The ZonePerfect Nutrition Company has continued to expand and is expected to sell in excess of one hundred million dollars worth of ZonePerfect foods this year. These include Zone diet bars, Zone diet meals, protein shakes and powders, supplements and fish oil capsules to be used as supplements. While these products are labeled as Zone Diet products, Dr. Sears does not agree that they are following the Zone Diet principles, and he is not endorsing several of the products.

In fact, Dr. Barry Sears is endorsing a new product called Smart Zone which is a meal supplement bar produced by Hersheys. There have been several lawsuits regarding the use of the Dr. Sears implied endorsement of ZonePerfect products. Dr. Sears is very clear that he does not endorse these products despite the fact that they use the ZonePerfect name.

What is the issue?

Dr. Barry Sears now operates a company called Zone Labs. They have the only Zone Diet products that Dr. Sears endorses at this time.

The concern with the non-endorsed products is that while they appear to be the Zone products, they are not correctly chemically balanced to control insulin. Since the whole premise of the Zone Diet is to eat foods that will help your body control the hormones that produce and regular insulin it is very important that the chemical composition of the food is exactly correct.

Dr. Sears explains that a diet bar can be a prime example of how things can appear to be Zone foods but are not chemically balanced to work with the program. There are many nutrition bars that are composed of a 40/30/30 balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fat. The fat in Zone bars comes from fish oil that actually helps the body slow down the production of insulin and prevents hunger and cravings. Other nutrition bars have the 40/30/30 ratio but they use flaxseed or soybean oils that don’t have the same chemical composition. This oil does nothing to help the body with insulin control and will result in hunger and cravings.

What does Dr. Sears endorse?

At the moment, Dr. Sears endorses some nutritional supplements that include:

• fish oil concentrates that act to optimize heart, brain and immune system functions as well as help with the hormonal control of insulin production.
• bars and shakes that are available for on-the-go meals and snacks. These bars and shakes follow the 40/30/30 ratio and have the added benefit of the omega fish oil for insulin control.
• nutritional supplements used to increase energy and decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue after exercise.
• liquid supplements that provide the vitamins and minerals found in 2-3 servings of fruit and vegetables. They are supposedly high in anti-oxidants that rid the body of free radicals.
• An additional line of supplements for body and skeletal health that includes cardio support, bone supplement, hepatic support for detoxification and Zone foundation and micro nutritional support.

Apparently, the only meal that is endorsed by Dr. Sears as a Zone diet product is a new line of frozen dinners he has developed with a producer of organic and natural frozen dinners. They are designed to be cooked in a microwave and enjoyed.

Whether all these products are endorsed by the doctor himself or not, the fact is that the business of Zone Diet is flourishing and people are buying these supplements and meals to make sure they stay in the Zone. However, one may begin to wonder if it is really necessary to consume all these products to stay healthy or it is more a matter of changing dietary habits and enjoying healthier food.

Martin Beans shows you how the Zone Diet works at http://www.enterthezonediet.com - a complete guide on the Zone diet where you’ll learn how to calculate your daily intake of protein, fat and carbs and you’ll find allowed food lists, Zone diet menus and tips that will ensure your success with the program.

Many people opt to lose weight by using the Zone diet. This diet is different from diets such as Atkins and South Beach Diet because of the fact that Zone emphasizes a ratio which consists of the three main nutrients (carbs, proteins, fats). Is this diet the one you want to follow or is it just another fad diet that will disappear after another year or so?

The basis for the Zone diet is that if a person eats the right amount of carbs, proteins, and fats, then the person will improve their health drastically. This diet calls for a ratio of 40/30/30 (carbs, proteins, fats) because certain hormones will be balanced to give you the body of your dreams. The founder of this diet, Ph.D Barry Sears states, “The American public is overweight due to a high intake of carbohydrates, and that this style of eating causes an overproduction of insulin. The solution is to eat a lower carb, higher protein, and moderate fat diet to balance these hormones within the preferred zone.”

