Unpacking The South Beach Diet Phenomenon

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Recommended: Low-carbohydrate Diets for Overweight and Obesity

South Beach Diet: Not All Fun in The Sun The South Beach Diet continues to be a popular commercial weight loss program created by Florida based Cardiologist and Professor, Arthur Agatston. Published in 2003, The South Beach Diet book quickly became a bestseller. Through their website, Macmillan Publishers says, “…his book The South Beach Diet and its companion titles have sold more than 22 million copies”, “Dr. Agatson has also published more than 100 scientific articles and abstracts in medical journals”. Presumably, Dr. Agatson has profited well from his diet books. This fact should not deter us from listening to what he has to say. His years of medical training and experience do carry some weight. Designed as a low carbohydrate diet, Dr. Agatson also relies upon the glycemic index for proper training about how to eliminate “bad”, or high glycemic index …show more content…

We all can agree that an individual’s increased knowledge of the glycemic index, healthy vs. unhealthy fats, whole grains, fiber, and increased exercise, would benefit each and every living person. However, once you delve into the daily decrease of carbohydrates, it’s here where the dieter can quickly get into trouble. The effects of low carbohydrates can quickly become overwhelming and even debilitating. To make up for decreased energy found in carbohydrates, the human body will reach into muscle and liver stores to make up for losses in glycogen. Breakdown of glycogen increases urine production, with associated excess sodium and micro-nutrient excretion. In addition to the frequent urination, fatigue and dizziness due to hypoglycemia and mineral loss, headaches, constipation, dehydration, diarrhea, muscle cramps, kidney stones, shakiness, weakness, sleep disturbances, low Thyroid hormone levels, hair loss, and heart palpitations are common side effects of low carbohydrate

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