The South Beach diet is a dietary plan introduced by the cardiologist Arthur Agatston from Miami, Florida. The diet program emphasizes the increased use of good fats and good carbohydrates that minimize the consumption of bad fats and bad carbohydrates. It has three phases. In all phases, Dr. Agatston suggests the minimized utilization of bad fats. Dieters are told to eat 6 meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - together with small snacks between each meal. There are a number of points that help to improve the advantages of the South Beach Diet including:

• Drink minimum 8 glasses of water daily
• Limit the daily caffeine intake
• Take one multivitamin supplement every day

The diet commences with Phase 1 that lasts two weeks. Dieters try to get rid of insulin resistance by keeping away from high or fairly high-glycemic carbohydrates including sugar, dairy, candy, potatoes, bread, fruit, grains and cereals. Throughout this phase, the body fails to keep its insulin resistance and starts to make use of surplus body fat. As a result, the dieter will lose weight from 8 to 13 pounds. Dieters eat normal-size serving of meat, vegetables, fish, eggs, nuts and cheese for the first two weeks. This phase comprises three meals a day and snacks that support the dieter to eat till their hunger are satisfied. Alcohol of any kind - including wine and beer - is not allowed. The dieter’s body chemistry changes, loses weight and ends the wish for starches and sugars.

After these two weeks, the diet calls to move into Phase II. Whole grain foods, dairy products and fruits are slowly came back to the diet. Sweet potatoes and red wine are now permissible in moderate amounts. After the preferred weight is achieved, Phase III begins which is a maintenance phase. In this, the diet develops to admit three servings of fruit and whole grains a day. The diet highlights a lasting change in one’s way of eating, a selection of foods, and easiness and flexibility. Eating great amounts of vegetables and whole grains is encouraged together with sufficient amounts of polyunsaturated and mono fats. It depresses the eating of excessively refined processed foods, high-fat meats and soaked fat food products.