Certainly, diets such as the South Beach Diet or the Atkins Diet are options for individuals with cardiovascular disease.   I feel that the Mediterrean-type diet should be recommended prior to them.   As a Registered Dietitian, it is always best to start with determining what the individual's present nutritional habits are and then to recommend the options for modification.   It is difficult for the average individual to understand the components of foods and the effect on blood levels.  Counseling cannot be achieved in one session, but needs to be on-going.  Having the average individual read a book on a particular diet is not the answer to successful dietary interventions.  Physical activity is also a priority in the long-term treatment of cardiovascular disease and also needs to emphasized as extremely important.  

I am a registered nurse working in an outpatient heart failure center. Our patients struggle with all components of heart healthy diet: low sodium, low fat, consistent carbohydrate. I am not sure if the South Beach diet was intended to address these in a clinical way, however, I think it does give people a formula to get started and then sustain healthier habits. From a personal standpoint, this is the only eating plan (not diet) that I have lost weight on.

There is zero scientific evidence for the benefit of the South Beach Diet. It is just a modified Atkins diet based on the notion that carbs and insulin are bad. No one has ever said that refined sugar was good. Regardless of "glycemic index" there is no harm in eating rice, corn, potatoes, whole grain bread, etc. These have been the basic diets of many civilizations that have had very little coronary disease or Type 2 diabetes. Only with the introduction of refined fat and sugar have those societies developed chronic diseases of lifestyle.

There is no such thing as good refined fat. Refined fats have zero nutrition, are the most concentrated form of calories so have no rational reason to be in any diet.

The Mediterranean diet with some olive oil does reduce secondary mortality post MI but there is no evidence that olive oil per se has any benefit. 

The only diets that have ever been proven in controlled trials to reverse coronary atherosclerosis are the Ornish or STARS diets.

I recommend the Ornish diet with the addition of small quantities of low-fat animal protein. With it I have seen normalization of positive exercise tests even without statins, as Ornish observed.

http://medicalmyths.wordpress.com/diet/ 

The same type of diet has also been shown to prevent and treat hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. It should be followed by everyone.

I would strongly recommend "The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet" by Evelyn Tribole.  A much more comprehensive approach to the pro-inflammatory food issue that is triggering the obesity epidemic and a much better read than "The South Beach Diet".

The Esselstyn diet, which can be described as perhaps a slightly more rigorous version of the Ornish diet, has been more consistent both in its formulation and its reported success in reversing cardiac disease. Certainly both of these are in a different leagye than any of the aforementioned diets: Mediterranean, South Beach or Atkins. Although Esselstyn diet may be more difficult for the average patient to stay on, I believe the physician has an obligation at least to offer the possibility of a diet which may actually be curative.

Hi Sam  Your presentation on the South Beach Diet may well be a first step for some.  Unfortunately for those who want to make real change without medication they are likely to need a more restrictive program.  The real impact of Ornish and Esselstyn's work is the clear indication of effective change that results from their approach.  It is really indicative of the approach of Colin Campbell as well,  whose China Study will never be a mantra for the masses, but whose effectiveness is self-evident.  Many years ago Sgt Cleave said, "What will most do about prevention?  Very little.  About cure - a great deal."  Regards

Keep in mind that many of your patients will also have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. The initial phase of the South Beach Diet is so restrictive in carbohydrates, that they will be likely to have hypoglycemia if they attempt it. Even more likely, they will find they feel a lack of energy.  If you recommend this diet plan to them, they will do better if they skip the initial phase, Of much more benefit would be education by a dietitian or a certified Diabetes Education program which could help them modify the foods they prefer to improve their nutrition. These professional approaches will also encourage specific plans to increase activity. This lifestyle change is often at least as powerful as the food focus. And yes, the patients really do make long term changes.