The Zone Diet Plan Blog

Understanding Eicosanoids

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 21:42:00 +0000

Understanding eicosanoids and their function in the body is vital to understanding why the Zone Diet works. Here's a great article on the subject from Dr. Sears...

Strange, mysterious, and almost mystical, eicosanoids are the key to our health because they control the flow of information in our Biological Internet. Why are eicosanoids so important? They were the first hormones developed by living organisms more than 550 million years ago. As such they can be considered "super-hormones" because they control the hormonal actions of other hormones. Furthermore, you don't have an eicosanoid gland since every one of your 60 trillion cells can make eicosanoids.

Even though they are earliest hormones (dating from 550 million years ago), eicosanoids only were identified in the 20th century starting with the discovery of essential fatty acids in 1929. It was found that if fat in the diet was totally removed, rats would soon die. Adding back certain essential fats (then called Vitamin F) was found to enable fat-deprived rats to live. Eventually as technologies advanced, researchers realized that essential fats were composed of both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids that both needed to be obtained in the diet because the body could not synthesize them. The word eicosanoids is derived from the Greek word for 20 which is eicosa, since all of these hormones are synthesized from essential fatty acids that are 20 carbon atoms in length.

Zone diet wins in varsity study

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 03:36:00 +0000

Otago University has found that overweight women lose weight more quickly on the Zone diet than if they follow conventional dietary advice

A study by the university's Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research found that women also lost weight faster on the controversial Atkins diet, but they started to gain weight again within a year.

The study concludes that the Zone diet, promoted by American doctor Barry Sears, "may be the best overall approach to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes".

The lead researcher, Dr Kirsten McAuley, said that although thousands of studies had been made of the Atkins diet, the Otago research was the world's first direct comparison of Atkins, Zone and conventional dietary advice in a test which did not have a high dropout rate.

Eighty-eight per cent of the overweight Dunedin women in the study stuck it out for at least a year, providing data on 96 women with an average age of 45.

All were "insulin-resistant", a pre-diabetic condition where the body's ability to use insulin to absorb sugar is reduced.

In full diabetics, insulin resistance causes a dangerous buildup of blood sugar which the body cannot absorb.

In the pre-diabetic stage, the body copes by producing more insulin.

The women were divided into three groups - one on the Atkins diet, one on the Zone diet and the third being given conventional diet advice.

The Atkins and Zone diets aim to slash intake of carbohydrates, including sugar.

Dr McAuley said the Atkins was more extreme, starting with 20g of carbohydrates a day, equivalent to half a slice of toast or half a banana.

The Zone diet emphasises high protein foods to offset low carbohydrates, advocating a balance of one-third low-fat protein such as meat, eggs and beans, and two-thirds fruit and vegetables.

Conventional dietary advice also emphasises eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, but with less emphasis on meat because of worries about high fat increasing the heart attack risk.

Researcher Kylie Smith told the first conference of the New Zealand branch of the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity in Auckland yesterday that all the women in the study were seen weekly for four months and then checked again at six months and a year.

After six months the women on the Atkins and Zone diets had lost an average of 8kg. Women following conventional advice lost only 5kg.

After a year, the Atkins dieters were gaining weight again and were 5.4kg below their starting points. The conventional eaters were still 4.5kg lighter, and the Zoners were the winners with average weights 6.5kg below where they started.

Dr McAuley warned that diabetics with signs of kidney disease should avoid the Zone diet.

"There is no one best bet or wonder diet that's going to solve obesity," she said. "We need to consider a variety of options for different people who have different eating habits and preferences."

Surprisingly, the study found that after six months, women on all three diets had about the same amount of "bad" LDL cholesterol, the main warning signal for heart attacks.

"It was expected that LDL would increase under the Atkins diet," Ms Smith said.

Atkins allows people to eat high-fat steaks as long as they have minimal carbohydrates.

After two months, the conventional eaters were getting 49 per cent of their energy calories from carbohydrates, compared with 34 per cent for the Zoners and 11 per cent under the Atkins diet.

But the Atkins dieters paid a painful price - "a significant number" needed to take anti-constipation pills because they missed out on bread and other high-fibre foods.

They ate an average of only 9g a day of dietary fibre, compared with about 20g a day for both the other two groups.

"Those on the Zone diet did seem to enjoy it better," Ms Smith said.

How old and new compare

CONVENTIONAL ADVICE

* Eat plenty of fruit and veges (at least two fruits and three vegetables a day).

* Eat plenty of breads and cereals, preferably wholegrain (six daily slices of bread, half-cups of breakfast cereal or cups of rice or pasta).

