Sunday was World AIDS Day and is held on 1 December each year. It is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.

Around 100,000 are currently living with HIV in the USA and globally an estimated 34 million people have HIV. More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. Today, many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition.  

 

Learn more about World AIDS Day and what you can do to help the fight and spread the word.  

 

 

 

Have a wonderful week!   

 

Alicia 

 

 

 

 

They may seem similar, but The South Beach Diet is more than just a heart-healthy version version of the Atkins diet. Both the South Beach and Atkins diets restrict carbohydrates. True, "good carbs" are allowed. But South Beach dieters must say goodbye to potatoes, fruit, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, beets, carrots, and corn for the first two weeks. After that some of these foods remain strongly discouraged. The difference between the South Beach Diet and Atkins diets boils down to two things:

• Fats. The South Beach Diet bans unhealthy fats, but strongly promotes healthy ones.  
• Carbs. The South Beach Diet doesn't count grams of carbs, but encourages dieters to go for low-sugar carbs, or those with a low glycemic index (they don't cause the blood sugar levels to rise and fall as quickly).  

What You Can Eat on The South Beach Diet

 

You won't go hungry on The South Beach Diet. In fact it promotes strategic snacking. You're not doing it right if you don't snack. There's no counting calories or strict portion sizes. But there's no gorging, either. The idea is to eat normal portions. To many of us, normal portions will seem small at first. They are enough to satisfy hunger, but no more. Sugar-rich carbs are off the menu. These include rice and potatoes, and some vegetables - such as beets and corn - with high sugar content. Also, there are no pastries or other sugar-filled desserts. And alcohol is forbidden in the early phase of the diet and limited in the long-term diet.  

 

There are three phases:

• The 14-day induction phase bans bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods, and fruit. And you can't have even a drop of beer, wine, or other alcohol. The diet promises that after a couple of days, you really won't miss this stuff. As for dairy, two servings of low-fat or non-fat milk, yogurt, or buttermilk are allowed during this phase.  
• The "reintroduce the carbs" stage gradually adds back in some of the banned foods. Not all of them, but if you are a pasta mania, have some. Carrots used to be on the "foods to avoid" list at first, but you can now have them at the beginning of phase two. Tomatoes and onions, previously limited, are now fine in any phase. Fruit makes a comeback too. Just pick and choose. A little now and then,  no more. How long does this last? Until you hit your target weight.  
• The final stage is your diet for life. Eat normal foods in normal portions.  

How The South Beach Diet Works

 

The South Beach Diet is based on the observation that Americans are carb-crazy. That's the reason for the induction phase. Those first two weeks are meant to help people quit craving carbs. And it's why carbs are minimized throughout the diet. Highly processed carbs, according to the South Beach Diet theory, get digested too quickly. That makes insulin levels (a hormone the body makes to process sugars) spike. And once those fast-burning carbs are used up, your high insulin level makes you crave more food. So what do you tend to eat? More carbs, of course. By breaking this cycle, The South Beach Diet promises to make you want to eat less but better foods.  

 

What The Experts Say About the South Beach Diet

 

Cindy Moore, RD, former director of nutrition therapy at the Cleveland Clinic says the diet truly does meet several criteria for a healthy diet. It's rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Most importantly, it doesn't leave out any major food groups. Moore warns that during the induction phase, much of the lost weight is water weight. Losing this much water can throw your electrolyte balance off. SO if you're following the diet, it's a good idea to work closely with a registered dietitian or your doctor. Despite the popularity of The South Beach Diet, Moore warns, there's no one-size-fits-all diet. A dietitian can help you individualize The South Beach Diet to fit all your health needs.  

 

Food For Thought

 

Most popular diets work - at first - because of their novelty. Also, the first pounds lost usually are water from your tissues, not fat itself. Over time, your tissues will rehydrate. That's no reason to get discouraged. If you're eating less, eating better foods, and getting enough exercise, you will become leaner. One big plus for The South Beat Diet is that it doesn't leave you in limbo. It recommends healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle long after you give up on ever getting back a loaned-out copy of the book.  

 Learn more about the South Beach Diet