The South Beach diet is extremely popular in America and is similar to the Atkins diet. It is focused on changing the way people view food and urges them to adopt healthy eating habits without preventing them from eating any of the foods they love. The South Beach diet is designed to make people feel full as it uses foods that satisfy hunger and release energy over a long period of time. The South Beach Diet is divided into 3 separate stages, each with a different target.
Phase 1
Phase 1 serves as an introduction and is designed to teach the body to burn fat and eliminate cravings. During this stage, no sugary or starchy foods are allowed and dieters stick to a strict regime of eating lean meats, vegetables and low fat dairy products. This stage lasts for 14 days.
Phase 2
This stage is beneficial for people who only have small amount of weight to lose as well as those who are on a more long-term mission to lose a lot of weight. During this phase, healthy carbohydrates such as brown rice, wholegrain bread and pasta and root vegetables will be introduced, as well as fruits.
Phase 3
Phase 3 is the final stage of the diet and is designed for those that have reached their target weight. During this stage, there is a large amount of personal choice in terms of which foods the individual eats and the portion sizes. This stage is designed to maintain a healthy body weight.
Are there any other benefits aside from losing weight?
The South Beach diet was developed by a leading cardiologist with the view to improving general health and eradicating harmful habits that could damage the vital organs. The diet is designed to reduce cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, decrease blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of triglycerides in the blood stream. The South Beach diet also educates people about eating healthily, rather than simply labelling some foods as �good� and some as �bad�. People who are on the South Beach Diet often experience increased confidence and increased energy levels.
Sample diet (during phase 2):
- Breakfast: Spiced oatmeal with walnuts and dried apricots
- Lunch: Margherita pizza (made with whole wheat dough and low fat mozzarella) and salad leaves
- Tea: Grilled salmon steak with green vegetables, edamame beans and salad leaves
- Pudding: Peanut butter and jelly cookies
- Snacks (2 per day): celery and dip, nut mix, apple and peanut butter sandwich