* Drink low-fat milk and dairy products (two daily glasses of milk or pottles of yoghurt or four slices of cheese).

* Eat one serving a day of meat, eggs and nuts (two slices of meat, one steak, one chicken leg, one fish fillet, one egg or three-quarters of a cup of beans).

* Aim to get calories from carbohydrates 50-55 per cent, fat 30-33 per cent (including 8-10 per cent saturated fat), protein 11-15 per cent.

* Aim for 30g of fibre a day from vegetables, wholegrains, beans and peas.

ATKINS DIET

* Initial daily limit of 20g of carbohydrate, obtained from unprocessed salads and other non-starchy vegetables. Avoid high-sugar processed foods such as bread, rice, pasta or vegetables grown underground.

* Eat mainly meat, dairy products and salad vegetables to keep you full.

* Gradually increase carbohydrates such as high-fibre veges, fruits, beans, peas and wholegrains to the level that keeps your body at the right weight.

* Take multivitamin pills and an essential oils/fatty acid formula to ensure adequate nutrition.

* No precise aims for calorie intake proportions, but very low carbohydrate means high proteins and fats.

ZONE DIET

* Eat at last three meals and two snacks a day to stay within the "zone" where you are not hungry and have a clear mental focus.

* Divide your plate into three equal sections. One-third should be enough low-fat protein to fit in the palm of your hand, and two-thirds should be fruits and vegetables, with a dash of fat such as olive oil.

* Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and fruits.

* Eat less pasta, breads, grains and starches.

* Aim to get calories from protein 30 per cent, fat 30 per cent, carbohydrates 40 per cent.

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Related resources:

Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity

Zone Tips for Vegetarians

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 18:49:00 +0000

From Zone Diet Advantage:

Is it possible to be vegetarian and remain satisfied and nourished in the Zone? "Very easily!" responds Dr. Sears. "You just have to make sure that you have adequate levels of vegetable protein at each meal. This can be either tofu or soybean imitation-meat products," he advises.

The problem with traditional vegetarian diets: "They're hormonally unbalanced because they contain huge amounts of carbohydrates and little else. Eating a diet based almost solely on carbohydrates causes insulin levels to soar, which causes blood sugar levels to drop quickly," Dr. Sears cautions. As a result, many vegetarians find themselves feeling sluggish, always searching for more food, and, sometimes, gaining weight.

You can find a wide range of balanced but meat-free recipes via the Zone Diet's online Meal Plan and Recipe Search. "When planning your meals and snacks, remember that you should use the same methods—hand-eye, blocks—that meat eaters use to create their meals," says Dr. Sears. And, finally, "make sure you get the right supplements, including the B-complex vitamins—I recommend 50 micrograms of vitamin B-12 a day for vegetarians—and iron (as well as other minerals), plus DHA from algae."

Here, a sample day's menu in the vegetarian Zone:

Breakfast: Asparagus Frittata
Lunch: Greek Salad with Garlic-Oregano Dressing
Snack: Berry Smoothie (with protein powder)
Dinner: Tempeh Paprikas

Learn more at the Zone Diet Advantage web site...

Fiber, Demystified

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 17:04:00 +0000

(Zone Diet Advantage) -- Fiber can be confusing. Because the fiber-rich foods in our diet tend to be high in carbohydrates, many carb-adverse people simply don't get enough of this heart-healthy substance. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the average American consumes between 5 to 13 grams of fiber per day—while women should strive for 25 grams, and men should consume 38.

In fact, it is the unfavorable carbohydrate sources that tend to be low in fiber (think of highly processed snack foods, white-flour bread and pasta, fruit juices). By contrast, many of the Zone's favorable carb sources provide plenty of fiber. Indeed, it is the fiber in these foods that makes them desirable, because fiber works to reduce insulin production. "The amount of insulin your body will produce is based on only the amount of carbohydrate that actually enters into the bloodstream as the simply sugar glucose. And fiber doesn't count," explains Dr. Sears.

Got it? If you do, then you're ready for yet one more complicating fiber factor: Some of it is soluble (desirable), and some of it is insoluble (less desirable). Examples: The insoluble fiber in "healthy" breakfast cereals is easily broken down into pure glucose, which enters your bloodstream like a spoonful of sugar, whereas the soluble fiber in apples, for instance, acts as a "control rod" for glucose entering the blood.

Here are some foods that provide fiber and all its benefits, but without hiking insulin levels: oatmeal, broccoli, apples, red peppers, strawberries, whole citrus fruits.

(Learn more @ Zone Diet Advantage...)

