Analyzing Weight Loss Diets, Part 1
Copyright 2006 Kristy Haugen
Choosing a diet that is right for you is a daunting task.
Every where you look there is a new fad diet or someone is gushing about how much weight they lost on a particular diet.
How can you choose the right diet for you?
Individual diet needs may require a diet that is tailored directly for you.
However, most of America is on a weight loss craze.
We as Americans are willing to try anything for weight loss.
The South Beach Diet is one of the more popular diets that many are using for their weight loss efforts.
For health purposes, we will explore the pros and cons the South Beach Diet.
The South Beach Diet was created by the cardiologist, Dr. Agatston.
Originally Dr. Agatston created the South Beach Diet for his heart patients.
His aim was to improve the patient's heart health while helping the patient to lose significant amounts of weight.
Dr. Agatston states the South Beach Diet is not a low fat or low carb diet but focuses more on the right kinds of fats and carbs.
The South Beach Diet is based on the Glycemic Index.
The South Beach Diet also encourages the incorporation of healthy fats from monounsaturated sources like olive oil.
What is the Glycemic Index?
Carbohydrates are ranked on a numerical index, the Glycemic Index, which is based on the carbohydrates rate of glycemic response.
Each carbohydrate is scaled between 0-100 on the Glycemic Index.
Carbohydrates with a higher value on the Glycemic Index create a rapid rise in blood sugar.
Glucose is used as a reference point on the Glycemic Index scale, with a value of 100.
What is the difference between the South Beach Diet and the Atkins Diet?
The difference between these two diets is the type of fat.
The South Beach Diet recommends a diet low in saturated fats while emphasizing the monounsaturated fat.
The South Beach Diet does not look at the grams of a carb but more so the sugars within the carb.
The Atkins diet looks at carb grams instead of carb sugars.
How does the South Beach Diet work?
The South Beach Diet is divided into three phases.
Phase I involves the restriction of most carbohydrates.
In theory, Phase I allows the body time to resolve any insulin resistance.
This phase is to be followed for 14 days.
Foods that are banned during this time period include sweets, cake, biscuits, ice cream, sugar, alcohol, pasta, fruit, milk, rice, bread, and potatoes.
You are allowed low GI vegetables like cabbage and broccoli during this phase but your focus will be on eating meats that are lean (chicken, fish), eggs, low-fat cheese, olive oil, and some nuts.
Phase II requires the reintroduction of low Glycemic Index carbohydrates that include granary bread, wholegrain cereals, pasta, low fat milk, and most fruits.
You are to follow Phase II of the South Beach Diet until you reach your ideal weight.
Phase III allows the reintroduction of a wide variety of foods aimed at keeping your weight maintained.
What are the pros of the South Beach Diet?
The South Beach Diet requires no limit on portion sizes.
You are allowed to eat until you satisfy your appetite.
This diet encourages you to eat three meals a day with snacks.
This diet recommends replacing saturated fats with foods that contain monounsaturated fats which makes the South Beach Diet heart healthy.
Also, the South Beach Diet requires you to decrease consumption of carbohydrate rich foods that are highly processed and contain few nutrients.
What are the cons of the South Beach Diet?
Phase I of the South Beach Diet requires serious willpower because of the carbohydrate restriction.
During this time, you may feel weak and tired as the body adjusts to the change in your diet.
Also during this time you will not be eating the required amount of fruits and vegetables causing you to lack essential vitamins and minerals that are found in fruits and vegetables.
A few carbohydrate rich foods contain good sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals which you will also be lacking at this time.
Following a diet based on the Glycemic Index will help you lose weight.
During Phase I, you are expected a weight loss level of around 8-13 pounds.
Extreme weight loss is not healthy for the body, while 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week is more reasonable and healthier for the body.
However, not all foods with a high GI should be excluded.
The Glycemic Index of a meal can change considerably when certain foods are consumed together.
A diet that contains monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats is conducive for heart health.
Expelling processed carbohydrates from one's diet is also beneficial for good health.
Choosing a diet that is right for you is very difficult.
The diet that you choose should be a diet that you can consider following for the rest of your life, if you plan to maintain your weight loss.
If you choose to follow the South Beach Diet, you should incorporate a great liquid vitamin supplement to bridge the nutritional gap.
You need to realize that weight loss can be achieved without following a fad diet.
