Mmmm Good Zone Information

The Zone Diet in a Nutshell

"The Zone" is the term for proper hormone balance. When insulin levels are neither too high nor too low, and glucagon levels are not too high, the human body is in hormonal balance—The Zone.

The Zone should not be considered a "diet", rather a way of eating so that the three essential nutrients--protein, carbohydrates & fats--are present in every meal.

Nearly every type of food may be consumed in The Zone however, certian foods are considered more or less favorable than others due to their glycemic loads.

40:30:30 Ratio

The diet centers on a "40:30:30" ratio of calories obtained daily from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, respectively.

Protein from lean sources like fish and chicken is recommended. Protein need is first determined and is based on size, age, and activity, which then determines the amount of fats and carbohydrates we should be eating.

When adding carbohydrates to a meal, Zoners should first chose: lots of vegetables, some fruits, few grains, and NO SUGAR. Certain unfavorable carbohydrates are restricted because they release glucose quickly: grains, breads, pasta, rice, and other similar starches.

As one of the “essential nutrients” for the human body, fat is a key component of The Zone Diet. Since the human body cannot store fat and burn fat at the same time fat consumption is essential for burning fat. The Zone diet keeps saturated fats to a minimum but includes olive, canola, macadamia nuts, and avocados. Another key feature of the Zone diet is an intake of supplementary Omega 3 fish oils.