Part I
The Zone diet is a diet that advocates the consumption of calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates using a balanced ratio. In this way, the diet aids one in increasing wellness and loosing fat by decreasing cellular inflammation. This is how the diet is based on the principle of controlling hormones to maintain good healthy conditions within the whole body system. It also controls gene expression to ensure a better and longer life.
Hormonal balance is essential since it affects and influences all the components of wellness: blood chemistry, energy utilization, body composition amongst other components. The diet considers food as a drug. This is because by definition, a drug is an element or compound that when taken causes physiological changes. This is the same effect food has. That’s why the diet is not about eating high-protein or low-carb, it’s a diet that contains all the food groups, just in a balanced and controlled manner.
The diet has balanced the following;
- Carbs: it contains mainly vegetables and fruits that are low glycaemic
- Fat: this is considered one of the most essential macronutrients
- Protein: the diet favours natural meats that are lean.
- Insulin: this is the storage hormone. When generated in excessive amounts, one stores too much fat and becomes overweight.
- Glucagon: this is the mobilization hormone. It conveys to the body when to discharge stored carbohydrates at controlled rate, stabilizing the sugar levels. This is essential for the physical and mental performance at optimal levels.
- Eicosanoids: these hormones are vital to controlling of silent inflammation. These hormones are considered major hormones that influence and affect other hormonal systems within the body.
The Zone diet consists of block meals. A block meal is made up of the one choice from the Carbohydrates list (blue), one from the Fat list (green) and one from the Protein list (pink). A 2 Block meal is made up of 2 picks from each list, while the 3 Block meal is made up of 3 picks from each list.
One can choose to mix-up the blocks as they feel or wish as long as it within the range for the allowed total for one’s body type.
Part II
Based on the final score of the Zone Diet, this diet is highly recommended for individuals who look to lose weight at a steady and slow rate. This is because the diet does not promise outrageous results but instead concentrates on the positive slow progress to gradually lose weight depending on one’s desired body type, current eating habits and the ability for an individual to adapt to the new diet routine.
The diet provide a clear picture of the recommended amounts of the different food groups that should be ingested depending on the individual’s body type.
References
Sizer, F. and E. Whitney. Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. 12th. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2011.