So how does the Zone diet compare with other diets? The Zone diet is quick to point out that this diet works primarily because of its low calories, not their magic ratio of macronutrients. This diet does not prohibit any foods, but restricts foods that are high in fat and carbs such as starches, grains, and pastas. Other diets either emphasize a low carb or low fat option, the Zone diet simply uses both nutrients, just in a smaller percentage.

This diet is actually not bad compared to some of the lower carb diets available. The Zone diet does have its weak areas considering some of the recipes are full of nutritional misinformation. Another problem Zone has is that it suggests impractical food combinations such as beer and cottage cheese in one meal. Despite these prolems, go ahead and try Zone for yourself and find out if it works for you. Until next time, later.

*http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0924.html
*http://onhealth.webmd.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52012&page=2
*http://www.bestdietforme.com/TR/ZoneDiet.htm
*http://www.mhhe.com/hper/nutrition/nutriquest/phys4.mhtml
*http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/lighter_life_diet.htm

My site: http://www.mightybody.com

With all the low carb diets out there it can be difficult to ascertain which one is right for you, and even what the differences between all of them are! Low carb diets are all the rage, and they have proven to be very effective. But, which one do you choose? Which one is right for you? Are they all the same? These are all fair questions, and we’ll attempt to clarify the differences in all three of these popular diets so that you can choose the one that is right for you!

The Atkins Diet

The book is an affordable $14.95 for the paperback version, making this program affordable, for starters. The Atkins diet was also the first and the most successful low carb diet, which is attractive for those that want a diet with a history. Basically, the Atkins diet is all about high protein, high fat, low carb, and low sugar. If you are worried about being able to prepare the foods and snacks, Atkins offers a whole line of controlled carb snacks and has Atkins brand foods like Endulge, as well as shakes and pasta side dishes. Atkins is so popular that it has major national restaurants such as Subway and even TGI Friday’s offering Atkins approved items on their menus.

The high fat content of the diet has earned the Atkins diet a lot of criticism because the large amount of red meat, dairy products, and butter leaves many with higher LDL cholesterol rates, leading to clogged arteries. This may or may not be true for you, but what is true is the first phase of the diet allows no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day! No fruit, bread, grains, starchy veggies, or caffeine! Eventually you’ll be able to eat some of these things again, but giving it all up can be rough! This is definitely not a good diet pick for vegetarians but is great for those that love red meat, fish, eggs, and salad.

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet book will run about $25 and is considered to be much like the Atkins diet, but has been successful because it is easier to understand, better organized and simply a better read. The South Beach Diet is also more flexible than the Atkins diet, which many find appealing. It’s true that The South Beach Diet also has a two week induction period where you will eliminate most carbs, but it is low in saturated fats and high in fiber.

The problem with South Beach is that it isn’t really the healthiest program, though you will lose weight. The problem is that it encourages the consumption of processed foods, which isn’t good for long term health. While the induction period doesn’t allow alcohol, fatty meats, pasta, sugar, sugary vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, cookies, potatoes, milk and ice cream, healthy carbs will be allowed back into the diet in subsequent phases. South Beach is very specific about what should and should not be eaten, which is different than the Atkins Diet. If you love pasta, this isn’t the diet for you, but if you are a lover of eggs, lean meats, fish, nuts, and ricotta cheese you’ll love this diet!

The Zone Diet

The Zone has been around since 1995, and is a diet that is composed of 40% carbs, 30% fat, and 30% protein. The diet was originally created to increase the performance of athletes and will require a lot of math to figure how much of each thing you will need to eat!

The Zone doesn’t allow high glycemic index carbs such as white bread and sugary goods as well as egg yolks, deli meats, and fatty red meats. It’s been said that Jennifer Aniston and Renee Zellweger are firm believers of the Zone.

This simply is not a good diet for you if you want a simple diet with simple instructions, but works for those that want a very obsessive compulsive diet that will allow you to control every portion exactly as prescribed. Simply put, the Zone Diet is very complicated!

To learn more about different fad diets and low carb diets, visit http://www.newdiets.net.