What is the Zone Cleansing Diet?

• The Zone Cleansing Diet, better known simple as the Zone Diet is a method of food consumption created and defined by Dr. Barry Sears, a biochemist. The Zone Diet believes that there are three major components of all the food we eat -- carbohydrates, protein and fat and each of these provide us calories. The base principle of the Zone Diet is that these components should be consumed in a balance ratio of 40:30:30 -- described as "the Zone" -- in terms of calories obtained from each respectively.
  
  

The Theory of the Zone Cleansing Diet

• Dr. Sears believed that other diets that focus on "low-fat" intake are flawed as they do not take into account hormonal factors that can lead to weight gain. His hypothesis is that low-fat diets actually boost insulin production in the body, causing it to store more fat. The Zone diet on the other hand advocates by balancing hormones such as insulin, it is possible to increase the release of anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body, which in turn would lead to cleansing of the body and weight loss.
  
  

How the Zone Cleansing Diet Works

• According to Dr. Sears, his Zone Cleansing Diet reduces the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed in the body. By balancing the ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fat in the meal, the diet aims to reduce insulin production and thereby boost fat burning while restricting fat storage in the body. While the hormonal imbalance part has not yet been scientifically proven, studies have found that the Zone diet is highly effective in reducing weight compared to low fat diets.
  
  

The Zone Diet Versus Low-Carb Diets

• The Zone Cleansing diet is different from low carb diets in the sense that it does not place restrictions on the amount of carbohydrates a person can consume. Rather, the focus on the Zone Diet is on balance in meals and maintaining that perfect ratio between carbohydrates, protein and fat intakes. In comparison to low card diets which advocate cutting out of most carbohydrate content from food, the Zone Cleansing diet talks about moderating it.
  
  

Drawback of the Zone Cleansing Diet

• As it is based on the principles of moderate consumption and control, the Zone diet has few drawbacks in terms of its application and effectiveness. However, the major shortcoming felt by most followers is that it is extremely rigid in terms of the balance of food components and so it very complex to follow and maintain.