Weight Loss Program : The South
Beach Diet Menu
The South Beach Diet recipes is the best low-carb-type diet currently on the market.It
is a Diet
Plan with the right carb and fats.It emphasizes healthy,
carbohydrate-containing foods and encourages moderate
portion sizes of all foods -- including your not-so-healthy
favorites.
The South Beach Diet emphasizes normal portions of
lean proteins such as fish and chicken; unlimited amounts
of low-glycemic-index vegetables; ample amounts of healthy
fats such as olive and canola oil, nuts and avocados;
and small portions of "healthy carbs" found
in fruit and less-processed grains. By following this
way of eating, the plan promises positive changes in
markers of cardiovascular health: lower cholesterol,
LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, along with
increased HDL cholesterol levels.
There are three phases in this diet. Phase I is the
most restrictive and lasts for two weeks. It emphasizes
lean proteins, fat-free or low-fat cheese, nuts, eggs,
tofu, legumes, healthy types of fat and low-glycemic-index
vegetables. Phase II reintroduces fruit, whole grain
bread, rice, pasta and fat-free milk and yogurt. Dieters
stay on Phase II until they've lost their desired amount
of weight. Phase III is for maintenance and should be
followed for life. Dieters are encouraged to move back
and forth between the different phases as needed to
maintain their weight
loss.
What is good about South Beach
Diet:
- Emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables
that is often lacking in many low-carb diet
plans.
- It encourages three balanced meals plus snacks if
necessary, and allows a lot of flexibility in food
choices.
- The author, cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, encourages
eating all the types of foods known to prevent heart
disease, including nuts, monounsaturated fats like
olive and canola oil, soy products, whole grains and
fruits and vegetables.
What are the drawbacks of South
Beach Diet:
- The glycemic index is used to encourage the consumption
of certain types of grains, fruits and vegetables.
Major U.S. health associations such as the American
Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association
do not endorse using the glycemic index for weight
control or in planning menus for people with diabetes.
Eliminating some healthy foods just because they have
a high glycemic index number doesn't make sense for
every person.
- Some people may follow Phase I for long periods
of time (although this is not recommended), which
can cause deficiencies of several nutrients including
fiber and calcium.
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