How Healthy Is Zone Diet Weight Loss Program
December 5, 2009 by Weight Loss Diets and Exercise Tips
Filed under Popular Diets & Pills
Most of us have heard of Atkin’s diet which calls for almost a complete carbohydrate cut from our diet for the first 2 weeks (induction phase)and then to add carbohydrate to our meals progressively thereafter. Whilst there are many success stories for this weight loss diet, there are also many criticisms claiming that Atkin’s diet weight loss program is very unhealthy.
Well, to me, most weight loss diets are unhealthy. Anyway, I find Doctor Barry Sear’s zone diet as one of the better or healthier weight loss diet. Please do note that I am not advocating dieting alone as a weight loss plan and strategy. I believe to lose weight and to keep the extra weight off permanently, we must combine healthy eating habits with regular exercise.
So what is the Zone Diet weight loss program?
The Zone Diet plan advocates protein-carb-fat balance in our meals. Very much like eating balanced meals.
Protein In Zone Diet
Our body needs a constant supply of protein as proteins are our body’s building blocks. This is the reason why zone diet meals start with low-fat protein. Proteins stimulate glucagon production, a hormone that helps our body to release stored carbohydrates (glycogen) from our liver to maintain blood sugar levels for the brain. However, we should not consume protein in an amount bigger than the size and thickness of the palm of your hand, said Dr Barry Sears.
The protein serving should occupy one third of our dining plate because our body cannot use more protein than that (for ordinary folks who are not into building muscles).
Do choose the leanest protein as there are likely fats in your meal and saturated fat in any weight loss diet program should be kept low.
Carbohydrates In Zone Diet
The protein portion of a zone diet meal must be balanced and on par with the carbohydrates. Do note that not all carbs are equal. Fruits and vegetables are good carbs with a low capacity to stimulate insulin production, while other vegetables (such as carrots and potatos etc) and grain-based or refined flour products (white bread, pasta, white rice, cakes etc.) are bad carbohydrates as they are high glycemic carbs. Since the Zone diet’s goal is insulin control, we must make sure that most of the carbohydrates are of the low glycemic types.
So one third of our meal should come from protein source and two thirds from good carbohydrate source like green leafy vegetables.
Fats In Zone Diet
A Zone diet meal requires fat. Good fats come in two forms: monounsaturated fats and long-chain omega-3 fats. Monounsaturated fats come from olive oil, some type of nuts aznd avocados etc. Long-chain omega-3 fats can come from fish oil.
Limit bad fats like saturated fat and trans fat. Saturated fat comes from animal meat and high-fat dairy products. Trans fats are artificial fats created by the food industry, commonly listed as partially hydrogenated oil.
Then there is a type of omega-6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid, found mainly in fatty red meats, egg yolks and organ meats. We do need some arachidonic acid in our diet, but too of this acid much can be damaging to our health just like any other fat.
Conclusion Of The Zone Diet Weight Loss Program
Sounds like common sense balanced meals isn’t it? Would you include The Zone Diet plan into your weight loss program?
Thanks to Chris Chew for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
Well, to me, most weight loss diets are unhealthy. Anyway, I find Doctor Barry Sear’s zone diet as one of the better or healthier weight loss diet. Please do note that I am not advocating dieting alone as a weight loss plan and strategy. I believe to lose weight and to keep the extra weight off permanently, we must combine healthy eating habits with regular exercise.
So what is the Zone Diet weight loss program?
The Zone Diet plan advocates protein-carb-fat balance in our meals. Very much like eating balanced meals.
Protein In Zone Diet
Our body needs a constant supply of protein as proteins are our body’s building blocks. This is the reason why zone diet meals start with low-fat protein. Proteins stimulate glucagon production, a hormone that helps our body to release stored carbohydrates (glycogen) from our liver to maintain blood sugar levels for the brain. However, we should not consume protein in an amount bigger than the size and thickness of the palm of your hand, said Dr Barry Sears.
