Zone Diet: What To Know

Overview

The aim:

Weight loss.

The claim:

You’ll drop 1 to 2 pounds weekly.

The theory:

Food is like a drug, says Zone creator Barry Sears, a biochemist. You have to take the right dose at the right time. The key to weight loss is achieving proper hormone balance and keeping your blood sugar stable. According to Sears, elevated levels of insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar, and other hormones cause you to pack on pounds because they promote inflammation, which he believes is a chief driver of the obesity epidemic. You can make sure your insulin and other inflammation-promoting hormones stay “in the zone,” not too high or low, by eating foods at every meal in the right proportions: 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat. The body needs the right balance of these nutrients to stay healthy, slim, and operate at peak performance, he says.

Balanced Diet

These diets fall within accepted ranges for the amount of protein, carbs, fat and other nutrients they provide.

Pros & Cons

• All foods welcome
• Frequent meals and snacks

• Tedious portioning
• Limited daily calories