ReZoom

This is the fourth in ReZoom's series about diets, some currently popular and others long-standing. We will look at what works, what doesn't work and at the end, wrap it up with a fun look at some really wrongheaded fad diets.

Those carbohydrates. First, in the '70s came the Atkins Diet, which maintained that grains are a too recent development along our evolutionary scale, and, consequently, are harmful. Then another ground-breaking, high-protein diet in the '90s followed, the Zone Diet, which seemed like a softer, gentler Atkins.

For about four years now, the South Beach Diet has been whetting our appetites while promising weight loss "without cravings." Developed by Miami-based cardiologist Arthur Agatston, the South Beach Diet, like the Zone Diet, is a high-protein diet that emphasizes "good carbs" and "good fats" once again. So what's the difference?

Location, Location, Location … and Marketing

"The South Beach Diet was the best-marketed diet book of the past decade. And it had the most gorgeous cover," says health and fitness guru Jonny Bowden. "It's Atkins for two weeks and the Zone the rest of the time. Sorry to say there's not much of an original thought in its 200-some pages. My biggest problem with it is that the first phase is well defined- but after that you're on your own. I've read the book three times and written about it extensively, and I still don't know what the second or third phase actually looks like."

The book's beautiful cover may be like a summer breeze whispering, "You can wear a bikini," but if that's not alll this diet has to offer. If marketing were its only strength, it would not have lasted this long or have been so popular. Because of the diet's campaign and popularity, millions of Americans are limiting or eliminating the sugary and high-glycemic foods that many health experts believe is behind America's current obesity epidemic.

Even Bowden concludes that a good marketing plan that gets people really onboard with understanding the whole fiber, carbohydrate (glycemic index) relationship is a good thing.

"The book served a purpose because it got a lot of people who were turned off to Atkins to start thinking about sugar and insulin as contributors to weight gain," Bowden says.

The "Nuts" and Bolts

Even though Agatston maintains the diet is not a low-carb diet, it is ... but with a sterner restriction on fat than Atkins and a looser grip on some of the low-glycemic foods (like fruit and whole grains and beans) than Atkins. Atkins, the Zone Diet and South Beach are all structured on the idea of eliminating high-glycemic foods (refined carbohydrates such as pastries, white rice and refined bread.).

Phase 1: For two weeks, the diet calls for only lean meat, fish, eggs, reduced-fat cheese, nonfat yogurt, nuts and vegetables. Sweet treats are limited to 75 calories per day, such as hard candy or sugar-free popsicles.

Phase 2: Whole grain foods and fruits are gradually returned to the diet, though likely in smaller amounts than were previously eaten. The allowed carbohydrates are based on their effect on blood glucose levels in the first two hours after consuming.

Phase 3: In Phase 3, the diet expands to include three servings of whole grains and three servings of fruit a day.The lifelong maintenance phase is similar to Phase 2 but with some tweaking in carb consumption to find the right amounnt that can be eaten without gaining weight.

There is a lot of support for the South Beach Diet. Thousands of recipes abound both on the Internet and from South Beach books. It may be about marketing, but marketing alone will not propel something that does not work, and the South Beach Diet, as an overall style of eating, works.

Previously: Already featured in ReZoom's diet series:

• The Zone Diet
• The Mediterranean Diet
• The Atkins Diet

Coming up next: Weight Watchers.

Look for more from Jonny Bowden when he becomes a regular contributor for ReZoom next month. Bowden is the author of "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth," "Jonnny Bowden's Shape Up!" and "Jonny Bowden's Shape Up Workbook