The protein serving should occupy one third of our dining plate because our body cannot use more protein than that (for ordinary folks who are not into building muscles).
Do choose the leanest protein as there are likely fats in your meal and saturated fat in any weight loss diet program should be kept low.
Carbohydrates In Zone Diet
The protein portion of a zone diet meal must be balanced and on par with the carbohydrates. Do note that not all carbs are equal. Fruits and vegetables are good carbs with a low capacity to stimulate insulin production, while other vegetables (such as carrots and potatos etc) and grain-based or refined flour products (white bread, pasta, white rice, cakes etc.) are bad carbohydrates as they are high glycemic carbs. Since the Zone diet’s goal is insulin control, we must make sure that most of the carbohydrates are of the low glycemic types.
So one third of our meal should come from protein source and two thirds from good carbohydrate source like green leafy vegetables.
Fats In Zone Diet
A Zone diet meal requires fat. Good fats come in two forms: monounsaturated fats and long-chain omega-3 fats. Monounsaturated fats come from olive oil, some type of nuts aznd avocados etc. Long-chain omega-3 fats can come from fish oil.
Limit bad fats like saturated fat and trans fat. Saturated fat comes from animal meat and high-fat dairy products. Trans fats are artificial fats created by the food industry, commonly listed as partially hydrogenated oil.
Then there is a type of omega-6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid, found mainly in fatty red meats, egg yolks and organ meats. We do need some arachidonic acid in our diet, but too of this acid much can be damaging to our health just like any other fat.
Conclusion Of The Zone Diet Weight Loss Program
Sounds like common sense balanced meals isn’t it? Would you include The Zone Diet plan into your weight loss program?
Thanks to Chris Chew for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
Chris Chew is a fitness personal trainer and author of “Burn Fat Build Muscles Fast”. More free articles at his site and blog Lose weight get toned muscles fast and
Weight Loss Diet Programs
Weight Loss Diet Programs
Weight Loss Programs - Which Diet Is Best ?
November 10, 2009 by Weight Loss Diets and Exercise Tips
Filed under Popular Diets & Pills
We are lucky to live in an age when information is readily available to help us find a solution to almost any problem that we may be facing. Healthy weight loss is a perfect example of this. There are many weight loss programs that will suit almost any type of person and their lifestyle.
An important thing to consider when choosing the right program is to find one that educates you long term on how to lose weight and keep it off for good. Below are some of the most popular weight loss programs on the market today:
The Diabetes Diet:
The Diabetes diet is not so much a diet as an education on what foods are healthy and what foods cause the diabetic to have an increase in glucose in the blood. Each person differs in the way that their body and metabolism burns up glucose, so the diabetic diet differs among those who use it. The Diabetic diet is less like a diet and more like a healthy weight loss program that can be used by anyone who wants to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.
The South Beach Diet:
The South Beach diet is known as one of the most popular, healthy weight loss diets of our time. A cardiologist named Dr Arthur Agatston, at a hospital in South Beach, created this diet. He originally developed the diet for patients who were overweight and had heart problems. Dr Agatston has been quoted as saying that the South Beach Diet is not a low carb eating plan or a low fat eating plan, but you can be assured that it is both healthy and really works.
NutriSystem Nourish Program:
The Nutri System Nourish Program works by controlling the foods that you eat, as well as your portions. There are a few good things about this diet. The first is that the food is already prepared and shipped right to your front door - healthy weight loss without the dishes, much like Jenny Craig. The other benefit of the NutriSystem Nourish Program is that it is very affordable, even if you are not a Hollywood star.
The Zone Diet:
Barry Sears PhD created the Zone Diet and according to recent studies, it has been found to be the most successful diet from among such diets as the Atkins diet and other high carb, low fat diets. The diet itself is said to be quite tricky to understand and works on a formula of 40% carbs and 30% of both protein and fats, for every meal. If you can understand the Zone diet, you will have a great success rate from being on it.
