Diet books, reviewed: Atkins, South Beach and More

Source: Best Health Magazine, September 2008

Just take a look at the diet-book section at your local bookstore. Crisp, colourful and new, they all seem to offer 300 pages of hope and help. And while you know some are clearly delusional’or outright scams’others get glowing reviews from health professionals. So how do you choose? In addition to reviewing the latest research, we asked four nutrition experts to evaluate the latest editions of four popular diet books, which include new features such as exercises, online-clinic information, new foods to enjoy or avoid and up-to-date weight loss studies. Here’s what they liked and what they didn’t, plus tips on easy ways to make the diets better. You may be surprised!

The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Low-fat dairy products, high-fibre carbohydrates, lean protein and good unsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil and flaxseeds, help keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel and prevent overeating.

The Best Life Diet: The reason you’re carrying too much weight is complex, so a lifelong approach that focuses on a variety of healthy foods, exercise and emotional well-being is necessary.

The All-New Atkins Advantage: A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, including unsaturated and saturated fats, boosts your metabolic rate and fills you up more, so you eat less.

The G.I. Diet Clinic: Your body processes different carbohydrates at different speeds. The glycemic index (GI), developed by Dr. David Jenkins, a professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto, measures that speed. The G.I. Diet proposes that choosing low GI foods, such as whole grains, berries and lean meats such as pork that break down at a slow and steady rate, will keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout the day.

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