruit, and pasta are allowed in modest proportions. The last phase allows you to eat reasonable portions of most foods although the diet is planned in such a way that your carb cravings will theoretically be curbed so you are less likely to eat large amounts of sugar-rich carbohydrate foods.
While some dieticians are concerned about the extremely strict nature of the induction phase, most applaud this diet as a healthy option to encourage long-term weight loss.