Study: Americans not eating enough produce

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Sat, 11 Sep 2004 05:44:00 +0000

(AP) -- Despite years of public service campaigns -- and lectures from Mom -- Americans still aren't eating even close to enough fruits and vegetables, according to a recent study.

What's more, most people don't know how much produce they are supposed to eat.

More than 85 percent of consumers are not eating the federally recommended minimum of five servings of produce a day, according to an AC Nielsen poll of 2,472 people.

And nearly 60 percent think eating one to four servings is enough for a healthy diet; 20 percent said one or two servings is enough.

The government recommends two to four servings of fruit and three to five servings of vegetables daily. Serving examples include three-fourths of a cup of juice, a medium apple or a half-cup of chopped vegetables.

The government is updating those guidelines and is expected to raise the recommended servings of produce early next year.

Read the rest...

What can Omega-3 fatty acids do for me?

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 01:11:00 +0000

What can Omega-3 fatty acids do for your health and fitness? Here's a short list...

Want to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke? Hundreds of studies have shown that diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and abnormal heart rhythms. One study of over 20,000 physicians showed a 52% reduction in the risk of heart attacks in those who ate at least one fish meal per week compared with those who ate fish once a month or less. In particular, a high blood level of Omega-3 fatty acid seemed to provide significant protection against sudden death. Additionally, several studies have shown that eating 200 grams of fatty fish or taking six to 10 capsules of fish oil daily will lower your blood pressure.

Do you suffer from arthritis or joint pain? Patients taking Omega 3 show a significant reduction in the number of tender joints and morning stiffness, as well as an increase in grip strength. Studies have shown that patients taking fish oil supplements for rheumatoid arthritis or gout require fewer pain medications and, in fact, some are able to discontinue their anti-inflammatory treatments all together.

Concerned about diabetes? A recent study conducted by Louisiana State University found that supplementation with Omega-3 fatty acids resulted in significant improvement in insulin function in overweight individuals who are vulnerable to Type II diabetes.

Are you, or do you know anyone who is manic depressive? Researchers at Harvard University's McLean Hospital found that patients suffering from manic depression who were given Omega 3 capsules experienced a marked improvement over a four-month period.

How about asthma? Taking Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation of the airways and reduce asthma attacks. According to Donald Rudin, in his book Omega-3 Oils, allergic disorders such as asthma may be triggered by too much Omega-6 and too little Omega-3 fats in our bodies. Excessive amounts of Omega-6 cause the body to produce antibodies that cause allergic reactions. Fish oil supplements can keep the Omega-6 fats in check and decrease the inflammatory reactions associated with asthma.

Do you have kids? Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the normal development of vision and brain function, especially in newborns and children. Studies have shown that babies given formulas supplemented with Omega-3 have better vision and score higher in skills and problem-solving tests, than babies on formulas that do not contain additional these essential fatty acids. Supplements containing Omega-3 fats have also reportedly been effective in children with ADHD as well.

Interested in preventing cancer? Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit tumor growth when injected into animals. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to prevent cancer of the breast, colon and prostate. Omega-3 fats strengthen the immune systems and inhibit the inflammation and blood circulation of the tumors.

Omega-3 is even good for your dog. According to a study at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, fish oil supplements help thwart the loss of muscle mass in dogs suffering from heart disease (as well as making their coats healthy and shiny).

OK, that's enough data. What I don't understand is why, with the accumulation of the all the evidence, why isn't everyone starting their day with Omega-3? It isn't like it's painful or something. All you have to do is take a few capsules. No muss, no fuss, no sweat. Is it laziness? How much easier could it be? Is it doubt? Do you think this Omega-3 stuff is just something we've made up? If you don't trust ZonePerfect.com (as insulting as that would be), then how about ABC News or CNN? Could it be that you don't know where to get it? Have you forgotten how to get to our store.

Well I don't have the answer to these questions, but I'm getting downright frustrated by this state of affairs. Here we have definitive proof of the many health benefits that result from taking fish oil capsules, and most of you still aren't bothering to take them. I've seen the sales numbers (see, I told you I was trying to sell something) and unless everyone is buying their Omega 3 somewhere else (and why would you?), there are an awful lot of regular readers who aren't taking their daily dose. If you don't want me to harp on the subject of Omega 3 every week, then do yourself a favor. Lay in a supply of capsules and start taking them every day. Give them to your husband, your wife, your kids, your dogs, your Great Aunt Ida - in fact give them to anyone you care about. Taking Omega 3 is simply one of the easiest and best things you can do to improve your overall health.

Zone Diet Success Story: What a Difference 21 Pounds Makes!

