Another South Beach "Daily Dish"...

I like the tips provided in this "dish" ... if you're going to partake in carbs, eating cheese on bread is better than eating bread alone? Sour cream on a baked potato is better than a plain potato? Sounds good to me! And I didn't know acid helps slow digestion and makes you feel fuller longer... I typically eat olive oil and vinegar as a dressing on my salad, so that is good to know!

The Secret Behind Foods That Are Filling
The key to sticking to any healthy diet and to keeping hunger at bay is to eat nutritious foods that are also filling. The South Beach Diet also stresses the negative impact that sugars in carbohydrates have on satiety. Keeping those principles in mind, you’ll realize that anything you eat that slows the digestion of sugars is good. The reasoning? Slowing the digestion of carbs results in your body producing less insulin and less insulin means a less dramatic drop in blood sugar. Diminished swings in blood sugar levels mean fewer cravings and less hunger, later. Read up on 3 ways to curb hunger. Here are three important food components that will slow down digestion and keep you feeling fuller, longer.

Fiber. Fiber's major role is to slow the absorption of sugar. That's why highly processed oatmeal, for example, is worse, diet-wise, than the steel-cut variety. The latter has all the fiber still intact, and so before the stomach can get to the sugars in the oatmeal, it has to separate them from the fiber. Once isolated, the fiber passes undigested through your system; its dietary importance comes from its ability to slow digestion down. It is an obstacle to digestion — a good one.

Fat. Fat, too, slows the speed at which your small intestine accesses the sugars you've eaten. That's why it's better to have a little olive oil or some reduced-fat cheese on a piece of bread than it is to eat the bread alone. For the same reason, having an occasional baked potato topped with reduced-fat sour cream is better than eating it plain. The calorie count might be higher, but the fat contained in the sour cream will slow down the digestive process, thereby lessening the amount of insulin that the potato prompts your body to make.

Acid. Acidic foods, such as lemon and vinegar, also slow the digestive process, therefore cutting back on the rise in blood sugar. You can dress salads or vegetables with either one and enjoy the benefit.