The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet was created by Dr Barry Sears MD,a former researcher in biotechnology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has been endorsed by top Hollywood stars such as Jennifer Aniston (somtimes called the Jennifer Aniston Zone Diet) and Cindy Crawford. Used by personal trainers to help the stars prepare for leading roles, it has understandably become one of the most popular diets in America today.

Promising a release from the body's 'slavery to food', the diet presents a system for balancing the hormonal influences which act to cause weight gain, and claims to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer, while improving quality of life. Combined with an extensive list of appetising recipes, this diet gives you it all.

The Zone Diet Plan

The Zone Diet diet is based on two main principles. Firstly, in Dr Sears opinion, weight gain is caused chiefly by fluctuations in levels of insulin, the hormone released by the body in response to rising blood sugar levels. These fluctuations are caused by eating high glycemic index carbohydrates, which have an effect similar to 'fattening of cattle' according to Dr Sears. High levels of insulin not only cause hunger, which leads to excessive calorie intake, but also have wide ranging effects on the body's metabolism, which in the long term can cause diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The second principle is that 'you need fat to lose fat'. A certain amount of fat should be consumed at every meal, because this slows the rate of absorption of food, and helps to even out the blood sugar level. Not all types of fats are beneficial,however,and saturated fats are discouraged, while mono-unsaturated oils such as olive oil are used in moderation in the diet.Saturated fats increase production of  'bad' eicosanoids, hormones which cause inflammation and immune responses which can damage blood vessels, in Dr Sears opinion, while use of omega-3 rich oils stimulate production of 'good' eicosanoids.

Dr Sears touts a fish oil supplement which he says is essential to healthy dieting because of its high level of these fatty acids, known to be beneficial to the heart.

Zone Diet recipes

Following the diet is fairly simple, and the gradual diet change advised in the program means that there is no drastic shock.The meal plan is based on a plate divided into three equal parts which makes it easy to visualise the ideal proportions of carbohydrate, protein and fat that Dr Sears recommends. Calories should come from a 40-30-30 split, with low glycemic index carbohydrates such as vegetables, beans and whole grains making up 40%.

Foods with a high glycemic index such as pasta, bread and rice should be used only sparingly,and protein should be low fat. A typical Zone day for the average woman could look like this: breakfast is an omelet made from six egg whites,with half a cup of spinach and mushrooms,sauteed in olive oil,  2/3 cup of slow cooking oatmeal and a cup of strawberries.Lunch is a grilled chicken Caesar salad ,two cups of  grilled vegetables and an apple, and the between meal snack is two devilled eggs filled with hummus. Dinner is grilled salmon, vegetables and salad, with mixed berries for dessert,and the best part of the day is a late evening snack of a glass of red wine and an ounce of low fat cheese. The total calorie count for the day is 1200 calories, which should result in weight loss for most women.

What does the medical community say about the Zone Diet? Well, the Zone diet is actually one of the more medically approved diets. It doesn't restrict carbohydrates to a dangerous level, and the use of mono-unsaturated fat is in line with American Heart Association guidelines. However, a certain amount of the eicosanoid theory is unproven and therefore not widely accepted. As with any diet, you should consult your doctor before starting to diet.