The Atkins Diet:
The Atkins Diet has been around since the 70s when Dr. Robert Atkins wrote the book, The New Diet Revolution. This diet became very popular a few years ago, but that popularity is beginning to dwindle. The Atkins Diet works on the principal that you are allowed to eat proteins and fat, but must avoid eating carbs in your eating plan.
This particular way of eating has created a lot of controversy and the results have been mixed. It is said that the Atkins Diet is not for everyone, but research suggests that many people have achieved short-term weight loss from this diet.
Negative Calorie Diet Plan:
This program is said to be a fad diet that is a thinly disguised low calorie diet. The Negative Calorie Diet works by eating foods that take more calories to digest than what they contain. There have been mixed results with the Negative Calorie Diet Plan, but, as a rule, many people have had a short-term weight loss solution on this diet.
The Three-Day Diet:
The three-day diet claims that those using it will lose up to 10 pounds in 3 days by sticking to the meal plan for the three days. It is based on a very low calorie-eating plan. A low calorie plan can be of little use for shedding pounds if used over a longer period than three days because, after this time, your body will begin a starvation mode and slow down your metabolism. Because the diet is based on a low calorie-eating plan, you may also feel drained of energy and hungry. This may cause many people to stop using this eating plan.
There are many other weight loss programs or diets that can help you lose weight, however it is always best to check with your doctor first before changing your eating habits or taking any diet pills.
Thanks to Ken Black for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
An important thing to consider when choosing the right program is to find one that educates you long term on how to lose weight and keep it off for good. Below are some of the most popular weight loss programs on the market today:
The Diabetes Diet:
The Diabetes diet is not so much a diet as an education on what foods are healthy and what foods cause the diabetic to have an increase in glucose in the blood. Each person differs in the way that their body and metabolism burns up glucose, so the diabetic diet differs among those who use it. The Diabetic diet is less like a diet and more like a healthy weight loss program that can be used by anyone who wants to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.
The South Beach Diet:
The South Beach diet is known as one of the most popular, healthy weight loss diets of our time. A cardiologist named Dr Arthur Agatston, at a hospital in South Beach, created this diet. He originally developed the diet for patients who were overweight and had heart problems. Dr Agatston has been quoted as saying that the South Beach Diet is not a low carb eating plan or a low fat eating plan, but you can be assured that it is both healthy and really works.
NutriSystem Nourish Program:
The Nutri System Nourish Program works by controlling the foods that you eat, as well as your portions. There are a few good things about this diet. The first is that the food is already prepared and shipped right to your front door - healthy weight loss without the dishes, much like Jenny Craig. The other benefit of the NutriSystem Nourish Program is that it is very affordable, even if you are not a Hollywood star.
The Zone Diet:
Barry Sears PhD created the Zone Diet and according to recent studies, it has been found to be the most successful diet from among such diets as the Atkins diet and other high carb, low fat diets. The diet itself is said to be quite tricky to understand and works on a formula of 40% carbs and 30% of both protein and fats, for every meal. If you can understand the Zone diet, you will have a great success rate from being on it.
The Atkins Diet:
The Atkins Diet has been around since the 70s when Dr. Robert Atkins wrote the book, The New Diet Revolution. This diet became very popular a few years ago, but that popularity is beginning to dwindle. The Atkins Diet works on the principal that you are allowed to eat proteins and fat, but must avoid eating carbs in your eating plan.
This particular way of eating has created a lot of controversy and the results have been mixed. It is said that the Atkins Diet is not for everyone, but research suggests that many people have achieved short-term weight loss from this diet.
Negative Calorie Diet Plan:
This program is said to be a fad diet that is a thinly disguised low calorie diet. The Negative Calorie Diet works by eating foods that take more calories to digest than what they contain. There have been mixed results with the Negative Calorie Diet Plan, but, as a rule, many people have had a short-term weight loss solution on this diet.
