Zone Diet:
Get into the "Zone" with the Zone Diet
The Zone Diet is one of the five most popular diets that include the Mediterranean Diet, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, and the Mayo Clinic Diet. Developed by Barry Sears, a former researcher at MIT, the diet is based on maintaining insulin levels by striking a balance between carbs and proteins at each meal.
Sears believes the major cause of obesity is an imbalance of insulin in the body. He maintains that the standard American diet is high in carbohydrates and low in fats -- a combination which he contends contributes to the production of too much insulin, and results in obesity.
The Zone Diet is based on the concept of achieving a physiological state in which insulin and eicosanoids -- two hormones -- are maintained in "zones" that are carefully balanced. By controlling the balance of insulin and eicosanoids, you increase the loss of fat, decrease inflammation and increase blood flow, decrease the likelihood of heart disease and diabetes, and increase your physical and mental stamina.
The Zone Diet
The diet program of The Zone is designed to balance your intake of foods at 1 part protein to 4 parts carbohydrate. It advises a moderate intake of carbs, proteins, and fat in order to control insulin. It prescribes a maximum amount of low-fat protein at one meal at 3-4 ounces, which is close to exactly the recommendation of the USDA and the FDA. The majority of carbohydrates on the Zone diet come from vegetables and fruits, with limited amounts of bread, rice, potatoes, and grains. Most fat intake should be from monounsaturated fats like olive oil, safflower oil, and other supposed heart healthy oils.
While this sounds a lot like the Atkins diet (restricting carbs), the differences are quite clear. Atkins recommends a diet high in protein with no regard to fat, with the intent of provoking ketosis, a potentially unhealthy condition. High carbohydrate diets recommend increasing carbohydrate levels and inducing the production of insulin which, maintains Sears, leads to weight gain. Instead, the Zone Diet recommends achieving an optimal balance of nutrients with moderate amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat all playing a part.
Another component of the Zone diet worthy of note is the supplementation of diet with fish oil. Fish oil, particularly Carlson Cod Liver Oil, provides omega 3 fatty acids which are an important component in healthy cells. Study after study in the past five years has confirmed the importance of omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.
A sample meal on The Zone's eating plan might look like:3 oz portion of broiled salmon
Spinach salad with apples and walnuts splashed with walnut oil and lemon juice
1/2 cup of brown rice
1 glass fruit or vegetable juice
The eating plan recommended by The Zone diet combines small portions of low fat proteins, fats and fiber-rich vegetables, and fruits. It also suggests eating some protein with each meal or snack, and 3 meals and 2 snacks daily.
Editor's note: we at Health and Beyond DO NOT recommend this trendy "diet." Please click here to read about a lifestyle program that's designed for you to experience your best health.
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