South Beach Diet Review - What's the story with fat?

What's the story with fat? - South Beach Diet Review

As you might expect from a cardiologist, the South Beach Diet certainly includes mention of fat. In fact, South Beach Diet recommends avoiding foods rich in saturates and and instead replacing them with heart-healthy monounsaturates like olive oil and nuts.

So how do I follow the South Beach Diet?

Like many diets, the South Beach diet is divided into three phases. In South Beach Diet Phase One, most carbohydrates are banned to give your body a complete rest from fluctuating blood sugar and insulin levels. The South Beach Diet theory is this will help to resolve insulin resistance.

During South Beach Diet Phase One, the banned foods list includes bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, fruit, milk, sweets, cake, biscuits, ice cream, sugar and alcohol. A few low GI veg such as broccoli and cabbage are allowed, but the focus is on eating lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, low-fat cheese, some nuts and olive oil. You follow this phase for 14 days.

In South Beach Diet Phase Two, low GI carbs including most fruits, Granary bread, wholegrain cereals and pasta and low-fat milk are reintroduced. The idea is to stay with this phase until you've reached your target weight.

Finally, in South Beach Diet Phase Three you introduce an even wider variety of foods. This phase is aimed at keeping your weight steady and the diet recommends you stay on this for life.

For each South Beach Diet phase, there are no limits on portion sizes - you simply eat enough to satisfy your appetite - and you're encouraged to eat three meals and snacks each day.