The Three-Day Diet:
The three-day diet claims that those using it will lose up to 10 pounds in 3 days by sticking to the meal plan for the three days. It is based on a very low calorie-eating plan. A low calorie plan can be of little use for shedding pounds if used over a longer period than three days because, after this time, your body will begin a starvation mode and slow down your metabolism. Because the diet is based on a low calorie-eating plan, you may also feel drained of energy and hungry. This may cause many people to stop using this eating plan.
There are many other weight loss programs or diets that can help you lose weight, however it is always best to check with your doctor first before changing your eating habits or taking any diet pills.
Thanks to Ken Black for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
Ken Black is the owner of Weight Loss Discovery, a site with lots of information about Healthy Weight Loss.
Losing Weight Through Diet - The Pros And Cons
July 9, 2009 by Weight Loss Diets and Exercise Tips
Filed under Popular Diets & Pills
Various studies show that more than two-thirds of all American adults are either obese or morbidly obese. With all the hype on weight loss and weight loss products, it’s no wonder that more and more people who suffer from being overweight become interested into various commercial diet plans and weight loss programs that are available in the market today.
OF DIET AND DIETING
By definition, “dieting” refers to the practice of eating or drinking in a regulated manner in order to achieve a specific short-term objective of gaining and or losing size or weight. “Diet” on the other hand refers to the habit of nutritional consumption and focuses more on a long-term goal.
Studies show that the most common objective of dieting is for a person to lose excess body fat. But, there are also kinds of diet that are prescribed in order to achieve a particular medical objective while some dieting are actually designed and prescribed to increase body fat or add up to muscle weight gain.
Diet is actually categorized into two: the weight-loss diets, which restrict the intake of specific foods or food group in order to reduce body weight and the weight-gain diets, which are usually self-imposed in order to achieve a higher weight class.
Aside from that, special cases also require diets especially when it is related to certain medical conditions. Special diets usually include, exclude, or regulate a set of certain chemicals especially from the foods that contain them.
These special diets are usually given to diabetics to manage the person’s blood sugar levels; epileptics who adhere to Ketogenic Diet; celiac disease patients are advised to take gluten-free diet; people who suffer from being lactose-intolerant are advised to veer away from milk products, kidney disease patients are restricted to eat foods that have high-sodium content while people who suffer from mild hypertension are advised to follow a diet low in fat and sodium and rich in fruits and vegetables.
Other specific types of diet to control weight include low-fat diets, low-carbohydrate diet or Atkins Diet, natural diets that include Paleolithic Diet and Evolution Diet, vegetarian diet, and very low calorie diet. Experts say that different diets are designed to on weight loss and weight gain depending on the person’s need.
THE PROS AND CONS OF DIET AND DIETING
Of all the means of losing weight offered by various companies, weight loss diets have become one of the most popular that overweight people use. This is because these people believe that by taking in regulated amounts of food or veering away from eating foods from a specific food group, they can lose weight easily.
But, little do they know that improper diet and dieting may result to rapid weight loss and can even lead to more serious illnesses due to lack of nutrients absorbed by the body.
Food and nutrition experts say that most obese people who are into strict diet and improper dieting have developed have a long history of dieting failure because they always go back to their usual eating and lifestyle habits.
Experts also agree that although improper diet can lead to severe health cases, it can be powerful tool in losing weight if done properly and administered by authorized health care providers. This is because weight loss diets that are monitored by authorities can evoke commitment, discipline, and dedication to those who are taking the specific diet plan. And if these weight loss diets are administered properly, people who choose weight-loss program can conquer their fear of dieting failure and depression.
Indeed, it will take a huge amount of energy for an obese person to be able to stick to any weight-loss diet or program. Aside from fighting the temptation to go back to their usual way of eating, people who are overweight have large tendencies of becoming violent and defensive in their preference of diet.
Although diet can be an effective means of losing weight, experts say that not all weight loss diets and programs can be successful. This is because some diets target the dieter’s weakness and make them believe that they can eat certain amount of foods when in fact, these can contribute much to their weight gain.
AVOIDING FAD DIETS
To be able to lose weight safely and properly, make sure that you know when the weight loss diet is a fad. Here are some ways to help you spot a fad diet:
- Menu offers extremely limited food choices.
