The South Beach Diet is a commercial diet plan designed by Dr. Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon in the mid-1990s. It became popular after the launch of a best-selling book in 2003. The diet aims to enhance heart health and promote weight loss without regaining it. The South Beach Diet is a lower-carb diet that emphasizes lean meats, unsaturated fats, and low-glycemic-index carbs. The diet has three phases:

• Phase 1: This phase lasts 14 days and is considered the strictest phase because it limits fruit, grains, and other higher-carb foods to decrease blood sugar and insulin levels, stabilize hunger, and reduce cravings. Compliant foods in this phase include lean meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, soy products, non-starchy vegetables, some beans, nuts, and dairy.
• Phase 2: This phase is less restrictive and allows for the gradual reintroduction of some fruits, whole grains, and other higher-carb foods. The goal of this phase is to continue weight loss until reaching the target weight.
• Phase 3: This phase is the maintenance phase and focuses on maintaining the ideal weight.

The South Beach Diet has been credited with producing rapid weight loss without hunger, all while promoting heart health. However, it has also been criticized for being a restrictive "fad" diet. Some of the positive aspects of the South Beach Diet include:

• Promotes healthy eating habits
• Encourages the consumption of lean proteins and unsaturated fats
• Emphasizes low-glycemic-index carbs
• Can lead to rapid weight loss

Some of the negative aspects of the South Beach Diet include:

• Restrictive and may be difficult to follow long-term
• Eliminates certain healthy foods, such as potatoes, due to their glycemic index
• May not provide enough fiber and essential nutrients if whole foods are not emphasized

The South Beach Diet does not have a specific list of ingredients or materials, as it is a dietary plan rather than a product.