South Beach Diet Analysis

There are 5 major popular diets that are sweeping the world. Each year, women and men across the country make resolutions to lose weight and increase their fitness levels. However, these days there are so many diets from which to choose that many are left confused and unsure which diets are healthy and which will help them lose the most weight. Here is a quick look at 5 current diet fads.

The Atkins Diet is typically thought of as the plan which encourages high consumption of proteins with very little carbohydrates. This helps to keep insulin levels in the blood stream controlled. Carbohydrates cause insulin to rise and fall rapidly which hinders the body's burning of fat stores.

Weight Watchers is a familiar and well-loved program that has been around for decades and is currently seeing a
However, carbohydrates are not restricted as much as with the Atkins Program. Unrefined carbohydrates are valued as well as healthy fats and oils such as olive oil.

The South Beach Diet was created by a cardiologist in the '90s who was unhappy with the meal recommendations of the American Heart Association. The AHA pushes for an extremely low amount of fats but makes up for the calories with extreme amounts of carbohydrates. The South Beach Diet focuses on correcting this area and provides meal plans that are low in refined carbohydrates but still include a moderate amount of healthy fats.

A new dieting fad is the Raw Food Diet. As can be imagined, this diet stresses the importance of unprocessed and uncooked foods above all others. It is recommended in this plan that at least three fourths of the food consumed each day be from uncooked and preferably organic sources. Because of these requirements, many people who follow this diet are vegetarians or vegans who shun animal products or animal products and byproducts respectively. Following this plan obviously cuts out much saturated fat