- Cutting out an entire food group.
- The diet asks the dieter to eliminate all fats.
- Promises of ultra-fast weight loss or rapid weight loss.
- It aims to sell a specific weight loss product such as herbal weight loss supplement or pills.
- Weight loss diet claims they are based on unproven science.
- It opposes medical opinions.
Thanks to Low Jeremy for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
OF DIET AND DIETING
By definition, “dieting” refers to the practice of eating or drinking in a regulated manner in order to achieve a specific short-term objective of gaining and or losing size or weight. “Diet” on the other hand refers to the habit of nutritional consumption and focuses more on a long-term goal.
Studies show that the most common objective of dieting is for a person to lose excess body fat. But, there are also kinds of diet that are prescribed in order to achieve a particular medical objective while some dieting are actually designed and prescribed to increase body fat or add up to muscle weight gain.
Diet is actually categorized into two: the weight-loss diets, which restrict the intake of specific foods or food group in order to reduce body weight and the weight-gain diets, which are usually self-imposed in order to achieve a higher weight class.
Aside from that, special cases also require diets especially when it is related to certain medical conditions. Special diets usually include, exclude, or regulate a set of certain chemicals especially from the foods that contain them.
These special diets are usually given to diabetics to manage the person’s blood sugar levels; epileptics who adhere to Ketogenic Diet; celiac disease patients are advised to take gluten-free diet; people who suffer from being lactose-intolerant are advised to veer away from milk products, kidney disease patients are restricted to eat foods that have high-sodium content while people who suffer from mild hypertension are advised to follow a diet low in fat and sodium and rich in fruits and vegetables.
Other specific types of diet to control weight include low-fat diets, low-carbohydrate diet or Atkins Diet, natural diets that include Paleolithic Diet and Evolution Diet, vegetarian diet, and very low calorie diet. Experts say that different diets are designed to on weight loss and weight gain depending on the person’s need.
THE PROS AND CONS OF DIET AND DIETING
Of all the means of losing weight offered by various companies, weight loss diets have become one of the most popular that overweight people use. This is because these people believe that by taking in regulated amounts of food or veering away from eating foods from a specific food group, they can lose weight easily.
But, little do they know that improper diet and dieting may result to rapid weight loss and can even lead to more serious illnesses due to lack of nutrients absorbed by the body.
Food and nutrition experts say that most obese people who are into strict diet and improper dieting have developed have a long history of dieting failure because they always go back to their usual eating and lifestyle habits.
Experts also agree that although improper diet can lead to severe health cases, it can be powerful tool in losing weight if done properly and administered by authorized health care providers. This is because weight loss diets that are monitored by authorities can evoke commitment, discipline, and dedication to those who are taking the specific diet plan. And if these weight loss diets are administered properly, people who choose weight-loss program can conquer their fear of dieting failure and depression.
Indeed, it will take a huge amount of energy for an obese person to be able to stick to any weight-loss diet or program. Aside from fighting the temptation to go back to their usual way of eating, people who are overweight have large tendencies of becoming violent and defensive in their preference of diet.
Although diet can be an effective means of losing weight, experts say that not all weight loss diets and programs can be successful. This is because some diets target the dieter’s weakness and make them believe that they can eat certain amount of foods when in fact, these can contribute much to their weight gain.
AVOIDING FAD DIETS
To be able to lose weight safely and properly, make sure that you know when the weight loss diet is a fad. Here are some ways to help you spot a fad diet:
- Menu offers extremely limited food choices.
- Cutting out an entire food group.
- The diet asks the dieter to eliminate all fats.
- Promises of ultra-fast weight loss or rapid weight loss.
- It aims to sell a specific weight loss product such as herbal weight loss supplement or pills.
- Weight loss diet claims they are based on unproven science.
- It opposes medical opinions.
Thanks to Low Jeremy for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:
Low Jeremy maintains http://Diet-Plans.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
