Fad Diets Why Are They Bad | Have You Tried These Popular Fad Diets

The Zone Diet was popularized by a biochemist named Barry Sears through series of books. With this plan, calories are consumed from carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a ratio of 40:30:30. The Zone is Sears term for proper hormone balance. The dietary program is based upon consistent insulin control coupled with the supplementation of high-dose fish oil in order to modulate the synthesis of arachidonic acid.

According to Sears, it is important to maintain the insulin level as it leads to an increase in fat loss, decrease of cardiovascular disease and greater physical and mental performance. He claims that a 30:40 ratio of protein to carbohydrates triggers the release of specific anti-inflammatory chemicals (types of eicosanoids) when the level of insulin and glucagon are not too high or too low. This is called ‘The Zone.’

These natural anti-inflammatory chemicals are supposed to be heart and health friendly. The Zone diet is low-carb, but it is not as restrictive as other fad diets such as Atkins. The goal is to keep a hormonal balance between fat-storing insulin and the hormone glucagon. Glucagon is responsible fore releasing stored glucose from the liver when it is needed.

Maintaining a balance between the two hormones is achieved by limiting portions of certain food groups. This dietary program combines a small amount of low-fat protein, fats, and carbohydrates in the form of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. Proteins should be eaten with every meal and at every snack. Carbohydrates should be twice the size of the protein portion, and can include vegetables, beans, and whole-grains. The book has complicated methods to measure portions, like limiting protein for each meal to the size of your palm. Snacks are allowed in the late afternoon and in the late evening.

You can have ‘favorable’ carbohydrates twice the size of the protein portion - these include most vegetables and lentils, beans, whole grains, and most fruits. You can have smaller amount of ‘favorable’ carbohydrates, such as brown rice, pasta, papaya, mango, banana, dry breakfast cereal, bread, bagel, tortilla, carrots, and all fruit juices.

According to Sears, protein, fat, and carbohydrates are vitally necessary, but should be eaten in a 30-30-40 ratio, respectively. These proportions are consumed in most if not all industrialized countries, including United States.

Despite the unique Zone proportion ratio, it still lacks the adequate amount of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. In addition, the recommended protein consumption from this diet program may cause calcium loss and osteoporosis.

Many people find eating ‘in the zone’ is complicated and difficult. You have to be exact about the amounts of macro nutrients for every single meal and snack in order to keep the correct ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fat. The American Heart Association does not recommend the Zone Diet due to high protein, lack of essential nutrients, and little information on long-term effects. For many reasons mentioned above, this diet is not effective and may cause damage to your body.

The Zone Diet is just one of the most popular fad diet, to go back to the main page click here, fad diets why they are bad?