Experts have agreed: Mount Sinai's South Beach Diet helps you to lose weight while bringing your cholesterol, triglycerides and body fat down to a healthy level. It's a simple plan that is easy to follow, and actually reduces the hunger pangs and cravings that initially contributed to your weight gain.

The diet was developed by Arthur Agatston, M.D., director of Non-invasive Cardiology at Mount Sinai and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami, and Marie Almon, M.S., R.D., a clinical dietitian at Mount Sinai. The diet is safe and effective and is within the American Heart Association guidelines for saturated fat intake.

Mount Sinai's South Beach Diet Q & A

Who benefits from Mount Sinai's South Beach Diet TM? This diet is for anyone who wants to reach their ideal weight, while reducing their intake of saturated fat. It works particularly well for people whose obesity is concentrated around the waistline a condition that often is associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and low levels of HDL, (the "good" cholesterol).

How does this diet work?

Over a period of several weeks, the diet eliminates refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, white rice, white bread and crackers from your diet, and replaces them with fiber-rich whole fruits, vegetables, brown rice, and products made from whole wheat flour. Our goal is to identify the types of carbohydrates that can trigger hunger pangs or that have a tendency to increase body fat.

Why does the diet focus on carbohydrates, rather than low fat foods?

Fat-free doesn't mean calorie-free and therein lies the problem. Fat-free foods are laden with refined carbohydrates, which quickly pass through the digestive system, and immediately raise the body's blood sugar. In order to stabilize the blood sugar, the body secretes insulin, which rapidly lowers the blood sugar and produces hunger. Within two hours of eating refined carbohydrates, you're hungry again and all the left-over sugars are stored as body fat.

When there is more fiber in your diet, the food is broken down at a slower pace. Blood sugar and insulin levels rise and fall slowly. As a result, you are less hungry and less of the blood sugar turns to fat. Certain fats, such as olive oil, appear to decrease the risk of heart disease and are encouraged as part of Mount Sinai's weight loss plan.

Do I have to buy special foods to be successful on this diet?

Not at all. Even in the strictest sense, this diet includes lean meat, poultry, seafood, low fat cheese, eggs, egg substitutes and a wide variety of vegetables. As the diet progresses, whole fruits, cereal and skim milk are added to the list of foods you can consume. Within a few weeks of starting the diet, wheat, multi-grain and pita bread, as well as whole wheat pasta, brown rice, peas, beans and lentils also are part of your normal food intake.

How much weight will I lose?

Men lose an average of 6-8 pounds after the first two weeks on this diet. Women lose an average of 4-6 pounds. In subsequent weeks, dieters lose an average of 1-2 pounds each week.

How long do I stay on Mount Sinai's South Beach Diet?

You can remain on Mount Sinai's South Beach Diet plan indefinitely. The diet plan can be individualized to meet each patient's needs. Our goal is that you will enjoy the way you look and feel so much that you will permanently incorporate the guidelines of the diet into your lifestyle.

Who can I call for personal dietary counseling?

The Mount Sinai Medical Center registered dietitians provide counseling to help you understand the way the program works and to help you monitor your progress. With their help, you will learn to adjust your food intake according to your body's need for carbohydrates and the way that it reacts to them.

If you are taking blood pressure or diabetes medication, the dietitian will work with your physician to adjust your dosages as you lose weight.

If you do not have a doctor, you can be referred to a Mount Sinai physician who has a special interest in nutrition and the prevention of heart attack and stroke. There is a fee for the dietary counseling services.

Call Mt. Sinai Hospital for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Information provided by Mount Sinai Medical Center

PLEASE NOTE: Local10.com and Local 10 News jointly ran a series on the South Beach diet in 2001. The information published online is not complete. Local 10 has no plans to rerun the South Beach Diet. The only information available is posted below.