The Zone Diet & Inflammation

Created by Dr. Barry Sears, the Zone diet focuses on a proportionate intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins at a 40/30/30 ratio. Dr. Sears, a former research scientist at Boston University School of Medicine and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, developed the Zone diet as a way to help improve concentration, increase energy, maintain healthy insulin levels and lessen inflammation.

Inflammation

As an immune response in your body, acute inflammation can protect you from bacteria, viruses and parasites. Blood vessels dilate and become more permeable so blood can flow freely to the infected or injured area, and leukocytes -- or white blood cells -- can release toxins and kill invading microorganisms. However, too much inflammation can negatively affect your health by damaging tissues and leading to heart, brain, respiratory and digestive diseases as well as obesity, diabetes, arthritis and cancer.

Omega-6

A diet low in omega-6 fatty acids helps control your inflammatory response, according to Dr. Sears. "The Zone diet is an anti-inflammatory diet designed to reduce the production of arachidonic acid, which is the building block for pro-inflammatory eicosanoids," explains Dr. Sears via email. "It does this by restricting omega-6 fatty acids and control the levels the insulin as both are required to increase arachidonic acid." While an ideal diet includes equal amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, the typical Western diet ratio is 16 to one, according to Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D., a research associate at Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

Eicosanoids

First identified in the 20th century, eicosanoids are hormones that derive from arachidonic acid, which is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. Like cholesterol, eicosanoids can be either good or bad. According to Sears, good eicosanoids come from an even balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. His goal in creating the Zone diet is to find the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat to induce the body to make the "good" eicosanoids.

Zone Diet

The Zone Diet focuses three meals and two snacks daily, all including lean protein; twice as many carbohydrates, such as fruit, vegetables, lentils, beans and whole grains; and healthy fats, containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Considerations

Check with your physician before starting a new diet. Some doctors recommend the Zone diet for treating hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While the Zone diet promotes a 40/30/30 ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fat, the USDA recommends a protein intake of 10 to 35 percent.