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 18:18:00 +0000

Here's a great success story from someone who used the Zone Diet to lose weight, feel better, increase their energy, and dramatically improve their life...

(eDiets: Zone Diet Plan) - It wasn't that long ago curvy Kerry P. yearned for the days she could slip into her itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini and confidently stroll down a sandy South Florida beach.

Although naturally thin most of her life, the bubbly beach bunny saw her body shape change for the worst due to fast food lunches, late night pizza runs and a lack of exercise.

The uhealthy habits came with a hefty price tag. Kerry's belly bulged and her clothes tightened. She was miserable at 130 pounds. Yes, 130 pounds doesn't sound all that bad. But on Kerry’s petite 5'1" frame, the extra weight was enough to make her uncomfortable... especially since she works in the weight loss industry. She was well aware that she wasn’t practicing what she preached.

"I saw someone I used to work with and they asked if I just had a baby," she recalls. "Another acquaintance of mine hit me in the stomach and asked what was going on. Then I couldn’t find any clothes to wear one day last December."

It was enough to add insult to injury. As manager of human resources for eDiets.com, dieting was constantly on her mind. Just like the millions of people who turn to the online weight loss program for help, the 31-year-old professional had her own pounds-shedding plight.

It wasn’t just the guilt of working for eDiets -- Kerry also had a background in exercise physiology.

It was simply a matter of putting the right resources to work for her.

In Kerry’s case, she had everything she needed right in front of her eyes. With 19 personalized diets to choose from at eDiets, she wasn’t short on options. Kerry needed a plan that would cater to her busy lifestyle and that plan proved to be the Zone Diet. In just five months, she made the amazing transformation from flab to fab. Today, she’s maintaining her 21-pound loss at 109 pounds.

Before she got started, she consulted with eDiets chief fitness pro, Raphael Calzadilla. After looking at her likes and dislikes, they came up with a plan best suited for her.

"Raphael told me I needed to eat more frequently throughout the day," she says. "I wanted something that was balanced and simple at the same time. I wanted to eat more healthy foods."

The next step was putting her lifestyle under renovation. There were plenty of things that had to change. For starters, preparation was crucial. She could no longer fly by the seat of her pants. Instead, she used the eDiets Zone Diet menus to plan ahead. For the most part, Kerry preferred her plan to be pretty much uniform. She admits not overloading her food with salt and butter was a change she had to get used to.

She says: "For breakfast I would have egg beaters and a little bit of fruit. Sometimes I would have a protein shake with fruit. Lunch would usually be a salad with chicken or turkey breast with small amounts of fat-free dressing. I would also have water and some fruit. Around 4 p.m., I’d have a Zone bar or some fruit with a couple pieces of cheese. For dinner, I’d usually have the same type of thing as lunch. Or I’d have a steak with grilled onions and peppers."

A major move for Kerry was cutting back on Diet Cokes. She limited herself to two a day. The rest of the time she drank water. After a couple weeks, she noticed a dramatic change in her energy level, which gave her the push she needed to get moving. She again consulted with Raphael, this time on the workout that would be best for her.

No stranger to fitness, Kerry joined a new gym when she started her weight loss endeavors, toward the end of January. She started going to the gym a minimum of three times a week, where she would do 30 minutes of cardio. She quickly moved up to 45 minutes. Kerry also incorporated strength training into her workout. Two months into her program, she also started running on a regular basis.

Initially, Kerry noticed that since she hadn’t been exercising on a regular basis, her endurance and strength had decreased. As she began working out, it wasn’t long before she was back at the top of her game. In addition to her regular workout schedule, she also started experimenting with other activities like martial arts classes and beach volleyball.

"I feel a lot more confident and a lot happier, I can focus on other things. I realize that I really like doing physical activities and playing sports. I’m doing a lot of fun things today that I wouldn’t have had fun with six months ago. I have a lot of new interests."

Seeing the fruits of her labor kept Kerry moving full speed ahead. However that wasn’t her only motivation. Having Raphael as her "coach" also kept her motivated. Even though she didn’t see him on a regular basis, they communicated via email whenever she had questions or needed a dose of encouragement.

"Raphael was very knowledgeable and I didn’t want to let him down," Kerry says. "It was nice having someone to be accountable to. It was definitely nice to have someone to call and say 'hey, I can't do this anymore' and have them to tell you 'yes you can.'"

These days she’s still on the Zone Diet but her focus is more on maintaining. She continues to follow a balanced meal plan and stay active. Both physically and mentally she has never felt better.

"I feel like I can hang out in my bikini all day long and not feel embarrassed."

