The Basics and History of the Zone Diet
Developed by Dr. Barry Sears, a researcher at Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Zone Diet is a diet plan that focuses on the ideal state of the body and mind. This is a state of mind in which the body will feel refreshed and at its peak of energy and performance. The term zone was borrowed from what athletes would often call the peak performance zone in which they achieve the optimum performance of their bodies.
Dr. Sears, who has studied lipids and their role in the development of chronic diseases in the body, conceptualized the diet after his father died of a heart attack in 1970. But the concept was still crude, not until 1982 when Nobel Prize jury awarded a research grant for the study of the relationship of hormones called eicosanoids and the development of a certain set of diseases including diabetes, heart problems and even cancer.
In 1995, the doctor completed his research and compiled it into a book entitled “Enter The Zone.” It became an international bestseller, topping the charts around the world. To date, it has sold more than four million copies. The book was so successful that Dr. Sears published 10 more books on the subject.
Despite this, critics still point out that the theory does not have much merit as there is no scientific evidence for it. Although the zone diet is effective in reducing the kilos. Some, in fact, continue to lose 1.5 pounds each week. There have even been people who have not lost kilos with other diets but who have lost with the zone diet.
The diet encourages the consumption of grilled meats, many fruits and of course vegetables. People who are under the program will have some meals that are made up of a slice of meat and two-thirds of fruits and vegetables. The diet is primarily made up of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat in the form of monounsaturated fats, such as those found in fruits like avocado, guacamole, and macadamia nuts.
Carbohydrates are ingested through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Sometimes pasta, rice, and breads are allowed, but only small portions. Protein, on the other hand, is ingested through lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as chicken and turkey. You can also eat fish and soy products.
