The Eat More, Weigh Less was created by Dean Ornish, Ph.D., as a regimen for cardiac patients. Now adapted for weight-loss purposes, it still promises to lower cholesterol and help reverse heart disease.
The Ornish diet does not limit calories but lowers the amount of fat in the diet to a mere 10 percent, which puts nuts, seeds, and oils outside the approved range of foods, along with sugars and alcohol. Because meats (even lean cuts) and dairy are also high in fat, the diet promotes a mostly vegetarian menu.
Ornish also advocates a holistic lifestyle, which includes meditation to go along with the changes in eating habits.
THE GOOD: The diet is high in fiber and vitamin-rich veggies. Ornish puts the focus on well-being and health instead of promising miracle results. It is actually the only diet that the medical community considers healthy enough for lifetime use.
THE BAD: Fats are one of the main reasons foods taste rich --Eliminate most of them and you are left with a rather bland diet. While saturated (animal) fats are bad for you, unsaturated (vegetable) fats actually protect from cardiovascular disease. Fat is also necessary for basic body functions such as the transport of vitamins. The major drawback for most people comes from the need to completely abandon traditional eating habits.
VERDICT: If you are already a vegetarian or if you are willing to completely change the way you eat, this diet could work for you.
South Beach
After an initial 14-day strict low-carb phase, the South Beach diet develops into a well-balanced plan that calls for whole grains, lean proteins, and a large variety of fruits and vegetables.
Instead of focusing on counting carbs, South Beach advocates restricting foods with a high glycemic index, such as rice, corn, and potatoes. Whole grains and other foods with a low glycemic index are allowed.
South Beach was developed by Arthur Agatston, MD, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Florida, which may explain why the diet calls for lean proteins and discourages consumption of foods high in saturated fat. A total of three meals plus several snacks a day guarantee that the dieter will not go hungry in this program.
THE GOOD: Although the induction phase may be too strict, the rest of the diet is well-balanced and heart-friendly. It’s proven to improve cholesterol and balance insulin levels.
THE BAD: Can be expensive. No mention of an exercise program is made.
THE VERDICT: Good, sound advice by a professional. If you can live without baked potatoes and fried rice, then this may work for you.