Barry Sears, Ph.D., created the Zone Diet. This diet requires you to split your caloric intake so that you consume 30 percent of your calories from protein, 30 percent from fats and 40 percent from carbohydrates. According to Sears, this ratio allows your body to achieve a hormonal balance that revitalizes and improves chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. This diet, as with any other, also poses some disadvantages. You should consult a medical professional before starting any diet program, including the Zone Diet.
Calories and Portions
The Zone Diet requires you to consume more carbohydrates than protein while also limiting overall calorie consumption. Your meals should not exceed 500 calories, and snacks should not exceed 100 calories. Counting calories is a time-consuming process that some dieters find stressful. Additionally, many dieters do not know how to properly count calories.
Other Disadvantages
The Zone Diet requires you to eat meats that can lead to the consumption of excessive quantities of saturated fat. This, in turn, can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and narrowed arteries, and it also can increase your cholesterol levels. Additionally, this diet is not suitable for vegetarians. Further, Sears has not based this diet on clinical scientific evidence supporting its safety and effectiveness. Clinical research does not conclusively support the claim that eating foods in the ratios required by the Zone Diet will result in weight loss.
Food Groups Restriction
The carbohydrates recommended by the Zone Diet are rich in dietary fiber, such as fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the diet encourages you to avoid starchy carbohydrates such as breads and pastas. But when you restrict foods through the Zone Diet, you might not consume all of the vitamins and trace minerals you need for optimal health. Food restriction also can lead to rapid weight loss, which often results in rapid weight gain if you stop the diet program. Since many people find it difficult to maintain restrictive diets such as the Zone Diet over the long term, you might end up regaining the weight you lost.
High Protein
Some dieters also might find that the intake of protein required by the Zone Diet is too high. For example, people with kidney disease should not eat high-protein diets. Additionally, athletes and individuals who require a lot of energy may find that the Zone Diet's restriction of carbohydrates compromises performance in intense exercise.
References
- "A Week in the Zone: A Quick Course in the Healthiest Diet for You"; Barry Sears, et. al; 2004
- "The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently, Reset Your Genetic Code, Prevent Disease, Achieve Maximum Physical Performance"; Barry Sears, et. al; 1995
- "Mastering the Zone: The Next Step in Achieving SuperHealth and Permanent Fat Loss"; Barry Sears; 1996
Member Comments