South Beach Diet
-
The South Beach diet was invented by Dr Agatston, an American Cardiologist, as a diet to improve the health and well-being of his heart patients. So while you do reduce your fat and carbohydrate intake is more about eating good fats and carbs - it is more important to keep an eye on the quality rather than the quantity of food.
The South Beach Diet is split into three steps:
1. The first phase lasts two weeks - starchy foods and sugars replaced by proteins and vegetables for two weeks. During this phase you need to be strict with yourself avoiding foods such as bread, pasta, rice, alcohol, sweets, chocolate cakes, biscuits, ice cream and crisps.
2. Then starchy foods and sugars are gradually re-introduced, starting with those with a low glycemic index (slow sugars like fructose cause insulin to be released gradually without disturbing blood sugar levels and are therefore described as having a low glycemic index), until the target weight is reached. You can re-introduce wholegrain carbohydrates and low-fat milk.
3. A diet favouring good fats and good sugars is adopted for life.You don't need to weigh foods, the idea is to eat three meals and three snacks a day.
-
There are few restrictions, but cutting sugar means no alcohol. You won't suffer from hunger pangs as portions are large and you get to eat plenty of protein. It's a healthy, long-term lifestyle change. Possible loss of around half a stone in two weeks (mainly from around the abdomen).
-
Cutting out all carbohydrate for the first two weeks can be tough and leave you feeling a bit fragile. Eating out can sometimes be difficult, especially when cutting alcohol. Often hard to find wholegrain and organic alternatives to common refined foods.
-
Nicole Kidman
-
-
South Beach Diet
You can follow an online eating plan at www.southbeachdiet.com.
Foods encouraged: fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals, lean white meat, fish, low-fat cheese, eggs, nuts, vegetable fats (olive oil, rapeseed oil, grape seed oil, walnut oil), skimmed or semi-skimmed dairy products.
Forbidden foods: over-refined sugars (white flour, white sugar, processed potato products, sweets, mass-produced cakes and biscuits), alcohol, animal fats (butter, crème fraîche, high-fat cheeses, full-fat milk, cooked meats).
