Pros and Cons of the Atkins and South Beach Diets Essay -- Exploratory

Pros and Cons of the Atkins and South Beach Diets People consider many factors when choosing a diet: what best suites their needs, how it fits with their body type, and what the diet entails, are all aspects taken into account. The Atkins and South Beach diets are plans that take different approaches in style but end up having similar results in the end. Atkins serves to eliminate carbohydrates and focus on more protein-enriched foods; this idea sells because it offers a way to lose weight fast. The South Beach diet on the other hand is a method that takes a more balanced approach; it aims to teach people about the good carbohydrates and the good fats versus the bad. Because these diets have both pros and cons, it is necessary for dieters to weigh all aspects of each program equally and choose the diet that will be most effective for their body type and lifestyle. In the Atkins plan, dieters are instructed to eliminate starchy foods such as potatoes, corn and pasta, and they are told to stay away from complex carbohydrates like fruits, grains and breads. The participants are instead encouraged to consume, within reason, meats, eggs, cheeses, oils, and other protein-rich, fatty foods (Harper, 1). From these steps comes one of the most influential points that cause dieters to choose the Atkins plan, the fact that there is a potential to lose weight fast. The reason behind such a rapid weight loss, however, is because of the core principle of the Atkins diet. It states that by limiting carbohydrates in a four-phase process the body is forced to burn its stored fat for fuel rather than carbohydrates, thus losing stored weight quickly (Harper, 1). The problem with this plan is the fact that once... ...t consisting of a healthy intake of carbohydrates, fats, sugars, proteins, and fruits and vegetables proves to be most affective. Something that the South Beach diet seemed to touch on just slightly more than the Atkins diet is the idea of exercise. It goes without saying that exercise is key to losing weight, and being able to maintain a healthy lifestyle with all of these factors in mind, is crucial. Studies and experts can only prove so much, and in the end it is up to the individual to weigh the options and figure out which diet is most suitable for them. Works Cited Agatston, Arthur. The South Beach Diet. United States of America: Rodale, 2003 Astrup A, A. Harper, T. Meinert Larsen. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: hoax or an effective tool for weight loss?. 2004 Sep 4.