South Beach Diet Reviewed
The South Beach Diet—which allows you to eat “good” carbs while avoiding “bad” carbs—is based on controversial and unproven weight-loss theories.
When your health and money are on the line, it’s not worth the risk to bet on an unsure thing.
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No bikinis on the South Beach Diet
Safety and Quality
There’s nothing unhealthy about the foods recommended in the South Beach Diet. Most are high in nutrients and low in fat. But don’t be confused—this is not a low-carb diet.
Effectiveness
While the foods are reasonable, the science behind the diet is questionable.
South Beach dieting uses the Glycemic Index to distinguish between “good” carbs and “bad” carbs. This index ranks carbs on their ability to affect blood glucose. Food with good carbs (or a low Glycemic Index) is supposed to facilitate weight loss.
But the legitimacy of the Glycemic Index is debated. A study at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health found the Index did not relate to blood glucose levels at all.
“In general, the Glycemic Index does not seem to be useful in understanding how diet impacts health, and use of the Glycemic Index may not be an effective way to identify foods for optimal health,” said Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, a diabetes researcher.
Cost
Membership is $5 a week, but the makers of the South Beach Diet will try to push their other weight-loss products on you.
At $21 for a box of bars, $27 for drink mixes, $12 for a DVD guide, $10 for a book, and another $5 a week for nutritional counseling—the full South Beach Diet package could end up costing you well over $100 a month. That’s a lot of money to bet on a debunked theory.
Customer Service
The South Beach Diet has a lowly F rating with the Better Business Bureau for the “number of complaints filed against” them and their “failure to respond to complaints filed.”
Money-back guarantee
The South Beach Diet does not stand behind any of its products with a money-back guarantee.
Conclusion
There is no evidence the South Beach Diet will get you any thinner than a beached whale. And for the price you’ll be paying, you could probably feed that whale for a year. Diet-Exposed.com instead recommends you diet on your own terms and take a natural supplement curb your cravings. Look at our rankings of the best diet pills to learn about your options.
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