Low carb diets seem to be the in thing these days. Fad diets along with their gurus have always been the rage, influencing dieting habits for better or for worse. The two most talked about and well known popular diets are the South Beach Diet and the Atkins Diet. Each of these diets has its own methods and eating rules and it’s up to the dieter to decide which one to choose.
The Atkins Diet is the older of the two famous diets. This diet involves four phases: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. The induction phase involves two weeks of very strict restriction on what one can and cannot eat. The Atkins Diet is based on the philosophy that all carbohydrates are bad and therefore are almost completely cut off from the diet during the first phase. During the second phase a very small amount of carbohydrates is allowed but very much below the recommended normal amount.
The main controversy regarding the Atkins Diet is the amount of fat and protein allowed during this diet. Consuming unlimited quantities of fatty foods like hamburgers, fried eggs and bacon as long as they are without the bread or buns is allowed by the diet. Most doctors know that this is very unhealthy as the body needs a minimum requirement of carbohydrates for proper functioning and too much fat and proteins can cause or increase the risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, heart disease and other ailments.
The South Beach Diet also has three phases to it. The first phase also has a two week restrictive diet. While there are some foods that are totally restricted, the first phase low carb diet has sufficient carbohydrates to avoid health issues.
In addition, the South Beach Diet emphasizes balanced eating in a way as to include both carbs and proteins in the diet in healthy quantities. The South Beach Diet does not advocate pumping in lots of fatty foods, instead one is encouraged to eat healthy meats like fish, poultry without skin and lean meats along with plenty of fruits and veggies in addition to reasonable amounts of whole grain carbohydrates.
A quick comparison of the two diets makes it quite clear even to the total amateur that the South Beach Diet is by far the better balanced and sensible diet. The South Beach Diet is a balanced diet that does not overload the body with one or the other type of foods while totally eliminating or extensively restricting another kind of food. This makes this diet a more balanced one, making it healthy and leaving the dieter satisfied after a meal. For anyone interested in knowing more about the South Beach Diet, the book by Arthur Agatston called The South Beach Diet would be the one to check out for reference.
When going on a diet, go for a sensible, balanced diet instead of unhealthy extreme diets that could be potentially dangerous for health.
