Low Carb Diets - Diet South Beach

Types Of Low Carb Diets

There are a lot of low carb diets out there, and they are not all the same. The two most famous low carb diets are Atkins and South Beach. Most if not all of the other low carb diets out there are based on one of these two diet plans. The most important thing to remember about low carb diets is that these diet plans are not for losing weight alone. These diet plans are designed to help you lose weight while changing your habits and lifestyle to remain healthy and free of those extra pounds.

The Atkins diet was the original low carb diet. Developed by Dr. Atkins in the 1970's, this diet focuses on limited carbs so that the body turns to its own fat stores for energy. This diet claims that you can eat as much as you want of the approved foods, regardless of calories or fat intake.

The Atkins diet has been criticized for years by doctors and nutritionists because calories and fat grams are not counted, and the dieter is told that they can eat as much as they want and still lose weight and maintain health. Recent studies show, however, that people lose weight on Atkins partially because the types of foods that the dieter is eating are actually more filling, and therefore the dieter eats less anyway. Additionally, it has now been proven that the Atkins diet, although a lot of meat is eaten, actually does not increase risk of heart disease and heart attack.

The South Beach diet is similar to the Atkins diet in that you count carbs. However, the similarities tend to stop there. The South Beach diet was created by a cardiologist by the name of Dr. Agatston. Of the low carb diets, this one is most often approved by doctors and nutritionists. The South Beach diet focuses on limiting calories. It also focuses on limiting fat and carb intake, but not in the same way as other low carb diets.

The South Beach diet focuses on limiting bad carbs rather than all carbs in general. Bad carbs are those found in processed food and things like soda. Good carbs, like those found in fruits and certain vegetables, are okay for this low carb diet. The diet also eliminates bad fats like trans fat and saturated fat, but allows more intake of good fats like monosaturated fats. This diet is focused mainly on lasting heart health as well as weight loss.

Both of these low carb diets focus on losing weight and making lifestyle changes that will help the dieter keep the weight off while maintaining a much healthier lifestyle. There are other low carb diets that focus only on weight loss, but these low carb diets are not likely to help the dieter maintain their goal weight, only reach it.