Being a licensed professional Cardiologist, Dr. Agatston knows full well the risks of taking the so-called "diet pills" that so many programs require. These pills are often high in caffeine or other energy boosting chemicals that will speed up the individual`s heart beat to produce more activity, inevitably resulting in weight loss. While these medications do sometimes result in temporary weight loss, they also increase the risk of many medical conditions, such as heart problems. The South Beach diet plan requires taking no medications at all. It is perhaps the safest and most natural effective diet plan in the world.