Are you ready to get into the Zone? With eDiets and the Zone, you will have all the the tools you need to succeed, including 24/7 support! Click here to check it out!

The Soy Zone Diet

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Fri, 16 Jul 2004 19:33:00 +0000

(Barry Sears, Ph.D) - The Health Benefits of Soy

"Why do I need to get into the Zone?" That's a question I've been asked a thousand times, and it's a question that runs through my mind every day as I conduct research and lecture across the country about the benefits of the Zone. I usually answer this question with a question of my own:

Do you want to live a longer and healthier life?

You've probably heard that "you are what you eat" and that a nutritious diet is the key to good health. In this day and age, we are faced with a plethora of conflicting dietary advice and an overwhelming number of food choices. If you avoid all fat, do you still need to worry about calories? Is a high-carbohydrate diet the way to go? Or are high-protein diets the best choice?

Let's face it: You're probably more confused than ever about what to eat. In fact, most Americans don't know which way to turn and, as a result of heeding bad nutritional advice, we're in the midst of a growing obesity epidemic -- with more than 50 percent of us overweight.

Let's cut through all the nutribabble and focus on one thing: If you balance the foods you eat, you achieve balance in your body, which will lead to a longer and healthier life. The Zone Diet contains the balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat that will take you 90 percent of the way there. If you replace some of the low-fat animal protein (meat, chicken, fish, dairy, egg whites) from the Zone Diet with soy protein, you'll get the rest of the way there.

I believe the Soy Zone is the healthiest diet in the world -- a diet that creates balance in your body's hormonal systems and keeps your body running at peak efficiency. You'll feel healthier and will have a lower risk of developing such life-threatening diseases as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. At the same time, you'll experience more energy and a mental sharpness that will carry you through the day. If you're overweight, the Soy Zone is a perfect way to shed excess fat and keep it off for life.

It's time to enter the Soy Zone.

The Soy Zone Diet is the most advanced form of the Zone. What is the Zone? It is the balance of hormonal systems that occurs every time you eat. You can enter the Zone by balancing the foods you eat through a diet program that I introduced in my 1995 book, The Zone, and refined in my 1997 book, Mastering the Zone. The Zone is a protein-adequate diet in which you consume about 40 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, about 30 percent from protein, and 30 percent from fat. As you can see, this diet is neither high-protein nor high-carbohydrate. It's a diet that restores the proper balance of protein, carbohydrate, and fat, a balance your body needs to work effectively.

The Zone is not some mythical place or catchy marketing slogan. The basic premise of the Zone is that eating the proper balance of foods will keep certain hormones within a therapeutic zone. What's amazing is that you can precisely control how your body functions through the foods you eat. You can help extend your lifespan and prevent chronic disease.

So where does soy fit in? Soy is a natural form of plant protein that fits perfectly into the Zone Diet. In fact, it actually enhances the effects of the Zone, making it easier to achieve the hormonal balance that your body needs. If you're familiar with the rules of the Zone, you'll find it easy to adopt the Soy Zone. All you need to do is replace some of the low-fat animal protein you normally eat with soy protein products. If you've never tried the Zone, simply follow the step-by-step rules outlined in the next chapter. You'll see that it won't take much effort to get into the Zone. And once you're there, you'll want to stay there.

Over the past few years, soy food products have become extremely popular in this country. Newspaper headlines tout study after study showing the health benefits of soy. Sure, you'd like to try some soy foods -- if you haven't already. But maybe you've stared quizzically at the package of tofu or soy hamburger crumbles on the supermarket shelf, wondering how to incorporate these foods into your favorite dishes.

Read more about the Soy Zone Diet...

The Zone Diet Guide: What are Eicosanoids?

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Wed, 07 Jul 2004 18:18:00 +0000

Eicosanoids are a central component of the Zone Diet. Here is a brief explanation of these extremely important hormones:

Eicosanoids are a group of autocrine hormones derived from a 20-carbon atom, polyunsaturated fat consisting of two main types. Although both are essential to life, our current diet favors the over production of one branch resulting in such bad effects as decreased immune system function, increase in blood pressure, asthma, and increased allergies. This has led some to label these eicosanoids as "good" vs. "bad". In reality, it is the balance of these two types of eicosanoids that will strongly determine the health of your cardiovascular and immune systems. The increased consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids and the control of insulin induces the body to make more "good" and less "bad" eicosanoids (I.E., restoration of the balance between the two).

Eicosanoids (eye-KAH-sah-noids) are the most powerful hormones in the body, controlling every cell, every organ, every system. They have very diverse effects, are extremely short-lived and are hard to study. They are made by every cell in the body and do not use the bloodstream to reach their target tissues, but rather work at the level of individual cells as the ultimate regulators of cellular function. Eicosanoids influence vascular reactivity and permeability, and the activity of membrane-bound enzymes and receptors.

