Is the South Beach Diet safe for pregnant women?
First and foremost, please be sure to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your eating habits, including starting the South Beach Diet. Weight loss can affect the outcome of your pregnancy. Obesity carries risks, but so does rapid weight loss (and rapid weight gain, for that matter). Your diet directly affects the health and development of your baby. Having said that, the South Beach Diet — with a few modifications — can be safe for pregnant women if you follow it as a “healthy eating” plan and not as a “weight-loss” plan. Start on Phase 2 and take in three to four cups of fat-free or low-fat milk daily. This provides your developing baby with important nutrients, like calcium, needed for proper bone growth. The wide range of healthy foods on the South Beach Diet also provides other nutrients that are important during pregnancy. In addition, it is important to take your prenatal vitamins as directed by your doctor.
