An Under the Hood Peak at Fad Diets

by Spence Cooper on 01/20/10 at 10:10 am

What diet should you pick?

There are literally hundreds of fad diets that populate the $55 billion U.S. weight loss market.

Many of us are familiar with the names of these diets, but know little to nothing about diet specifics.

Let’s take a peak inside some of the more popular diets in this two-part article.

Keep in mind that this is a brief overview of the diets, before starting any dietary plan you should consult your doctor to make sure the diet of your choice does not affect your health.

Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet, created by Dr Robert Atkins, has been around for decades; the diet is based on high protein intake and the heavy restriction of carbohydrates. There are four phases of the Atkins diet: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance.

Atkins posits that the restriction of carbohydrates causes stored fat to be used for energy, forcing the body to use fats as a primary fuel source. In the initial phase of the diet, dieters are allowed to consume unlimited amounts of food high in protein such as meat, fish, eggs, and cheese, while severely restricting carbohydrate intake. Most people lose three to five pounds a week, but over time eventually gain all the weight back.

Extended periods on a high protein diet can cause the body to lose essential minerals which in some cases can be life threatening. A healthy approach to dieting should involve a balanced diet; the stern restriction of carbohydrates eliminates too many nutritionally and fiber rich foods vital in maintaining proper equilibrium necessary for good health.

The%20Best%20Life%20Diet An Under the Hood Peak at Fad Diets Best Life
Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet utilizes a psychological approach to dieting by suggesting that the dieter first examination introspective questions such as “Why are you overweight?” and “Why have you been unable to maintain weight loss in the past?” The answer to these questions paves to way to a three-phased approach in managing your weight. Each phase involves several specific areas of focus: increased physical activity, changing meal patterns, portion sizes, removing problem and empty foods from your diet, and no food two hours before bedtime. I like Bob Greene’s holistic approach to dieting and his emphasis on removing only empty or problem foods, as opposed to other diets that restrict carbohydrate rich foods and a variety of other foods types.

South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet plan was created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon. The South Beach Diet suggests replacing “bad carbs and fats” with “good carbs and fats”. Agatston replaces refined sugars and grains with unprocessed foods such as vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and eliminates trans-fats and saturated fats in favor of foods rich in unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids which consists of lean meats, fish and nuts. The diet eliminates all sugars, processed carbohydrates, fruits, and some higher-glycemic vegetables. Although far more permissive with carb intake, South Beach is a diluted variation of the Atkins diet. By restricting specific fruits and vegetables, optimum nutritional balance is compromised, and for that reason is inherently unhealthy if followed for extended periods. Some have suggested phase one of the South Beach diet disrupts the body’s electrolyte balance.

Beverly Hills Diet
The Beverly Hills Diet was developed by author Judy Mazel, and popularized in her 1981 bestseller, The Beverly Hills Diet. Mazel’s diet consists of a six-week long program which begins with ten days of eating fruit exclusively. The thrust of her diet focuses on enzyme combinations as they relate to the digestive process. Mazel believed that it’s not what or how much you eat, but when and in what combinations food is eaten. The beginning stage of her plan outlines the consumption of specified fruits in a designated order for ten days, followed by the addition of bread and corn. On the nineteenth day of the diet animal protein is allowed. An AMA report was highly critical of the diet, and suggested that following the diet could be hazardous to your health. As a result, The New Beverly Hills diet is less extreme in its approach, stressing so-called “recommended standards” for a nutritionally balanced diet.