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Diet books' philosophies thinly disguised

Belly fat is not just unsightly -- it can be deadly.

The South Beach Diet (Rodale, $24.95) will tell you why.

Written by Miami cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, the low (processed) carbohydrate diet -- not all carbs are bad -- is aimed at preventing heart disease, lowering cholesterol and reversing adult-onset diabetes.

The big belly is a result of insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, not attaching to fat cells efficiently. Sugars and fats aren't adequately cleared from the blood stream, and we end up with food cravings, over-eating and fat storage in the belly.

If we're unlucky, we end up with heart disease and diabetes, too.

The diet dictates a no-carb menu for two weeks -- "it detoxes you" -- then you start adding back whole fruits and whole grains, the so-called good carbs.

"We noticed most people lose the (carb) cravings, often in a few days. In the two weeks, they lose 7-14 pounds," Agatston said.

The South Beach Diet is about to rise from No. 3 to No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Two other diet books with different approaches:

When Your Body Gets the Blues, by Marie-Annette Brown and Jo Robinson (Rodale, $22.95), addresses weight loss for women from the perspective that feeling stressed and tired can drive you to overeat.

Its purpose is to chase away the blues, to get you feeling better and therefore eating better.

Authors classify the Body Blues as a syndrome that one in four women have, and they include a quiz to help determine whether you are one of them.

In Patient, Heal Thyself by Jordan Rubin (Freedom Press, $19.95) the Jupiter resident (www.gardenoflifeusa.com) proposes a program of food and supplements so readers can "take control of their own health and unlock the body's phenomenal healing potential."

Claiming to have recovered from incurable illness, he said that, no matter what health problems you have, "with powerful truths from our Creator" and "the nutritional tools (the body) needs to regenerate from head to toe, there is hope for an answer."

It's food for thought.

Carolyn Susman writes for the Palm Beach Post.