The Zone Diet is a wonderful form of wellness. It is not just a diet, but it helps to lead you to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. It was created by Dr. Barry Sears, a former research scientist at Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. People who follow the Zone diet create their meals based on the building blocks of the Zone diet. The blocks help you know how much to eat of each macronutrient. You need to know, in advance, your daily protein intake as well.
Those on the Zone diet should aim for the 40:30:30 ratio. This means that your meals should contain 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein. Make sure your carbohydrates are low-starch fruits and vegetables; your proteins are low in fat; and add a dash of heart-friendly monounsaturated fat. This ratio is a great way to tune up your metabolism to burn fat. The Fair Proportion and the Correct Portion is the key to the success of this excellent diet.
The amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in each diet block has been standardized. The number of diet blocks you should consume each day depends on your weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences.
On average:
A man should eat 14 Zone Food Blocks per day.
A woman should eat 11 Zone Food Blocks per day
But the actual number of blocks you need to consume depends on how big or small you are.
The zone lock method is an accurate method of selecting the correct part. Each Zone block consists of 3 mini blocks of carbohydrates, proteins and fats each. Each mini block has a precise weight although they do not weigh the same. Each mini block of:
Protein = 7 grams
Carbs = 9 grams
Fat = 1.5 grams
Together they form a Zone block in the required ratio of 40:30:30.
The zone diet
While on this diet, you should eat 5 times a day: 3-zone meals and 2-zone snacks. The two will be a mid-afternoon snack and a bedtime snack. You must eat every 5 hours to maintain proper insulin levels.
The following will give you an idea of what the Zone diet blocks look like:
– A mini block of protein consists of one ounce of skinless chicken breast.
– A mini carbohydrate block consists of 3 apricots.
– A mini fat block consists of 3 olives.
If you must have 4-zone food blocks for a particular meal, it would consist of 4 ounces of skinless chicken breast; 12 apricots; and 12 olives.
Make sure the protein you select is low in fat. Proteins such as pork and duck are considered unfavorable as they contain fat. Similarly, bread and pasta are not considered favorable carbohydrates. Saturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as butter, cream, lard and vegetable shortenings are also considered unfavourable.
Vegetarians can substitute dietary protein for vegetable protein. Soy and Soy products are an excellent substitute in your Zone diet.
