The methodology used in a low carb diet is very simple. Carbohydrates are directly responsible for increasing the body’s blood sugar level. This in turn causes increased secretion of insulin. The insulin provides blood sugar to the cells to function. In the absence of this blood sugar the body would normally have used the reserve fats.

Lobbyists of the low carb diet believe that stopping the intake of carbs will reduce the level of blood sugar in the body. This in turn will force the body to use the stored fats to get the required calories.

But according to tests this is not really the reason of weight loss induced by a low carb diet. A low carb diet follows a four pronged approach to weight reduction. In the first phase of the diet there is an increased usage of the body’s glycogen reserves. This glycogen is responsible for water retention in the body. So as the glycogen is used up, water is released in the form of urine and this results in weight loss.

Low carb diets eventually reduce appetite, and a person stops binging. Since protein rich foods are very filling, you never really go hungry.

Since your diet is restricted to protein rich foods and limited quantities of fat with absolutely no intake of carbs and sugar the over all calorie consumption is reduced.

Low carbs diets don’t expect you to starve. But your success entirely depends on how diligently you follow them now and in the future. Food products high in carbohydrates are strictly restricted. Some of these products are fruits such as figs, apricots and bananas, food products made from white flour such as white bread and pastas, sugar rich products, vegetables such as potatoes and yam, beans and grains. Some diets do allow limited intake of certain types of fruits and whole grains.

The main types of foods allowed are those with high protein contents such as meat, chicken, egg, limited amount of dairy products and some vegetables.

Limited research has been conducted on the advantages and the disadvantages of low carb diets on the body. Many of these diets do manage to reduce the cholesterol level however, that entirely depends on the quantity of saturated fat consumed.
Even though low carb diets have a healthy and delicious menu it has been observed that after a while the monotony leads people back to their old ways.

Finally conclusive research has yet been conducted on links between low carb diets and the onset of heart, bone and kidney ailments.

What makes these two world renowned nutritional plans similar is the fact that both of them have been designed by qualified doctors. The Southbeach Diet being the brainchild of Dr Agatston, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Cardiac Prevention Center in Miami Beach, Fla. Dr. Agatston’s profound knowledge of cardiology gave him the insight to make The South Beach Diet considerably cardio friendly as compared to the Atkins Diet.

Not only is the South Beach diet easy on the taste buds well its out rightly delicious actually. It is also very Healthy Diet because of its medical origin and add to that the fact that it shows 100% honest, fast and conspicuous results .

A common thread among the two plans is the particularly arduous nature of their initiation phase or induction phase as its called. This stage is followed by a disciplined and consistent plan that stretches into the future and helps you to maintain your weight.

Carbohydrates or as they are popularly known in the diet circles ‘carbs’ are a strict no-no in both the diet plans. Ofcourse there are carbs which the body needs and are good for the body and those are allowed. However the Southbeach Diet strongly recommends refraining from consumption of cereal and rice, vegetables such as potatoes and yam, beetroot and carrot and fruits, bread and pasta also fall in the ‘not to be eaten’ category, not only for the first 14 days but also there after.

The primary difference between these two diets lies in their treatment of carbohydrates and fats

The South Beach Diet – Healthy fats are strongly recommended while the unhealthy one are equally strongly shunned by this plan. The Southbeach Diet doesn’t take a cynical aproach about the consumption of carbs even in the tiniest amounts.Rather it tends to concentrate more on the level of sugar in a carb, this is in agreement with another popular diet called the Sugar Busters, both these diets accept Low sugar carbs with low glycemic levels (that don’t cause rapid changes in the blood sugar level) as good.

This makes the South Beach Diet neither a low carb diet nor a low fat diet.

The Atkins Diet: It aims at nil consumption of sugar so that the body uses its fat reserves instead of sugar to function

So Is there anything that I CAN eat?

Don’t worry! The South Beach diet doesn’t believe in starving you, instead it believes in planned snacking, because if you don’t snack at regular intervals its just going to make you binge when you finally do get to eat.

Some of the foods that are striked off the menu are high sugar content carbs such as rice and potatoes , sugar rich veggies like beets and corns. Of course Deserts are out of the question, even the consumption of alcohol is restricted in the induction phase and is kept at minimum in the long term plan.

The Southbeach Diet doesn’t restrict the calorie intake or the amount of food consumed stringently. However over eating is discouraged , what is allowed are regular portions which seem small in the beginning but in reality are enough to satisfy hunger without stuffing yourself.

How Does The Plan Go?

Its a three step Diet Plan -
The first step is the induction plan which last for two weeks and which prohibits the intake of baked good, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and fruits. Alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer are also strictly restricted. In its defense though the diet assures you that after a few days you’ll get used to the regimen and won’t miss these food stuffs. The new inclusion in the induction phase is of dairy products such as butter milk and low-fat or non-fat milk, yogurt, however only two portions of these products are allowed