The South Beach diet is a diet plan started by Miami, Florida, area cardiologist Arthur Agatston which emphasizes the consumption of "good carbohydrates" and "good fats". Dr. Agatston developed this diet for his cardiac patients based upon his study of scientific dieting research. The diet first appeared in a book of the same name published by Rodale Press. The official website of the diet can be found at South Beach Diet Online.Dr. Agatston believes that excess consumption of so-called "bad carbohydrates", such as the rapidly-absorbed carbohydrates found in foods with a high glycemic index, creates an insulin resistance syndrome—an impairment of the hormone insulin's ability to properly process fat or sugar. In addition, he believes along with many physicians that excess consumption of "bad fats", such as saturated fat and trans fat, contributes to an increase in cardiovascular disease. To prevent these two conditions, Agatston's diet minimizes consumption of bad fats and bad carbohydrates and encourages increased consumption of good fats and good carbohydrates.The diet has three phases. In all phases of the diet, Dr. Agatston recommends minimizing consumption of bad fats.

Then, the Sonoma diet has a second phase (wave 2) which is used to re-introduce some types of foods back into the diet, and this is similar to how the South Beach plan has a second phase which re-introduces certain types of carbs (such as fruits) back into the diet also. Actually, it's kind of a coincidence because the Atkins diet also has a ph

The Sonoma diet has 3 phases (which it calls "waves") --- and these are sort of similar to the various phases of the Atkins and South Beach phases. In fact, phase 1 of the Sonoma Diet is called the "Induction" phase, and it seems to serve the same general purpose as phase 1 of the Atkins and South Beach programs too (which is to eliminate cer

The South Beach diet can be looked at as a low carb weight loss plan. That is because at the start, one of the first phases to doing this diet plan is to reduce your carbohydrate consumption.

The theory behind phase one is that there is a "switch" inside us that affects the way our bodies react to the foods we eat that make us overweight. Phase one is the strictest part of the diet and it last for two weeks.

This diet is unique, successful, easy, and works in a three-phase process. This diet is not low fat or low-carb but is a lifetime change, lifetime commitment, and a lifetime of health and vitality.