The South Beach diet was designed to help medical patients who were having trouble on high carbohydrate, low fat diets. These heart and diabetes patients needed help improving their health, but on standard diets, their cholesterol and insulin levels weren't affected. Dr. Agatston, a cardiologist, developed the South Beach diet to give these patients a new option to become healthy. It was so successful that he soon consulted with a nutritionist to bring the South Beach diet to the world. This eating plan focuses on avoiding bad carbs and bad fats, but unlike most low carb diets, it doesn't cut out all carbohydrates. High fiber carbohydrates and low cholesterol oils are considered a good part of your diet. Dieters using South Beach are encouraged to avoid carbs entirely in the first two weeks, when the greatest weight loss happens. After that, it slows down to a more normal pace, with the reintroduction of more of the good carbs. The South Beach diet is intended to be a lifestyle change, and the third stage of the diet is a maintenance phase. The South Beach diet restricts carbs for the duration, but the last phase of the diet allows a wide variety of foods. You can enjoy all your old favorites on the South Beach diet.

If you're on the South Beach diet, and you are looking for an interesting change, or just some delicious new ideas, keep an eye out for a South Beach recipe. Whether you find it on the Internet, in the pages of magazines and cookbooks, or get them from friends, a South Beach recipe can help you prepare tasty dinners, lunches, snacks, and other meals. Try lean meats like grilled steak and chicken breast, or fresh tuna, salmon and shrimp. If you're craving pasta, try your favorite sauce over spaghetti squash. You can try a pizza made with portabella mushrooms or eggplant instead of starchy crust, or sweet potatoes made with non-calorie sweetener. For dessert, try fruit dipped in dark chocolate, ricotta cream with lemon peel, or mini cheesecakes with Splenda and fruit. You can also combine succulent, juicy pears with the crunch of gingersnaps for a spicy treat.

The South Beach diet offers a great way for you to lose weight while still enjoying your favorite treats. Almost any food can be modified for this great new diet. Whether it's low carb foccacia bread you crave or Tuscan grilled steak, the South Beach diet can provide. With the South Beach diet, you can watch the pounds disappear without giving up your favorite tastes. You can find a great South Beach diet recipe to tantalize your taste buds.