The Zone Diet
Zone Diet Summary
The Zone is all about keeping the hormone levels in your body (specifically insulin) within a certain zone. Lots of diets focus on controlling the number of calories you eat each day, but the zone focus on hormone balance instead, because of its theories on how the body works.
Basically, keeping your body in the zone means it is able to burn its stores of fat rather than adding to them. This requires a certain balance of food intake: typically 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat.
History of the Zone Diet Program
Dr Barry Sears is the creator of the Zone program which dates from the 1990s. He believed, based on some good scientific evidence, that many low calorie or low-carb diets actually made the body better at storing fat, because of increased insulin levels and other hormone impacts they caused.
Foods to Eat
- Each meal should be roughly a third low fat protein (like fish), and two thirds fruit and vegetables
- Fatty vegetables like almonds and avocadoes are OK
- Chicken, fish, salad, fruit, vegetables: but always in the right combination
- Fish oil - Barry Sear's latest miracle food
Foods to Avoid
- High fat or sugar content foods like chocolate, fizzy drinks
- Drinks with caffeine: coke, tea, coffee
- Carbohydrates like rice, pasta and cereals which contain lots of stored sugar
Other relevant pages on Fit and Trim:
Top Tips to Succeed on the Zone Plan
- Avoid high sugar foods, even those like bananas, grapes, potatoes and corn
- Use your palm to measure portions - one palm of protein and two of fruit and veg per meal
- If drinking alcohol, eat first - it slows down the sugar absorption
- Include some fat in each meal - butter, olive oil or salad dressing are OK
Watch Outs and Health Risks
While eating more fruit and veg is great, some nutritionists believe that the relatively high fat and protein content of this diet could lead to risks of heart disease and cancer. There is also an ongoing debate on whether avoiding what the zone calls sugary foods like bananas, orange juice, rice, bread and potatoes is really good for your health.
Celebrities in The Zone
Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Madonna are all rumoured fans.
More info: Links and Zone Diet Books
Discuss The Zone on our Diet Forums
Latest Zone Diet News
Read more about The Zone at Wikipedia
Buy Dr Sears books from Amazon.co.uk on the Zone Diet
