Understanding the South Beach Diet and Cholesterol Connection

There is a proven link between the popular South Beach diet and cholesterol levels in the human body. This isn’t surprising, given that the diet was developed by cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston specifically to help his patients improve their cholesterol levels and improve their heart health. This makes the South Beach diet unusual, since most diets are developed for weight loss first with any health benefits being secondary.

The Importance of Cholesterol

There are actually three different types of fat stored or processed by the human body. Triglycerides are converted from excess calories and sugars so that they can be transported through the blood stream. From there, triglycerides are stored in cells throughout the body as fat. Lowering your triglyceride levels is central to weight loss, and the South Beach diet is extremely successful at promoting weight loss.

The key elements of cholesterol, however, are LDL cholesterol, which is bad for the heart, and HDL cholesterol, which improves heart health by controlling LDL. Go on the South Beach diet and cholesterol levels will improve, sometimes dramatically, with LDL cholesterol levels decreasing and HDL cholesterol increasing.

How the South Beach Diet and Cholesterol are Connected

The South Beach diet is unusual because it allows you to eat generous portions of fat. It doesn’t let you eat any kind of fat, however. There is a clear difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, and the diet addresses this. The diet is low in saturated fats such as those found in whole milk and fatty, red meats because these will result in increased bad cholesterol. Trans fats are also discouraged. Trans fats are found in margarines, baked goods and most processed snack foods. Interestingly, many foods forbidden by the South Beach diet contain both trans fats and lots of carbohydrates, which are also restricted.

Where the South Beach diet plan and cholesterol are reconcilable is the list of foods that are allowed because they contain good (HDL) cholesterol. Olive oil, butter, fish, nuts, and cheeses are all part of the diet. These tasty, rich foods are part of what makes the South Beach plan so popular – it doesn’t seem like a diet when you are allowed to eat these high fat foods.

Over the years many studies have been done to prove or disprove the South Beach diet and cholesterol connection and the results are impressive. South Beach dieters who stay on the program for several weeks show an increase in good cholesterol and a reduction in bad cholesterol as well as significant weight loss.

South Beach Diet Side Effects Explained

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