Desserts On South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet gained popularity in the early 2000s as a healthy diet plan to lose weight. The diet was planned by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon to prevent heart disease. Agatston had found that though low-fat diets helped to reduce cholesterol and prevented heart disease, patients found it difficult to follow. They ended up having more carbohydrates and gained weight. The low-carb diets lead to consumption of little carbohydrates and fibers thus resulting in various diseases. Compared to this two, the South Beach diet appeared simple. It aimed to replace bad fats and bad carbs with good fats and good carbs.

This diet tried to eliminate rich carbohydrate sources like refined sugars, baked goods, sweets and soft drinks with relatively unprocessed foods like beans, vegetables and whole grains. Less bad carbs lead to better metabolism and improved insulin resistance. It also aimed to discourage saturated fats and trans-fats. Foods rich in unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acid helped to contribute to HDL cholesterol and other health benefits. Lean meats, oily fish and nuts replaced fatty portions of poultry and red meat.

The South Beach Diet is divided in three phases. For the first two weeks, Phase 1 is followed. Here, all forms of sugars, processed carbs, fruits and higher-glycemic vegetables are eliminated. Bread, rice, potatoes, fruits, pasta, sweets, baked goods and alcohol are all off-limits. Phase 1 helps the individual to get accustomed to eating only the good carbs. By the time Phase 2 starts and some forbidden foods are back, the body gets a chance to adjust accordingly.

Phase 2 can be continued as long as an individual wants to lose weight. Most vegetables and fruits and some whole grains get re-introduced in the diet during this phase. But one has to remember moderation while re-introducing them. Phase 3 needs to be continued for life. It is the maintenance phase where there is no specific permitted or prohibited food. An individual needs to understand the basic principle governing the diet and live by it. This way, the diet would become a way of one's life and the body weight would get maintained.

The South Beach Diet has enough dessert menus to suit an individual's sweet tooth. In all of them, of course, the principles of good carbs and good fats and proper weight management are maintained. Among the various sweet dishes that are included in the diet are cobblers, pies, cheesecakes, cookies, tarts, crumbles, fruit dishes, pancakes and salads. Low-Sugar Raspberry Cheesecake with Pecan Crust, Reduced Sugar Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake, Low Carb Cheesecake with Cherry Topping and Low Carb No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake are some of the cheesecakes that can be consumed.

Among the cobblers, cookies, tarts and crumbles are Peach and Berry Cobbler, Parisian Apple Tartlet, Low Sugar and Flourless Apple and Cranberry Tart, Low Sugar Pumpkin and Apple Crumble with Cranberries, Flourless and nearly Sugar-Free Cookies with Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Oatmeal Cluster Cookies, Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Triple Almond Cookies, Flourless Sugar-Free Pistachio Cookies, Flourless, Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies and Low Sugar Cookies with Meringue and Pecans.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 21/05/2009, 12:59 AM
• 0 Comments