The South Beach Diet is a low carbohydrate, high protein diet originally created by Dr. Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon to help individuals lower their risk for heart disease. It eventually became popular for fast weight loss. The South Beach Diet focuses on selecting the right carbohydrates such as whole grains and specific fruits and vegetables. As with any type of diet, there can be complications associated with the South Beach Diet.
Muscle Fatigue
One complication of the diet can include such things as premature muscle fatigue during physical activity. The body stores carbohydrates as glycogen in the muscles. This helps to provide the energy needed for proper muscle contraction. When the levels of carbohydrates are decreased this can have a negative affect on this process.
Depression
Another possible complication of the South Beach Diet is depression. Diets low in carbohydrates have been linked with low levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of happiness and satisfaction. People on the South Beach Diet have reported increased feelings of depression as well as anger and tension.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are also a possible complication often associated with low carbohydrate, high protein diets such as South Beach. Uric acid and calcium oxalate stones may both form as there is a higher acid load delivered to the kidneys in these types of diets.
Other Complications
Eating carbohydrates throughout the day has also been shown to cause a constant release of insulin, which can make body cells less receptive to the effects. This in turn can lead to insulin resistance that can also lead to diabetes. Another risk to consider is the use of aspartame. The South Beach Diet recommends using sweeteners such as Equal, Sugar Twin and NutraSweet, all of which contain aspartame. Some of the complications associated with aspartame consumption include memory loss, seizures, headaches, and even death in some instances. As with any diet, all health concerns should be discussed with a physician.
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