Zone Diet Recipe

Why Sears Thinks Carbs Make You Fat

The Zone Diet recipe is again based on the theory that the more carbs that you eat, the harder it will be to lose weight.

The zone diet is based around trying to get your hormonal and blood sugar levels at just the right level, finding the perfect carb to protein ratio.

I found it interesting that Sears recognised that it is actually the carbs that have a high glycemic index that cause problems.

It is actually quite complicated to formulate a zone diet recipe. Sears believes that the ideal protein to carb ratio is 0.75. So for every 7.5 grams of protein you eat, you need to add another 10 grams of carbs to go with it.

To make it simple, Sears put everything into pre-prepared blocks that are easy to follow, containing the right amount of protein, carb and fats that he recommends in the zone diet recipes. Following his plan can be very regimented because of the fact that you have to measure and watch every nutrient that enters your mouth. You'll also need to get used to eating alot of protein, probably more than you'd normally eat, and this can become a problem if you're not a big meat or egg eater.

A large part of the reason why Sears believes that carbs make people fat is because he recognised the fact that we need to balance our food intake. It's true that when you eat carbs, you also need to eat protein because it slows the digestion of the carbs which of course, makes you feel full longer (eat less in the long run), increases your metabolism and keeps your blood sugar level steady.

His zone diet recipes recognise that insulin lowers your blood sugar level signalling the release of glucogen which then causes you to eat more, increasing blood sugar levels. To be in the zone, you need to get these hormone levels in balance and he recommends you do this by balancing your nutrients in your diet.

Sears believes that carbs make people fat because of their effect on blood sugar levels, in that carbs cause the the body to secrete insulin which then converts carbs to glucose. The glucose then may be used as energy or in excess the glucose is stored as fat. So an excess of carbs is believed to cause storage of fat.

Pros:

1. Recognises the relationship between insulin and glucogen hormonal balances;
2. Recongises that carbs in themselves are not harmful, it is the effect that some carbs have on the secretion of insulin;
3. Recommends low fat protein and meats.

Cons:

1. Lack of fiber which causes constipation and dehydration;
2. Can be complicated in formulating recipes unless you use Sears ready made blocks;
3. Hard to maintain eating the amount of protein recommended.

Always consult your doctor before following the zone diet, as it is not compatible if you are pregnant, have liver disease, kidney disease or osteoporosis.

References:

The Diet Advisor (2000) Time Life Books

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