If you are fond of eating healthy and are somewhat of a fitness freak, then we are sure that at some point in time in your life you must have heard about the Zone Diet!
The Zone Diet was developed more than 30 years ago by Dr. Barry Sears. Can you imagine? This master plan has been around for 30 years! A known dietician in Central Delhi has done a lot of research, and recommends the diet boisterously!
The basic idea behind this brilliant diet is to reduce diet-induced inflammation. Diet-induced inflammation basically consists of factors that may promote inflammation. Some of these are
- Excess intake of saturated fats, omega-6 fatty acid, and excess calorie intake
- Lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and lack of intake of fermentable fiber and polyphenols both of which help promote gut health.
There are many benefits that you will experience when you decide to opt to follow the Zone Diet. Some of the main benefits are:
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases drastically
- Adds years to your life by slowing down the aging process
- Helps you knock off those extra kilos quicker than any other diet
- Helps in the overall physical and mental performance of your body.
But don’t think that we are writing about this because it is supposed to be a fad diet! The Zone Diet is anything but that! It is more of a lifestyle change than just a diet! The dietician in Central Delhi still gives credit to the diet for helping her manage a healthy lifestyle!
The main aim of the Zone Diet is to make sure that you have balanced meals throughout the day.
- A plate of your food should consist of a 1/3rd portion of lean proteins like egg whites, lean beef or fish.
- A 2/3rd portion of your plate should contain healthy carbs like a lot of colorful vegetables and a little fruit. Do remember to avoid fruits that have a high level of sugar in them like bananas and grapes.
- Just add a dash of monounsaturated f, in turn, olive oil or almonds to your plate of food and you are done!
The Zone Diet helps in minimizing your grain and starch intake and maximizing the intake of fruits and vegetables. This, in turn, provides some major hormonal and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Did you know that The Zone is a real physiological state present in your body and can be easily measured in clinical tests? What it means is that if you are found to be “In the Zone”, then you have improved your ability to control diet-related inflammation. This inflammation is the main reason that makes you gain weight, age faster and becomes sick easily.
There are particular markers that helps you measure whether you have achieved being in the Zone. Just go through the chart you will understand what we are talking about.
| Clinical Marker | Ideal Value | Indications | How to Test |
| TG/HDL
(From your Diet) |
<1 |
Level of Insulin Resistance in Liver | Usually included in the normal blood panel
|
| AA/EPA Ratio
(From diet and fish oil) |
1.5-3 | The level of inflammation induced by diet | Ask the doctor for Cellular Inflammation test. |
| HbA1c
(from diet and polyphenols) |
5% | The Advanced Glycoslated Endproducts (AGE) level related to your blood glucose | A test to measure the average of three months of blood sugar levels should be conducted |
Just remember you don’t need to follow a fad diet to help you stay healthy, all you need is a change in your lifestyle to ensure that you are the top of your health game throughout your life!
