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What Is the South Beach Diet?

What Is the South Beach Diet? (0:51)

The South Beach Diet's principles are simple: good fats (olive oil), good carbs (whole grains, fruits, vegetables), lean protein and plenty of fiber. Watch cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, describe the main tenants of the popular diet he created.

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The south beach diet's principles are simple, and they are easier to follow. It's the good fats like olive oil, the good carbs, vegetables, whole grains, whole fruits, lean source of protein and plenty of fiber. And those principles, whether you're vegan or meat eater or anything in between, you should be following those principles.

They are today's stepping stones. When we developed the south beach diet, the debate was low carb versus low fat. What we realized was it's not the relative amount, it's the quality. So if you're high carb with starches with sugar, you're in big trouble. But if you're relatively high carb with whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, you're healthy.