A diet that is well planned with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, low fat milk, and lean meats along with regular exercise will go further in health than any fad diet.
.
She also has a bachelor degree in Biology and Chemistry. She writes to inform consumers about nutrition and health topics. Learn more about weight loss supplements at http://weightlosssupplements.vitaminmaniac.com .
Learn more about vitamins and your health at http://blog.vitaminmaniac.com .
Nearly 20% of All Americans Aged 50 and Over Are Currently On a Diet To Lose Weight, According To a New Study Published by Primary Research Group Inc. - "Products and Services for Dieting: Usage Data and Spending Patterns of Americans Aged 50 and Over"
Nearly 20% of all Americans aged 50 and over are currently on a diet to lose weight, according to a new study published by Primary Research Group Inc. "PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR DIETING:
USAGE DATA AND
SPENDING PATTERNS OF AMERICANS AGED 50 and OVER".
The report is based on an extensive representative survey of more than 430 Americans aged 50 and over who answered more than 90 questions relating to their views of diets and dieting, and their use of various types of diets and brands of diet foods. Rates of dieting were higher for those in the higher income groups; more than 30% of those with incomes over $100,000 considered themselves to be currently on a diet. The percentage of the population currently on a diet were also much higher among those living in major cities, with nearly a third in this group currently on a diet.
The separated and divorced were also much more likely to be on a diet; about 29% in the target population are currently on a diet.More...
Nearly 20% of All Americans Aged 50 and Over Are Currently On a Diet To Lose Weight, According To a New Study Published by Primary Research Group Inc. - "Products and Services for Dieting: Usage Data and Spending Patterns of Americans Aged 50 and Over"
Diets > Nearly 20% of All Americans Aged 50 and Over Are Currently On a Diet To Lose Weight, According To a New Study Published by Primary Research Group Inc. - "Products and Services for Dieting: Usage Data and Spending Patterns of Americans Aged 50 and Over"
Why Diets Don't Work
One of the biggest scams ever successfully pulled on the American public is - somewhat appropriately - a 4-letter word. That word is, of course, Diet. By now you have seen advertisements for more diets than you can easily remember, and have also most likely seen an article or television show debunking some of those diets. Unfortunately, the art of shooting holes through the credibility of a diet plan is normally done by ANOTHER diet company, solely for the purpose of getting you to use their product instead. Well, this article has nothing to sell, nor really anything to gain, save the knowledge that hopefully the reader - that's you - will put down the Diet Madness Menu, and get a real world point of view on why diets don't work, and what you can do about it.
Eating, the Lost ArtIf you are considering a diet, or have in the past, your primary motivation was most likely to lose weight. What if I was to tell you that in order to lose weight, you actually need to eat MORE than you...
Why Diets Don't Work
Diets > Why Diets Don't Work
The potential of cholesterol lowering diets
Efforts to decrease the levels of cholesterol through cholesterol lowering diets have had only modest effects so far. In an attempt to increase the efficacy of cholesterol lowering diets in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program has recommended adding plant sterols and viscous fibers to the diet. Soy proteins and nuts may have additional health benefits.
Potential of already existing cholesterol lowering diets was measured by professionals at the institute. Trying to improve the efficiency of cholesterol lowering diets, an experiment was also conducted.
Forty-six healthy adults with hyperlipidemia completed the four-week study.
All participants followed their own diet that was low in saturated fat for one month before the start of the study. They were then randomized into one of the following groups: a cholesterol lowering diet containing mostly low-saturated-fat diet...
The potential of cholesterol lowering diets
Diets > The potential of cholesterol lowering diets
gold ring Analyzing Weight Loss Diets, Part 1
ringtones Analyzing Weight Loss Diets, Part 1 Diets
Kidney Cancer Association Announces Grants
Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) Chief Executive Officer Bill Bro today announced special grants to attendees of the organization's Survivors and Patients Conference, July 23 and 24 in Chicago. In making the awards, Bro said, "We are pleased that everyone who applied for financial aid this year received it. No one will be denied access to this important educational meeting because they could not afford it. The KCA was able to fund all requests received by the July 1, 2004, deadline."Needs-based...
airfare
Diets > Kidney Cancer Association Announces Grants
Analyzing Weight Loss Diets, Part 1 cruise
Analyzing Weight Loss Diets, Part 1