The South Beach Diet isn't low-carbohydrates or low-fat. Instead, it explains to someone considering starting the South Beach Diet how to rely on the right carbohydrates and the right fats. These good carbohydrates and right fats are taken in so you can lose weight, lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and get rid of cravings without feeling hungry. The South Beach Diet allows you to choose the right carbohydrates and the right fats, which allows you to go throughout the day without being hungry all the time, and when you do eat your portion sizes wont be nearly as big.
Good Carbohydrates versus Bad Carbohydrates. Much of a persons excess weight comes from the carbohydrates we eat, most commonly when the highly processed carbohydrates found in baked goods, breads, snacks, SOFT DRINKS, and just about every other favorite snack food. These carbohydrates are considered bad carbohydrates because industrial processing removes the fibers from food, and once these fibers are taken from the food, the way our body metabolizes them changes significantly, and very much so for the WORSE! One reason that excess weight is bad is that it impairs the insulin in our body to do its job of processing fuel (fats and sugars) properly. This condition is called insulin resistance. As a result of excess weight, the body stores more fat than it should, especially in the midsection, which is extremely hard to get rid of instead of just keeping it off. .
In the South Beach Diet plenty of animal proteins made up for the cut in bad carbohydrates. According to the author of South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston, M.D. "lean meat did not have a harmful effect on blood chemistry." Doctor Agatston also stated that "even egg yolks are good for you, which is contrary to what we once believed." Chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, low-fat cheeses, and yogurts are all considered "Good Fats," and are recommended for anyone considering the South Beach Diet.