Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler

Dr. Barry Sears, a former researcher at MIT, originally
developed, diet tips, the Zone Diet. The Zone Diet is based on maintaining
insulin levels by striking a balance between carbohydrates and
proteins at each meal

Barry Sears contends that most diets currently, diet tips, recommended are
high in carbohydrates and low in fats. Sears argues that this is
a combination that contributes to the production of too much
insulin. And, according to Barry Sears, the major cause of
obesity is an imbalance of insulin in the body.

The Zone Diet is based on the concept of achieving a balance
between insulin and eicosanoids. By controlling the balance of
insulin and eicosanoids with, diet tips, the Zone Diet, you increase the
loss of fat (weight, diet tips, loss), increase blood flow, increase your
physical and, diet tips, mental stamina, and decrease the likelihood of
heart disease and diabetes. The Zone Diet advises a moderate
intake of carbohydrates, proteins,, diet tips, and fat in order to control
insulin. The Zone Diet is designed, diet tips, to balance your intake of
protein and carbohydrates at 1 part protein to 4 parts
carbohydrates. The Zone Diet prescribes a maximum amount of
low-fat protein to one meal at 3-4 ounces, which is nearly
exactly the recommendation of the USDA and the FDA. The majority
of carbohydrates on the Zone Diet come from vegetables and
fruits, with limited amounts of bread, rice, potatoes and
grains. Most of the fat intake with, diet tips, the Zone Diet should come
from monounsaturated fats like olive oil, safflower oil, and
other ‘heart healthy’ oils.

Many people believe the Zone Diet sounds much like the Atkins
diet due to the restricting of carbohydrates. However, the
differences between the Zone Diet and the Atkins diet, diet tips, are quite
clear. Atkins recommends a diet high in protein without regard
to fat, with the intent of provoking ketosis,, diet tips, a potentially
unhealthy condition. According to Barry Sears, the Atkins diet,
by increasing carbohydrate levels without regard to fat intake,
will force the body to induce the production of insulin which,
maintains Sears, increases weight gain. Instead, the Zone Diet
recommends achieving a balance of nutrients with moderate
amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and fat all playing a part.

The Zone Diet also recommends the supplementation of diet with
fish oil. Fish oil, provides omega 3 fatty acids which are an
important component in healthy cells. Study after study in the
past five years has confirmed, diet tips, the importance, diet tips, of fish oil and
omega 3 fatty acids, diet tips, in the diet.

A sample meal on the Zone Diet Plan might include: ?, diet tips, 3 oz
portion of broiled salmon ? Spinach salad with apples and
walnuts dressed with walnut oil and lemon juice ? 1/2 cup of
brown rice ? 1 glass fruit or vegetable juice

The Zone Diet Plan combines small portions of low fat proteins,
fats and fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. The Zone Diet also
suggests eating some protein with each meal or snack, and at
least 3 meals and 2 snacks daily.

Who should use the Zone Diet? Is the Zone Diet safe?

As always, you should consult a physician before embarking on
any diet plan that substantially changes your eating habits.
There are significant differences between the Zone Diet and
diets recommended for diabetics and heart patients. However, in
general, the recommended portions of foods and the balance
between, diet tips, them with the Zone Diet is healthy and is maintainable
for life.

Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining, diet tips, good health. In its basic form protein consists of amino acid chains. Of the 22 amino acids that, diet tips, are capable of creating protein, 8 of these can only be obtained through a protein diet. Because these amino acids are utilized, diet tips, by the body a low protein diet can affect a host of very important functions. The building of our skin, hair, nails and internals organs all depend on amino acids and are maintained trough a protein, diet tips, diet.
Muscle tissue as well as new tissue growth need protein for their activities and, diet tips, can receive adequate levels with a protein diet. Protein intake from a high protein diet helps to transport nutrients and oxygen to our cells. The valuable protein diet aids and maintains antibody production.
The protein sources available to us for inclusion in, diet tips, a high protein diet include animal and plant based proteins. Animal proteins are found, diet tips, in meat, fish, cheese eggs and milk. Plant protein sources include soy, spirulina and organic whey protein diet products. While it is certainly important that we include, diet tips, a balanced intake, diet tips, of protein in our diet, many people eat too much animal based protein.
This type of, diet tips, high protein diet could have adverse health effects, which appear as disease and obesity. Many individuals who follow an excessively, diet tips, high animal based protein diet are overweight and often unhealthy. People on an animal based high protein diet often have elevated bad cholesterol levels.
Heart disease, strokes and osteoporosis are often the result of an excessive animal based high protein diet. It is therefore important that a well-balanced protein diet is maintained., diet tips, By replacing part or all of our animal protein diet with plant proteins we can be assured, diet tips, that our body requirements are being met. A plant protein diet can help us to avoid the health problems associated with an excessive animal protein diet.
Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats when on a plant protein diet can improve health tremendously. This plant protein diet can also aid with weight control. A plant protein diet does away with the saturated fat accumulation thus limiting unwanted weight gain. Regular exercise combined with a high protein diet including plant proteins will be beneficial to individuals wanting a, diet tips, healthier lifestyle.
Plant proteins have many benefits of their own when included in the high protein diet. These protein diet improvements include the ability to raise good cholesterol levels while reducing bad cholesterol. This important protein diet function aids in preventing the arterial plaque build up, which could cause artery hardening and blockages.
Protein from plant sources like soy and spirulina, when included in a protein diet, are able to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and heart disease. A vegetable high protein diet improves the ability to retain calcium in the, diet tips, body.
Because less calcium is excreted in the urine while on a plant protein diet, problems such as kidney stones are lessened. Therefore it is important to consider exactly which type of high protein diet you are currently following. Due to the high levels of saturated fats and additives found in red meat, a plant protein diet is superior to an animal protein diet and is the healthier alternative.
Copyright 2005 Health-Focus

Providing Resources on Health and Nutrition
More on the Protein Diet

Along with exercise, a balanced diet is essential for burning body fat. A balanced diet means obtaining the correct amounts and types of foods to supply nutrition and fuel for maintaining body tissues, cells, and organs. The term “balanced” implies, diet tips,, diet tips, that a diet meets your nutritional needs and not supplying too much of any nutrients. A balanced diet provides enough energy and nutrition for growth and development, diet tips, . To achieve a balanced diet, you must eat a variety of foods from each of these food groups: meats and Protein, grains, fruits, vegetables, diary and fats and oils.

