Protein power vs South beach

[retired01]

Can anyone tell me the differances between the plans. I have read both books, more recently the South Beach Diet. I am trying to decide which one I want to follow. They seem similiar in many ways. I did try to search the board but didnt get what I was looking for. I am sure its beens discussed before. I have 50 pounds to lose, and can't believe I have let myself get to this. Any help you can give me is appreciated. Does low carb effect brain function, or make your hair fall out.

[LisaS]

if you go to this post http://www.proteinpower.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71
you will find a link to a PDF where various plans (including SB) are compared to PP (from a PP viewpoint)

[Mitra]

Can anyone tell me the differances between the plans. I have read both books, more recently the South Beach Diet.

Retired, there's a Q&A section in Staying Power (which you could probably check out using the Amazon "search inside" feature, that compares PP & SB. It's probably the same information as the link Lisa gave. It basically says that they're fairly similar except that SB believes that saturated fat is bad, forbids alcohol, and endorses whole grain products.


I am trying to decide which one I want to follow. They seem similiar in many ways.

Are you trying to choose the best long term health effects? Fastest weight loss? Easiest to follow?


Does low carb effect brain function, or make your hair fall out.

No - except that you're brain probably functions better if you're not struggling to stay awake after a plateful of carb. Apparently some people have trouble with hairloss when they diet. Any major physical stress can cause some hair loss, but it's something I've read about, not something I've ever heard of anybody experiencing. Most people find that eating enough protein improves their skin and hair condition. This question is also covered in Staying Power.

[maxlharris]

I have read from people in another group that LC will cause your hair to grow more slowly. Not fall out, not thin, and not lower quality, just slower growth.

[Gaelen]

I have read from people in another group that LC will cause your hair to grow more slowly. Not fall out, not thin, and not lower quality, just slower growth.

That is far more dependent on personal metabolism and nutrient intake than on whether you eat low carb or not.

I never lost hair or even had any extra 'shedding' when first starting PP five years ago. My hair grows really fast. Really fast. It always has.

I had quite a bit of hair thinning during chemo, but was not even close to losing all of my hair--in fact, I didn't even get 'bad hair day' sympathy from my co-workers. I have good hair...and my diet is balanced and not in any way extreme or short of any critical micronutrients. That is probably far more important to my state of hair loss, regardless the challenge, than whether I switched to low carb.

If you've got good hair going in, you'll keep that good hair, and perhaps even see an improvement. If you've got thinning hair and tendencies to that genetically, well...you're changing your diet, and you might improve what you've got, but you might also experience some hair loss prior to getting better. It's very much a 'your mileage will vary' kind of thing.

[Ammy]

I tend to have VERY thin hair, and as I lost weight (over 100lbs), I gained hair. The rate of growth is still the same, but it seems more plentiful!

Now, is this related to following PP or just the fact that I lost weight? I don't know...but I just sit back and "reap the rewards"!!

[Ottawa]

I agree with the fuller hair thing as well. Hair is thicker and grows faster with the extra protein, as do nails. The Protein does it and there are threads on most Low carb boards attesting to teh faster growth.
In a long forgotten thread by Bogey he covered improved Libido and everyone responding agreed.

Take all your measurements and get your blood work done for a reference point. LDL drops pretty fast after an initial jump and HDL improves somewhat but requires exercise to really climb. I don't think you will find a better program than PP for overall health, not just weight loss.
http://www.lastoutpost.com/images/LipidRCsmall.JPG

[rightnow]

As I've lost weight, my fingernails have grown faster and firmer, and that is usually linked to hair growth as well. My hair is normally extremely thin, but it hasn't gotten any worse for sure.

I believe extreme amounts of rapid weight loss have been reported to cause temporary hair thinning in SOME people simply because it is such a body shock. But you aren't looking at enough weight to make that seem probable.

[Omlette]

I think the hairloss is usually due to lack of nutrients from where people restrict calories too much and/or do not take supplements if they are not getting all they need from whole foods.

More protein and more excercise will both help the hair and nails. IMHO

[Gaelen]

I think the hairloss is usually due to lack of nutrients from where people restrict calories too much and/or do not take supplements if they are not getting all they need from whole foods.

Actually, rightnow was closer to the mark--any prolonged dietary change, whether nutrient improvement or not, can cause a body shock which results in changes to hair and skin and nails.

When the dietary change doesn't provide sufficient nutrients, you see poor hair, skin and nails as the effects of insufficiency.

When the dietary change improves the nutrient profile, you see a temporary increase in shedding or even hair loss, skin and nail changes because the body is shedding the old dead cells in those areas faster, and then it will slow down because overall skin, hair and nails become healthier.

Just a little observation from feeding show dogs very carefully for 25+ years--change the diet (whether for the better or not) and the first things you'll notice are changes in stool, weight, hair/coat, nails and skin. ;)