The Atkins Ornish South Beach Zone Diet

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 18:40:00 +0000

(Time Health) - One of the most encouraging developments to come out of the TIME/ABC News Summit on Obesity earlier this month was an emerging consensus among nutrition experts about what constitutes a healthy diet. Here, one of America's most prominent diet gurus summarizes key points of agreement.

As a veteran of the diet wars, I think it's time to call a truce. Rather than hear experts argue, most people want practical information they can use. Significant points of difference persist, but there is a real convergence of ideas happening and more consensus than many realize.

For example, I have become more mindful of the importance of limiting the intake of simple or refined carbohydrates ("bad carbs") such as sugar and white flour than I was when I began doing cardiac research 27 years ago. Likewise, the Atkins acolytes have started to highlight the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables ("good carbs") rather than emphasize bacon and Brie. Meanwhile, the American Heart Association recently revised its guidelines to include the considerable benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

So, where do most of us agree?

1. AVOID TRANS-FATTY ACIDS AND PARTLY HYDROGENATED FATS ("BAD FATS"). They increase the shelf life of food products but decrease the shelf life of people who eat them.

2. CONSUME SOME OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS EVERY DAY ("GOOD FATS"). Only three grams a day may reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death as much as 50% to 80%, lower your triglycerides, reduce inflammation (e.g., arthritis) and may help prevent cancer. You can eat fish — including salmon, mackerel and halibut — or take fish-or flaxseed-oil capsules from which contaminants have been removed.

3. EAT FEWER "BAD CARBS" LIKE SUGAR AND WHITE FLOUR. They are low in fiber, so you get a double whammy: a lot of calories that don't fill you up and, because such carbs are absorbed quickly, a blood-sugar spike and an insulin surge, causing you to gain weight.

4. EAT MORE "GOOD CARBS" LIKE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, LEGUMES AND UNREFINED GRAINS SUCH AS WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR AND BROWN RICE. They are rich in fiber, which slows absorption and fills you up before you take in too many calories.

5. CALORIES COUNT. It's not low fat vs. low carb. You can eat fewer calories by eating less food — which is why you can lose weight on any diet that restricts entire categories of foods or limits portion sizes — but you may get hungry and gain it back. Fat has 9 calories per gram, but protein and carbohydrates have only 4 calories per gram, so when you eat less fat, you consume fewer calories without having to eat less food. So eat less fat and fewer simple carbs.

6. WHAT YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU EXCLUDE. There are at least a thousand substances that help protect against chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. With few exceptions, those protective substances are found in good carbs such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

7. LOSE WEIGHT IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES HEALTH RATHER THAN HARMS IT. You can lose weight by smoking cigarettes or taking such stimulants as amphetamines, fen phen and ephedra, but they are not healthful ways of doing so.

8. ENERGY BALANCE IS IMPORTANT. You lose weight when you burn more calories (exercise) than you consume.

9. EXERCISE MORE. Simple changes like taking the stairs, parking a little farther away and walking 30 min. a day can make a difference. Small increases can lead to big improvements over time.

10. EAT LESS RED MEAT. Dr. Atkins may have disagreed, but it's loaded with artery-clogging saturated fat and has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

11. BEGIN BY MAKING MODERATE CHANGES IN YOUR DIET. If you want to lower you cholesterol level or weight even more or if you have heart disease and want to reverse it, you may need to make bigger changes.

12. TALK TO SUPPLIERS. Encourage foodmakers and restaurants to make it convenient and pleasurable to eat more healthfully.

13. CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. Smaller portions of good foods are more satisfying than larger portions of junk foods, especially if you pay attention to what you're eating.

You have a wide range of dietary choices; it's not all or nothing. If you go on a diet and feel constrained, you are more likely to drop it. But if you see your food choices each day as part of a spectrum, then you are more likely to feel free and empowered. If you indulge yourself one day, you can eat more healthfully the next. To the degree you move in a healthful direction on the food spectrum, you're likely to feel better, lose weight and gain health.

"Zone" With Adventure Girl®, Stefanie Michaels, As She Joins Zone GOURMET And Promotes Eating Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 04:37:00 +0000

Adventure Girl®, Stefanie Michaels joins Zone Gourmet, to promote eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle.

Michaels, known for her adventurous lifestyle, admits to a 20-pound weight gain, after a debilitating injury to her arm. A fall in 2002, landed Michaels in the hospital with a broken arm, followed by a year of therapy, and finally a surgery to release, and repair an entrapped nerve in the arm.

