Introduction
The development of modern world had long come to the point, when people got highly concerned about the state of their health. The situation of natural protection can be already considered a history, and nowadays a person who is willing to lead qualitative and pleasant life has to take control over the considerable part of its processes. There belong such everyday activities as sleep (rest), physical activity, mental activity and, undoubtedly, nutrition. Exactly the latter, being the main source of energy in its essence, is responsible for the majority of processes in human organism. As a matter of fact, food can affect the body both positively and negatively, having both a strong potential to cure and a dangerous disposition to poison.
Hence, over the last century there has been created a great variety of patterns in nutrition so as to benefit as much as possible from what, when, and how much one eats. These patterns have been called “diets” and, at the moment, being on the peak of their popularity, they compete for efficiency and correspondence.
One of such diets, formulated by the biochemist Barry Sears in 1995, was suggested in his work “The Zone”. There the author offers to readers’ and scientists’ attention a new method of controlling one’s nutrition and, therefore, achieving individual aim out of keeping this diet. Informally called 40-30-30, the Zone Diet is based on the principle of counting the amounts of consumed carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. The theory was developed in the contradiction to the popular diets of the 90-ies, which approved of low fat intake. On the contrary to them, Dr. Sears rejects the idea of necessity to limit the consumption of the products of a high fat level. In his book he states, that “severe restriction of intake of any of the macronutrients is in error”. [Sears, 1995]
That is why Dr. Soars has decided not to deprive the organism of proper functioning and to work on the diet pattern, which would enable to combine in an appropriate way all the elements human body requires. The following combination of the carbohydrates, proteins and fat in 40-30-30 ratio is supposed to create a favorable climate for balanced organism function, which the Doctor was trying to acquire.
Advantages
The number of people that have taken up this kind of diet is constantly increasing. Interestingly, even world famous people, such as Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, Renee Zellweger, Charlie Sheen, and about two more thousands people, appeared to be using the Zone diet [Cheuvront, 2003]. “Once I was sitting in front of the TV watching ‘Friends’ and decided that I need to lose weight. I’ve immediately taken up Zone diet as of the most suitable and balanced. This is not a kind of ordinary diet, that, shaping your body from the outer view, deteriorates your inner state” confirms Jennifer, “This is a nutrition pattern, which, giving the opportunity to take control over macronutrients intake, enables you to feel inner balance and harmony. Indeed, if the diet is balanced, the organism will approve of it and without any critical restraints lose undesirable weight. Just after a few weeks of my following the Zone diet I have lost some pounds”. [Jegtvig, 2008]
In fact, Jennifer Aniston has made a short summary of how other people regard Dr. Sear’s diet. On the whole, The Zone is multifunctional and has much longer list of positive points, which are going to be described further.
- The Zone diet is adapted to each individual. The amount of macronutrients you need will be calculated according to your gender, body weight and other factors. For the reason, that the restrictions are not severe, a person has a possibility to relish the food he or she adores. In addition, the Zone diet is the easiest for a person to get accustomed to, because it does not induce extreme hunger or cause exhaustion. The diet is easy to follow; it works moderately, but efficiently.
- The Zone diet provides hormone balance. Hormones are one of the core elements, that determine the way human body develops and functions. The diet regulates the production of insulin and glucagon. Insulin, which is the hormone of fat storage, and glucagon, which is responsible for fat elimination and physical activity are supposed to be kept in a certain ratio. In case of insulin-glucagon level balance and proper ratio, special hormones named eicosanoids are produced. The latter are considered to be “anti-inflammatory chemicals”. Sears claims that a “30:40 ratio of protein to carbohydrates triggers this effect, and this is called ‘The Zone’.” [Sears, 1997] The Zone Diet is aimed at balancing the hormones within in order to take control over hunger, at the same time receiving the nutrients human body requires for proper functioning. “The Zone Diet can best be described as a moderate-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, moderate fat diet that has approximately one gram of fat for every two grams of protein and three grams of carbohydrates (the Zone 1-2-3 Method™).” [Cheuvront, 2000] Such proportions are suggested by the Joslin Diabetes Research Center at Harvard Medical School, which is appointed to treat extra weight problems and Diabetes of the second type.
- The Zone diet provides also caloric balance. “The human body cannot store fat and burn fat at the same time”, Dr.Sears believes “it takes time (significant time if insulin levels were high because of unbalanced eating) to switch from the former to the latter.” [Sears, 1997] Because of the fact that the body uses the fat, which is already stored, a person loses pounds.
