Is exercise an important part of the South Beach Diet?
(Published June 4, 2003) Without a doubt, exercise increases the body’s metabolism, thereby making the South Beach Diet more efficient. As a cardiologist, I consider it to be a critical part of any cardiac health plan. Exercise lowers your blood pressure and increases your good cholesterol. Exercise regularly and eat properly, and you’re doing just about all you can to ensure a healthy cardiac future. However, the diet does not depend on exercise in order to work. Having said that, the goal of any exercise plan should be to find one that will seem less like an intervention and more like part of your existing lifestyle-something you can incorporate easily into your routine. Here’s what I recommend: • Aerobic exercise: Take a brisk 20-minute walk every day. Don’t run unless you really want to. Live by this easy-to-remember rule: Breaking a sweat means that you have achieved your goal. You get the majority of benefit from exercise during the first 20 minutes or so. • Stretching: In additi
