The Zone Diet is a weight loss plan that gained popularity in the mid-1990s, when many celebrities began using it to control their weight. Dr. Barry Sears published a book about the diet that made it available for home use. The Zone Diet follows the guideline that reducing consumption of carbohydrates and increasing protein will balance the body.
Identification
The Zone Diet is a weight loss plan developed by Dr. Barry Sears. Dr. Sears published a book titled "The Zone" in 1995 as a means of sharing his diet plan and weight-loss research. According to Dr. Sears, food is more than a source a calories. He believes food is a powerful drug that affects weight, aging and other health conditions.
Features
Following the Zone Diet at home involves eating foods in balanced ratio. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Pyramid recommends eating a 50:31:19 ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein. The Zone Diet recommends eating at a 40:30:30 ratio for carbohydrates, fat and protein. Dr. Sears believes that the increase in carbohydrates causes an imbalance that leads to weight gain.
Function
Research completed by Dr. Sears leads him to believe that too much insulin in the body causes an increase in fat storage. An increase in consumption of carbohydrates prompts the body to hold insulin and increase inflammation of the tissues. Dr. Sears recommends consuming carbohydrates in the form of whole grains, fruits and vegetables instead of processed starches and pasta. Simple carbohydrates absorb quickly into the body and cause a spike in insulin levels.
Benefits
The Zone Diet used at home allows you to use your own foods to create meals that follow the diet guidelines. While there is an option to purchase Zone Diet meals for home delivery, it is not a requirement to be successful with the diet. Diet guidelines promote healthy eating by recommending that you consume healthy fruits and vegetables as a carbohydrate source. When followed correctly, Dr. Sears says a person using the Zone Diet has the potential for a one- to two-pound weight loss each week. Weight loss results vary for each person and not scientifically proven.
Warning
The American Heart Association lists the Zone Diet as a high-protein plan that is not appropriate for long term weight loss. The Zone Diet may be difficult for some people to follow since it requires tracking the ratio of foods eaten instead of the overall calories consumed eat day.
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