- The 40-30-30 diet is one of the crucial factors in boosting person’s energy level. While one determines what and how many to eat taking into consideration organism’s requirements, one controls the agent exchange. An organism functioning like a complex mechanism performs a reasonable capacity if it is treated properly. As a method of treatment, The Zone diet, balancing the processed in organism, exposes a great energy potential.
- Consequently, the Zone diet enhances both physical and mental activity. Physical state of the organism is inextricably linked with the mental. Hence, on achieving balance in hormone production, the body experiences general wellness, which contributes to brain work.
- The number of people with Diabetes of the second type is constantly increasing. The Zone diet is a correct choice of nutrition for somebody with Diabetes of the second type. Being originally appointed for the people with Diabetes desease and heart problems, the Zone diet is not only assigned to weight loss, but also to general wellness. “Accompanying this issue is low HDL’s, hypertension, and high triglycerides, all risk factors to heart disease. Zone Diet addresses all of these and is the answer to better health because it corrects elevated insulin levels.“ [Sears,1997] Dr.Sears claims, that people of the first Diabetes type have also the opportunity to take advantage of Zone diet, however one is supposed to regularly attend the personal doctor and modify the medicine in this respect. “Being a high protein, low carbohydrate diet program the Zone Diet was implemented to reduce both hunger and compulsion to eat.” [Sears,1997]
- What is more, The Zone diet is considered to efficiently deal with such diseases and health problems as constant fatigue, depression and high blood pressure. In addition, it is desirable to take up this diet, when a person suffers from cancer or asthma, allergies.
- Eventually, the desire of nearly each Zone diet follower is weight loss. The 40-30-30 diet facilitates the process of losing extra pounds by means of the following pattern. Carbohydrates overconsumption causes exceeding insulin production, a hormone that guides the body to store nutrients. The insulin overconsumption induces carbohydrates conversion. These macronutrients, being stored in different areas of our organism, turn into fat. On the contrary, protein which has the completely opposite influence encourages the production of the hormone glucagon, which gives the body a signal to release carbohydrates. When the latter are released, the organism signals about its satiation and the absence of nutrition necessity. “Consequently, limiting the type of carbohydrates you eat and balancing them with 3-4 ounces of low-fat protein at every meal will keep insulin and glucagon balanced, controlling your hunger with smaller number of calories.” [Cheuvront, 2003] As a result, a person loses weight with the help of sole hormone regulation.
On the whole, the list of points, mentioned above, indicates all the advantages, that The Zone diet gives to its followers. Undoubtedly, 40-30-30 nutrition pattern performs an effective way not only for the weight loss, but also for the treatment of different diseases and general organism wellness.
Counter-Argument
However, the American Heart Association claims about one dangerous point of the Zone diet. Many protein-rich products have high fat and cholesterol level. Frequently this food contains chemicals and agents with distorted vitamin and mineral composition. This is the reason why such influential health institutions as American Cancer Society and American Heart Association sugest eating as little as possible animal products and as much as possible plant products [Holm, 2000]. Moreover, protein-rich products such as meat and dairy are considered to induce obesity and heart diseases.
“Although Sears Zone includes many carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables, some critics have called his diet irresponsible and carbo-phobic.” [Cheuvront, 2003] Belonging to high-protein diets, the Zone diet is often called anti-carbohydrate, concerning the influence of the latter on the insulin level. However, according to recent research, nutritionists have discovered that Chinese people eating 20 times as many products containing high carbohydrate level weight 20% less than Americans, who consume mostly protein food.
Conclusion
Generally, the idea of taking control over hormones deserves attention and one can be sure, that the diet in its essence as a mean of weight loss works. This can be definitely proved by a series of examples, which a great majority of celebrities set. Being an “individual” type of diet, The Zone enables a person to adjust it to personal requirements and needs. By macronutrients intake control, The Zone diet succeeds in balancing the processes in the organism, making a person physically and mentally active, that is living a fully qualitative life.
Reference List
Sears, Barry (1995) The Zone. New York: Harper-Collins
Sears, Barry (1997) Mastering the Zone. New York: Regan Books.
Cheuvront, Samuel. “The Zone Diet and Athletic Performance.” Sports Medicine (2000): 289–294.
Cheuvront, Samuel (2003) “The Zone Diet Phenomenon: A Closer Look at the Science behind the Claims.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition: 9–17.
Holm,L (2000) Randomized trial on protein vs carbohydrate in ad libitum fat reduced diet for a treatment of obesity International Journal of Obesity. 23(5):528-36 Shereen Jegtvig (2008) Jennifer Aniston and the Zone Diet Guide:4-5