What You Must Know Before You Try Zone Diet!
The Zone diet was developed by Dr. Barry Sears. The diet is one that follows the 40/30/30 plan. That translates into forty percent carbohydrates, thirty percent fat, and thirty percent protein. Dr. Sears advocates a balanced meal plan in order to avoid certain diseases and lose weight.
The Zone Diet lasers in on insulin production as the major precursor and cause of weight gain. Eating foods that cause a spike in insulin production cause weight gain. This happens because highly sugary foods spike insulin production. Insulin attacks the sugars and loads it into your cells storing it fat. These spikes in insulin production are negatively correlated with diabetes and heart disease. That is, they cause diabetes and heart disease.
As we discussed some foods cause a spike in insulin. Which foods you ask? Well white flour and processed foods contain empty calories (simple carbohydrates) that cause insulin to flood the blood streams. Avoid these foods and white flour like the plague. Instead eat fruits and vegetables because the sugars (carbohydrates) in these foods are generally more complex and don’t cause the unhealthy insulin spike!
On the Zone Diet you’ll eat 3 daily meals and two snacks. Your snacks, of course, will prevent hunger between meals and prevent you from overeating during meals. Choose carefully though and avoid empty calories that will spike insulin production. Your meals will adhere to the 40/30/30 rule. Meaning 40% will come from vegies like corn, cauliflower, beans, squash, peppers and the like. 30% of your calories will come from protein. A good portion measuring device is to eat a piece of protein (chicken, steak, fish etc.) that is about the same size as your palm. And any excess fat should be removed before eating.
Consumption of the proper amount of fat is essential because doing so slows digestion and provides a continuous source of steady energy. Slowing your digestion is good because you won’t feel hungry immediately after eating because your body will be busy digesting. The Zone Diet recommends eating good fats contained in nuts and canola and olive oil.
Avoid insulin spiking foods whenever possible. Sweets like candy, cakes, pies, chocolate treats and such are terrible. But be aware that other more common foods like breads, pasta noodles and heavy starches are similarly bad. Candy, breads, and pasta are addictive and its very easy to overeat when consuming these foods.
The Zone diet provides affordable pre-packed foods to help you get started and stick to the diet. Also, we can provide you with dozens of sources of zone diet recipes. With just a few changes to your weekly grocery list you’ll be Zone Diet Compliant! In fact, your family probably won’t even notice the change to their menu once you do the switch.
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