Popularized Diet Fads continue Last but not least Part 6- the Zone diet from Fitness Elements Express!

6 Popular Diet Fads and the Scientific Discovery behind them Part 6- The Zone Diet

The How to's on Designing your own Healthy Diet

Here is a quick look on some of the most popular Diets and what has been discovered with these various type diets. This will be a six part discussion and education for you on determining and forming your own personal view. While there are literally hundreds of fad diets that have been promoted over the years that we could discuss, we will limit the discussion to the following popular diets:

The Atkins diet
The Blood Type Diet
The Ornish diet
The Macrobiotic diet
The vegetarian diet
The Zone diet


Today we will start and discuss the diet and what the outcomes and conclusions were. This is part six of the six part series of articles. The next and final article will be the answer to the question you've been waiting for. What is the Best Diet to date?

The Zone Diet


The Zone diet was developed by Barry Sears, Ph.D., and popularized in his best -selling book Enter the Zone. The basic principle guiding the Zone diet is based on the relationship between the hormone insulin and the ratio of dietary fat, protein, and carbohydrates. The Zone diet proposes a dietary ratio of 40 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

The Zone diet is popular among those people desiring to lose weight, and it definately works because the actual recomendations of the Zone diet result in the average person taking in only 800 to 1,200 calories per day. Of course any diet that is low enough in calories will result in weight loss, regardless of it's proportions of protein, carbohydrate, and and fat. As when following other weight loss programs, people generally experience good initial weight loss on the Zone diet, but the strict -and confusing-nature of the diet makes it difficult for many to follow. As a result, long-term compliance-and therefore lasting weight loss-withthis diet is difficult.

Individuals following the Zone diet are encouraged to consume protein from animal/and or vegetable sources that are relatively low in dietary fat, such as chicken or soy foods. It is also recommended that the diet include a good intake of monounsaturated fats, including olive oil, canola oil, and avocados. Individuals following the Zone diet are encouraged to avoid:

All refined carbohydrates and most simple sugars, including foods made from white flour (bread, pasta, bagels, tortillas, and breakfast cereals), candy, soda, and desserts
Fruits , vegetables , and grains high on the glycemic index, such as rice, papaya, mango, corn, potatoes, and carrots
Foods containing saturated fat, most notably red meat and whole-fat dairy products
Egg yolks and organ meats

My opinion along with the references to this article of the Zone diet is that while we agree with many of the goals and principles of the diet, since it does not focus enough on plant foods, the amount of fiber and other important phytochemicals is not sufficient to promote long-term health.


Until the last and final part to the question you've been waiting for what is the Best diet? Have a healthy and happy day!

References: Michael Murray N.D., Joseph Pizzorno N.D., and Lara Pizzorno M.A., L.M.T

By, Natalie Pyles

NSA Speaker, Author, Medical Exercise and Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist, Whole Health, Fitness, and Holistic Nutrition and Nursing Educator