THE SOUTH BEACH DIET: Not A Typical Diet
By Dr. Margaret Beeson

I’m hearing a lot about the South Beach diet.  Is this a healthy approach to dieting? JP, Billings

 I’m pretty excited about what Dr. Arthur Agatston has done with the South Beach diet.  His approach is the result of years of experience and focuses on an emerging health problem, metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance. This condition is one negative effect of excess weight.  The body stores more fat than it should because of an impairment of insulin’s ability to properly process fat and sugars.  Metabolic syndrome contributes to the two top diseases in this country- heart disease and diabetes.

As a cardiologist, Dr. Agatston recognized that weight loss programs were largely unsuccessful, yet imperative for his patients to reduce their risk of heart disease or address the progression of their current problems.  For years he used the recommended diet programs without success.  His research led him to recognize that the issue he was witnessing was a growing dependence on and intolerance of carbohydrates—that is sugar and starches.

I personally appreciate the South Beach approach because it isn’t really just another diet..

And I dislike the word diet because in our society it carries the connotation of being a temporary  or short-term solution for what is generally a chronic condition, and conjures a sense of failure in millions of folks who have dieted too often without success.

 The South Beach plan is a formula to expand your menu and to become familiar with wholesome, natural foods. It provides the opportunity to develop an eating format that will become a lifestyle.

 His phase format is brilliant!  Phase I allows for the participant to notice the positive affect of avoiding starches and sugars and to reduce the addictive impact of these foods.  In Phase II selective carbohydrates are reintroduced.  This is the phase used until the participant has reached his/her ideal weight.   Phase III is the maintenance part of the program.  In Agatston’s words “it is simply one important aspect of a healthy lifestyle rather that a weight-loss program.”

 There is no calorie or carbohydrate counting, no low fat recipes, lots of veggies, olive oil, delicious raw nuts and many great recipes. It’s really a path to normal eating within your budget and taste preferences. When life’s stresses and simple pleasures cause one to stray from the new found mode of reducing and maintaining your weight, you can return to Phase I and re-establish the awareness of your body’s ability to function well on a healthy, whole foods, with just the right amount of carbohydrates, balanced to suit your lifestyle, taste, body type and genetics.

 I like that Dr. Agatston says, “There will be times when you overindulge a little, even after years on the diet.  Those are the times when you’ll get back to Phase I for a week or two.  Don’t even think of it as backsliding—we designed the diet to allow normal human beings to eat the way they want.”

 Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic
720 North 30 Street
Beautiful downtown Billings, Montana

Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic
720 N. 30th St.
Billings, MT 59101
PHONE 406·259·5096/FAX 406·248·5655

ync@180com.net

Dispensary
406·254·9682

dispensary@yncnaturally.com