"The time it took for me to heal, and the lack of exercise left me inactive and depressed. Everything had to be put on hold, and I found myself eating horribly out of frustration,” Michaels explains. "This was a whole new experience for me. I am used to living this adventurous lifestyle, yet, had to remain immobile to heal. It was torture!"

Michaels found that shedding the pounds was not an easy task. A self proclaimed "carb junkie" and "chocoholic", Michaels became used to her newly found eating habits. "I always ate healthy, and being a vegetarian, I was aware of getting my balance of grains, fruits, veggies, and proteins," says Michaels. "I got used to snacking, watching Dr. Phil, and waiting to get word from my doctors to green light activities. Twenty pounds later, and a whole lot of life knowledge from Dr. Phil, I was given the ok to lightly exercise. I remember getting on the scale, flipping out, and thinking how the heck was I going to get this weight off!"

Michaels hired a trainer three times a week, and immediately contacted Zone Gourmet.com. "I knew I couldn't go it alone, and can't cook for anything," insists Michaels. "Zone Gourmet was my only choice. What I like about Zone Gourmet is the convenience, and the fact that it's not a diet. It's a healthy choice of eating right."

The Adventuregirl.com website, boasts a Zone Gourmet logo. Michaels hopes that Adventuregirl.com fans will click through to the zonegourmet.com website, learn more about the program, and join Michaels in spreading her message of eating balanced, and living a healthy lifestyle.

More about Stefanie Michaels:
Stefanie Michaels, is the host and creator of Adventure Girl®, an online web show and travel site. Adventuregirl.com has offered up tips and travel information to more than 150 million fans around the globe, and continues to be a leading force in the world of "TraveltainmentTM".

More about Zone Gourmet:
Zone Gourmet is the remarkably effective fresh food delivery program based on the highly acclaimed Zone Diet. Delicious Zone Gourmet meals are prepared to according to the 40/30/30 carbohydrate/protein/fat ratio philosophy of the Zone Diet. Offering two programs. Daily and Weekly delivery, guarantee plenty of variety. Daily customers receive three freshly prepared meals and two snacks to their doorsteps by 6AM each morning. Weekly clientele receive a full weeks worth of freshly prepared without preservatives, not frozen, Zone Gourmet meals once a week.

Delivered Zone Diet meals gaining popularity

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 04:33:00 +0000

As a party planner for the stars, Jodi Thomas' schedule leaves little time for eating right.

Fed up with getting by on coffee and candy bars while coordinating events for hundreds of people, Thomas signed up with the Zone Diet At Home food delivery service. For her, weight loss was an afterthought.

"I'm eating right, the food is good, and the bonus is I lose weight along the way," said the 30-year-old Santa Monica resident who lost five pounds in a month.

Peggy White, 58, a software engineer from Redmond, Washington, is busy, too. But she joined a meal delivery plan because she desperately needed to slim down.

She wouldn't disclose her weight before signing up with Zone Seattle but said she lost 96 pounds during the next year. She said it was well worth the $40 a day she paid Zone Seattle, an independent firm based in Seattle that delivers to about 160 people in Seattle and Portland.

Neither woman missed cooking. Thomas said her stove is mere decoration. White was glad to stay out of the kitchen.

"One, when you're in the kitchen you want to eat things and cheat," White said. "Two, it's having to spend time in there to figure out what to eat and whether it's OK."

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What is The Zone Diet?

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 04:30:00 +0000

What is The Zone Diet? The centerpiece of the Zone Perfect Nutrition Programme is the Zone Diet itself. The principle premise of the Zone Diet is a simple one: Your genes have changed very little during the past 100,000 years.

Your body is a biochemical machine. Like any machine, it needs the right fuel to operate properly. Over hundreds of thousands of years, Mother Nature has designed your digestive system to operate correctly when eating just two food groups: (1) lean protein and (2) natural carbohydrates like fruits and fiber-rich vegetables.

What about grains? Well, 8,000 years ago, there were no grains, bread or pasta. Agriculture is a very recent (by evolutionary standards) invention.

Evolution works very slowly. As far as our genes are concerned, we're still a bunch of hunter/gatherers foraging for food. The problem, of course, is that our genes may be programmemed that way, but that's not the way we actually live. We regularly eat large quantities of dense, highly processed carbohydrates such as grains and grain based products such as pasta.

Because we haven't evolved to a stage where we can eat excessive amounts of these high density carbohydrates without adverse biochemical consequences, our bodies aren't able to operate properly. We gain excess weight, suffer from diabetes, heart disease and a host of other ills, feel sluggish, and generally perform at a sub-par level.

