The South Beach Diet is a popular weight loss programme that boasts great results, but is it good for your overall wellbeing in the long run? The South Beach Diet is just one of many that focus on the reduction of carbohydrates, and can lead damage your wellness in terms of abdominal bloating and constipation.
Abdominal bloating is a common consequence of dietary changes, and is typically the result of intestinal gas. If you suddenly reduce your carbs and increase your fibre intake, excessive amounts of gas can build up in your digestive system. The South Beach Diet emphasises veggies and beans, and switching from refined white carbs to whole grains, both of which could cause excess gas, as this is often a by-product of certain vegetables like cauliflower, asparagus, and broccoli and increasing wheat in your diet. Taking activated charcoal can help to remedy this particular problem, as it is often recommended by those who suffer with IBS, and should be available at your local pharmacy.
Constipation is another extremely common problem for low-carb dieters, due to the drastic change in diet for people who usually love carbs like pasta and cakes, as well as high-carb fruits and vegetables. This can cause irregularity in your bowels and can be remedied by making sure you’re drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day (which is a good piece of advice for your overall wellness anyway).
During phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, it is particularly common to experience constipation, as the vegetables you are including in your meal plans simply may not have enough fibre in them or you may not be eating enough veggies in general. Your pharmacist can help you choose a fibre supplement, which can help your regularity, especially if it lists psyllium as the active ingredient. The South Beach Diet also allows cheese on all phases, which means your constipation could be caused by increased cheese consumption, and could be remedied simply by cutting back.
However, if you take measures to treat these symptoms and they continue to present themselves, it might be time to speak to a doctor as they could indicate an underlying health condition.
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