Re: South Beach vs Weight Watchers

January 25, 2004

>Here is a good comparison of the South Beach and Weight Watchers diets. Be

sure to read the side bar.

>I'll stick with Atkins. Judith Alta

I've been on the waiting list for weeks for a library copy of the South Beach

Diet, wanted to evaluate it as a reformed dietitian. Looking at the sample menu

on the Web site, I see it is just a typical weight loss diet, with skim milk and

not butter (apparently) on the bread, and a complete lack of understanding of

the place of healthy fats in a healthy meal plan. Can you imagine how well a

nearly fat free breakfast keeps you going all morning. No wonder they have a mid

morning snack. I just received Dr. Mercola's new book, Dr. Mercola's Total

Health Cookbook and Program. His emphasis in on limiting grains, of course, but

I like his emphasis on determining your metabolic type, so you can adjust to a

carb level that is most appropriate for you. There are some interesting looking

recipes in the book. He has a good appreciation for healthy fats, like fermented

foods, but avoids the issue of properly prepared whole grains. I should write

and ask him about those, since native cultures that used them seemed to be very

healthy. He has a huge amount of good info on his Web site, and it's encouraging

that it has become very popular. His goal is to turn around the whole health

care system!

approach to good health has evolved over time as he has learned more and worked

with patients in an every expanding practice, so he can see the results of what

he recommends. Our diet is really a synthesis of NT and Mercola's

recommendations, and we're both quite healthy, except for Bill's diabetes and

the med the doctor wants him on. It was interesting to see the doc's response

when I said 'no way' to cholesterol lowering meds. He agreed that he was too

much influenced by drug company research, and when I refused drugs for elevated

homocysteine, he pulled out his little book and found the vitamin

recommendation. He's on the Adkin's Diet, btw.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in harmony with nature in northwest Ohio

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