General Guidelines:

- Balance the amount, diet tips, of calorie intake and the amount of calorie burn, that is do not eat more than the body uses.
- Eat small and frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
- Skipping meals or fasting, diet tips, has adverse effect to overall fitness, it does not help burning body fat. A mechanism within the body tells it to retain fat when food is in short supply. Therefore skipping meals leads to a reduction in activity level rather than burning body fat.
- Every meal should include carbohydrates, protein and good fats, in the, diet tips, ratios of 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein, 20 % fat.
- Drink plenty of water, water helps to flush your systems.
- Limit cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg per day.
- Use, diet tips, less than one teaspoon of sodium per day.
- Avoid processed and fast foods, this means giving up sodas, candies and chips,, diet tips, replacing processed foods

with fresh and natural food, like fruits, vegetables and lean meats.

Myths and facts about Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats

Carbohydrates provide a source of energy. Carbohydrates are found in potatoes, rice, whole grain cereals, yoghurt, vegetables, beans, diet tips, and bread. The digestive system converts carbohydrates in food into glucose. The glucose, in turn, is broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Any glucose not used by the cells is converted into glycogen - another form of carbohydrate that is stored in the muscles. However, your body, diet tips, glycogen, diet tips, capacity is limited to about, diet tips, 350 grams, once this maximum has been reached, any excess glucose is converted into fat.

Proteins are used for growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues. Sources of proteins are meat, fish, poultry, eggs and plant foods like beans, peas, nuts, seeds, grain, and soybeans. Proteins contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulphur. Proteins are large molecules, it can not get into the blood directly, they are broken down into amino acids by the digestive system. There are over 20 different amino, diet tips, acids. The body cells can turn the amino acids back into protein in the correct order. There are millions of possible combinations or sequences of amino acids, your DNA has the information and know how to make proteins. The body cells get their amino acids from the blood stream.

Fats are a group of compounds made up of fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids are the base units of fat and it is their chemical structure that determines if a fat is saturated or unsaturated.

Saturated fats are a type of fatty acid and they are found in animal foods like meat, poultry, whole milk dairy foods.

Plant fats are found in coconut, palm and palm kernel oil. Saturated fats cause the liver to make more of the bad, diet tips, cholesterol, thus increasing the risk for heart disease.

Unsaturated fats are divided into two types, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fats,
which are found in canola and olive, diet tips, oils, help reduce the bad cholesterol and can boost the good cholesterol.

Polyunsaturated fats lower both, diet tips, the good and bad cholesterol and are found in corn, safflower, sunflower and soybean oils.

Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining good health. In its basic form protein consists of amino acid chains. Of the 22 amino acids that are capable of creating protein, 8 of these can only be obtained through a protein diet. Because, diet tips, these amino acids are utilized by the body a low protein diet can affect a host of very important functions. The building of our skin, hair, nails and internals organs all depend on amino acids and are maintained trough a protein diet.Muscle tissue as well as new tissue growth need protein, diet tips, for their activities and can receive adequate levels with a protein diet. Protein intake from a high protein diet helps to transport nutrients and oxygen to our cells. The valuable protein, diet tips, diet aids and, diet tips, maintains antibody production.The protein sources available to us for inclusion in a high protein diet include animal and plant based proteins. Animal proteins are found in meat, fish, cheese eggs and milk. Plant protein sources include soy, spirulina and organic whey protein diet products. While, diet tips, it is certainly important that we include a balanced intake of protein in our diet, many people eat, diet tips, too much animal based protein.This type of high protein diet could have adverse health effects, which appear as disease and obesity. Many individuals who follow an excessively high animal based protein diet are overweight and often unhealthy. People on an animal based high protein diet often have elevated bad cholesterol levels.Heart disease, strokes and osteoporosis are often the result of an excessive animal based high protein diet. It is therefore important that a well-balanced protein diet is maintained. By replacing part or all of our animal protein diet with plant proteins we can be assured that our body requirements are being met. A plant protein diet can help us to avoid the health problems associated with an excessive, diet tips, animal, diet tips, protein diet.Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats when on a plant protein diet can improve health tremendously. This plant protein diet can also aid with weight control. A plant protein diet does away with the saturated fat accumulation thus limiting unwanted weight, diet tips, gain. Regular exercise combined with a high protein diet including plant proteins will be beneficial to individuals wanting a healthier lifestyle.Plant proteins have many benefits of their own when included in the high protein diet. These protein diet improvements include the ability to raise good cholesterol levels while reducing bad cholesterol. This important protein diet function, diet tips, aids in preventing, diet tips, the arterial plaque, diet, diet tips, tips, build up, which could cause artery hardening, diet tips, and blockages.Protein from plant sources like soy and spirulina, when included in a protein diet, are able to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and heart disease. A vegetable high protein diet improves the ability to retain calcium in the body.Because less calcium is excreted in the urine while on a plant protein diet, problems such as kidney stones are lessened. Therefore it is important to consider exactly which type of high protein diet you are currently following. Due to the high levels of saturated fats and additives found in red meat, a plant protein diet is superior to an animal protein diet and is the healthier alternative.