The Zone Diet is designed to feed our actual genetic makeup - to give us the fuel we need, when we need it.

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Review of The Zone Diet

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Fri, 02 Apr 2004 19:38:00 +0000

Excerpt:

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Advocates of the Zone Diet

Advocates for the Zone Diet include celebrities and also some health experts who say that the Zone’s recommendations don’t stray far from the USDA’s (United States Dietary Association) dietary guidelines. Critics have argued that the Zone Diet has flawed ratios but Sears argues that the Zone diet is really a low glycemic-load diet that has adequate protein. Sears also defends the criticism that Zone Diet is too complicated. He believes this is a misconception because his first book on the Zone Diet was targeted to cardiologists who were more scientifically-oriented.

Critics of the Zone Diet

The AHA (American Heart Association) classifies the Zone Diet as high protein and does not recommend the Zone Diet for weight loss. They assert that the Zone Diet has not been proven effective in the long term for weight loss. They issued an official recommendation warning against diets like the Zone Diet. They believe that the Zone Diet is hazardous as it restricts the intake of essential vitamins and minerals present in certain foods. They are concerned that the protein ratio in the Zone diet is too high even if the minimal fat ratio is good. Robert H. Ecker M.D of the A.H.A., finds the Zone Diet’s theory on insulin flawed and argues that there is no scientific proof that the hormone insulin plays a big role in weight regulation.
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'The Miracle of the New High-Dose Fish Oil' at Natural Products Expo West by Best-selling Author Barry Sears, Ph.D.

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 19:10:00 +0000

Dr. Barry Sears is the research scientist who created the world famous Zone Diet and is the author of the number-one New York Times best-seller, The Zone. His many zone-related books have sold more than four million copies and have been translated into twenty- two languages in forty countries. Dr. Sears' original research led to a revolution in nutritional thinking.

Dr. Sears discussed his new ground breaking book, The Omega Rx Zone -- The Miracle of the New High-Dose Fish Oil. It is the culmination of 20 years of research on the benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids contained in omega- 3 fish oil. Dr. Sears pioneered the development of pharmaceutical grade fish oil using the brand name Omega Rx, a highly refined nutritional supplement rich in the long chain omega-3 acids DHA and EPA.

Natural Products Expo West attendees were invited to attend Dr Sears' presentation on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 10:30 AM. Following his presentation, Dr. Sears signed copies of his book, The Omega Rx Zone, at the DSM Nutritional Products booth at Supply Expo.

DSM Nutritional Products is the world's leading supplier of vitamins, carotenoids and other fine chemicals to the feed, food, dietary supplement and cosmetic industries. DSM offers an international network of R&D, production and distribution facilities as well as sales and marketing presence in more than 100 countries. Its extensive portfolio includes a complete line of water and oil soluble vitamins, carotenoids and ROPUFA(R) Omega-3 and Omega-6, LAFTI(R) second generation probiotics and TEAVIGO(TM) green tea extract, containing up to 94% EGCG.

For more information, please contact DSM Nutritional Products, Inc. at 45 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, New Jersey, 07054. Phone: 1-800-526-0189. Website: www.nutraaccess.com

Delivery service brings Zone meals to dieters' doorsteps

noreply@blogger.com (JC) — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 23:29:00 +0000

Would you sign up for a diet program run by a woman who admits she's been a size 8 all of her adult life?

As president of Zone Seattle, Arlene Sherman dispatches her "food fairies" daily to roughly 150 clients of Zone Seattle, the home meal-delivery program she founded 19 months ago with her son, Jeff, based on the principles of the Zone diet developed by Dr. Barry Sears and first introduced in his 1995 book "The Zone."

A fast-talking, Brooklyn-accented food fairy godmother, Sherman set her sights on health-conscious Seattle after working for a similar company in the New York metropolitan area.

Few among us could resist a sales pitch that promises you'll lose between 1 and 3 pounds a week eating three meals a day plus two snacks, prepared by professional chefs and delivered to your door fresh daily. But many might balk at the cost: $39.99 per person per day.

"Forty dollars a day may seem expensive; certainly it is for me as a retired person," says Jo Ann Bourque, a former secretary who lives in West Seattle. But when she calculated what she was spending on food before she joined Zone Seattle, she was shocked to realize that it was close to $40 a day. Because she doesn't really like to cook or shop, she would rely on pricier prepared food, or junk food. She was, she admits, eating more than she should have been. "People pay for housecleaning, they pay for gardening, so why not pay for something that's good for you?" she asks.

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