The Zone diet is a diet popularized in books by Barry Sears.

It advocates balancing protein and carbohydrate ratios instead of caloric thinking as an approach to eating.

It is not primarily a weight-loss "diet" (though it can be used quite successfully for that purpose); rather it is a way of eating — the intake of food that produces the best results within the human body based on a hypothesis of how it has evolved to cope with varying food intake through the ages. "The Zone" is Sears's term for proper hormone balance.

When insulin levels are neither too high nor too low, and glucagon levels are not too high, then specific anti-inflammatory chemicals (types of eicosanoids) are released, which have similar effects to aspirin, but without downsides such as gastric bleeding.

Sears claims that a 30:40 ratio of protein to carbohydrates triggers this effect, and this is called 'The Zone.' Sears claims that these natural anti-inflammatories are heart and health friendly..

For more information about the topic Zone diet, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

South Beach diet — The South Beach diet, developed by Miami, Florida-area cardiologist Arthur Agatston, emphasizes the consumption of "good carbs" and "good fats." Dr. ...  > read more

Detox diet — A detox diet is a dietary regimen involving a change in consumption habits in an attempt to detoxify the body by removal of toxins or other ...  > read more

Dieting — Dieting is the practice of eating (and drinking) in a regulated fashion to achieve a particular, short-term objective. This is distinct from the more ...  > read more

Saturated fat — Saturated fat is fat that consists of triglycerides containing only saturated fatty acids. Diets high in saturated fat correlate in some studies with ...  > read more

Related Stories

Researchers Nix Low-carb Diet (December 17, 2007) — For most of the past decade, there was much hubbub about the Atkins and Zone diets. Both focus on quick, effective ways to lose weight through high-protein and low-carbohydrate foods. Today, many ...  > read more

Study Of Obese Diabetics Explains Why Low-carb Diets Produce Fast Results (April 8, 2005) — A new study by Temple University School of Medicine researchers has shown why the pounds melt so quickly on low-carbohydrate diets, and it's not related to water, metabolism or boredom. The ...  > read more

High Carb Diet Linked to Prostate Tumor Growth (November 28, 2007) — A diet high in refined carbohydrates, like white rice or white bread, is associated with increased prostate tumor growth in mice. Having too much insulin in the blood, a condition called ...  > read more

Low Glycemic Index Diet Best For Weight Loss And Cardiovascular Health (July 26, 2006) — The most effective diet for weight loss and cardiovascular health is a high carbohydrate plan based on low glycemic index (GI) foods, according to a study by University of Sydney ...  > read more

Diet Study Tips Scale In Favor Of Atkins Plan (March 7, 2007) — Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have completed the largest and longest-ever comparison of four popular diets, and the lowest-carbohydrate Atkins diet came out on ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Low-Fat Fried Food?