Zone Diet

When you are tired of counting calories, you may be interested in following the Zone Diet, which originated from the writings of Barry Sears. With this diet, the main focus deals with “hormonal thinking.” Although this diet is not considered a weight loss method, many individuals have found significant comfort in using this approach for that purpose. The Zone diet Menu focuses on a certain way of eating that uses what has been learned from the evolution of the human body throughout the ages. The human body has developed changes in the way the body interacts with food consumption.

Barry Sears coined the term, “the Zone,” in order to refer to a hormonal balance that is considered acceptable. For example, if insulin levels are too high or too low, the human body will not focus on storing excess calories as fat. Storing and burning fat cannot be accomplished at the same time. When stored fat has to be used for energy, a dieter will experience weight loss. The diet works with a calorie ratio of 40:30:30, dealing with the components of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, allowing for a reasonable rate in weight loss.

Hormones that are considered “bad” or “negative” arrive when eating a diet that is high in protein, as well as low in carbohydrates. The body reacts to these sorts of hormones by trying to flush them out of the system. This results in an initial water weight loss. Additional positive results arrive from the use of the Zone diet when a prepared meal is comprised of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, as well as 30% proteins.

The foods that are added to your meals will help to control the insulin production within your body. A plus for dieters is that no meal item or snack is eliminated from the Zone Diet Menu. The success of this diet depends on sticking to recipes formulated for the Zone. The Zone diet recipes are low in carbohydrates, which offers more energy from carbs rather than depending on proteins or fats. In regards to the Zone diet, a meal should not go beyond 500 calories. It is recommended that snacks should not be more than 100 calories.

Zone Diet Menu Ideas

Breakfast

Cream Cheese And Jelly French Toast With Eggs

Farina With Maple Syrup & Sausage

Tomato Basil Omelette With Sliced Potatoes

Lunch

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Cobb Salad With Swiss Cheese

Blackened Chicken With Creole Salad

Baked Cod With Dijon And Lentils

Dinner

Almond-Crusted White Fish

Chicken Parmesan With Artichokes

Stuffed Peppers With Chick Peas

Snacks

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake

Low-Carb Pretzels

Peach Cobbler

Granola With Honey And Yogurt

Baked Apple With Ricotta Cheese

Zone Diet Tips

1) Choose foods, such as fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, leafy green vegetables, as well as drink eight glasses of water per day.

2) Choose mono-unsaturated fats over saturated fats.

3) Processed foods should be avoided, as well as foods that offer too much salt.

4) When choosing proteins, such as chicken, fish, beef, turkey and low-fat pork, the amount to be chosen should resemble the size and thickness of the palm of your hand.

5) Carbohydrates, like fruits and vegetables, should equal the size of two fists. Carbohydrates that offer higher amounts of sugar and starch, one fistful is allotted.

6) Fats, such as olive oil and butter should equal the same size as the tip of your thumb.

7) Foods to avoid include breads, pastas, potatoes, rice, bagels, cereals, sodas, juices, alcohol, caffeine-filled food items, such as sugary items. These foods can be consumed only in moderation.

8) Bananas, prunes, figs, raisins and grapes should be consumed in moderation. These contain higher amounts of sugar.

9) Keep in mind that vegetables, such as peas, potatoes, carrots and corn should be avoided due to their sugar content.

10) When drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, you will decrease your metabolic rate.