Inner beauty or outer beauty, which is more important? Confused? We need both. Inner beauty can come with a clear and fresh mind and outer beauty means being healthy. The great enemy of external beauty is obesity or being overweight. There is no magic to get rid of this. We have to make a conscious effort. There are countless books, articles, news, and health centers that offer many remedies for this problem. But are they all successful in solving the problem? No.
There is a Diet program that can give both inner and outer beauty and it is called the Zone Diet. Dr. Barry Sears, a biochemist said that the key to a healthy and beautiful body is a balanced diet. He says the calorie ratio should be on the order of 40:30:30 from carbs to protein to fat accordingly.
Weight loss is largely related to a hormonal balance. Barry says that if our hormone level can be kept in the “therapeutic zone”, weight loss is guaranteed. Since he talks about keeping hormone levels below a certain zone, it is called the Zone diet. It is a popular diet program, mainly in western countries. Along with weight loss, it ensures good mental health as a bonus.
The Zone diet incorporates fresh green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, enough protein, and at least eight glasses of water into our diet. It does not restrict monounsaturated fats which help keep our hunger down. But limit any over-processed and salty foods.
So how does the zone diet work? Keeping hormones under control is your main goal. If we consume a large amount of carbohydrates, the insulin level increases and puts pressure on the body to convert the excess carbohydrates into fat and store it in all the problem areas like thighs, buttocks, lower abdomen, etc. But if we consume a good amount of protein, the previous activity is dominated since the protein contradicts it and increases the level of another hormone, glucagon, which releases excess carbohydrates. This released carbohydrate can be used by the brain for more energy and the energy needed from food decreases and we tend to eat less. Constantly balancing carbohydrates with low-fat protein will keep glucagon and insulin levels in a “therapeutic zone” and our eating habits will change and we will steadily lose weight. More importantly, since the brain gets enough energy and doesn’t get tired easily, it certainly contributes to inner beauty.
There is no doubt that it is good for diabetic patients as well.
Here are some other important factors to consider as well. When should we eat? In the morning we must not go hungry. We have to have snacks very early. There should only be a 2-2.5 hour gap after snacks and before the next meal. There should be an interval of 4 to 6 hours between two meals. Start the meal with a low-fat protein. Next, look for carbohydrates like vegetables, fruits, and then high-fat foods. Protein intake in a meal should be 4 ounces for men and 3 ounces for women.
If we don’t feel very hungry between meals, then we are in the right zone.
So, now we know everything about the Zone diet that will give us inner and outer beauty. So what are we waiting for? let’s get started