Eating in the Zone–A Revolutionary Diet Choice

One of the most revolutionary diet ideas to come along is
something called the Zone, which was originated by Barry Sears,
Ph.D. The Zone is based on the idea that we should return to the
diets of ancient peoples–diets which stress fruits, vegetables,
and meat. The diet does not deny people carbohydrates, but
simply limits their use. Dieters are encouraged to sharply
curtail their intake of pasta and potatoes. The Zone works
according to a formula of 40/30/30, meaning 40 percent
carbohydrates, 30 percent fat, and 30 percent protein.

There is a physiological basis to the Zone. Dr. Sears developed
the diet in an effort to limit the amount of insulin in the
body. This is because a large amount of insulin can lead to a
build up of fat, causing obesity and other medical problems.
People on the diet are encouraged to obtain their carbohydrates
from fruits and vegetables and their fat from olive oil and
other monounsaturated fats.

The biggest advantage to the Zone diet is that it can lead to
significant weight loss. It is also healthier than some diets,
since it eliminates non-nutritious carbohydrates and emphasizes
fruits and vegetables. The diet encourages people to eat
often–at least every five hours. It is also a low-calorie diet;
the typical female dieter will consume only about 1300 calories
at most following the Zone. Another positive aspect of the Zone
is that it discourages consumption of junk food, which may be
the basis of much weight gain.

Some dieticians heartily endorse the Zone, while others dismiss
it as being too difficult to follow. The diet can also be
costly, because of its heavy reliance on protein products. In
addition, some critics see the Zone as being too complex,
forcing dieters to spend too much time trying to do various
calculations.

But perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the Zone is its high
protein content. Such a diet has been linked to heart disease
and is actually condemned by the American Heart Association. In
addition, the Heart Association questions whether the Zone is
actually effective in enabling an individual to lose weight over
the long term.

It has been said that the Zone diet is the polar opposite of a
vegetarian diet. This is curious, considering that vegetarians
are generally healthy and are less likely to suffer from heart
disease. The fact that vegetarians tend to be slim also seems to
poke a hole through Dr. Sears’ theory that starchy vegetables
can lead to weight gain.

People tend to gravitate to the Zone because it offers them the
opportunity to indulge in foods that would be restricted on
other diets. Also, the diet can be more filling than other
weight loss plans. The problem, however, is that a number of the
claims made about the Zone are unproven. As a result, despite
Dr. Sears’ research, the diet has been dismissed as a fad in
some quarters.

Dr. Sears contends that people are overweight because of
insulin resistance; however, it is difficult to verify his
claims. It would appear that people are fat for all sorts of
reasons–because of family history of obesity, eating patterns,
emotional eating, and lack of nutritional knowledge. As a
result, it might be said that Dr. Sears’ diet is based upon a
false assumption.

The Zone benefits from a number of celebrity endorsements.
Actresses in Hollywood credit the Zone with helping them to lose
weight. On average, a dieter can expect to lose five pounds
during the initial two weeks and one pound a week after that
introductory period.

Still, some critics charge that the Zone takes the fun out of
eating. Whether this is true or not depends upon the opinion of
the individual dieter. However, one thing is clear: the Zone is
a diet phenomenon. Love it or hate it, it’s one of the hottest
diet trends on the market today. And it appears that, despite
some negative publicity, the Zone is here to stay. As always,
you should check with your physician before starting any weight
loss regimen. He or she will closely monitor your progress and
can determine whether you are suffering any ill effects as a
result of your diet.

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