Health and Beauty

The Zone Diet works on the principle that 100,000 years ago, we were meat eaters, and our metabolism is designed to handle the demands of a meat-based diet. 

Madonna, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Aniston swear by the results of the Zone Diet, which was created by Barry Sears, PhD.  The Zone Diet contains 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein, and 30% fat and is known as the 40-30-30 plan.

As the food industry evolved, more carbohydrates have been introduced into our daily diet, thus causing an imbalance in our metabolism to burn fat.  The reason for our extra weight can also be attributed to the many grains and starches in our diet (pasta, rice, breads, and potatoes).  The Zone Diet’s approach calls for a return to the diets of our ancestors where meat, fruits, and vegetables are the main dietary foods. 

The Zone Diet suggests that you need the right ratio of carbohydrates to proteins and fats in order to control the insulin in the bloodstream.  Too much of the hormone (insulin) can increase fat storage and inflammation in the body (conditions that are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease).  Sears asserts that by using the Zone Diet, you are actually optimizing the body’s metabolic function.  Through the regulation of blood sugar, you allow your body to burn excess body fat.

Although you are not prohibited from any particular food group, it is best to avoid food with high fat and carbohydrates such as grains, starches, and pastas.  The ideal sources of carbs are fruits and vegetables and for monounsaturated fats olive oil, almonds, and avocados are recommended.  The Zone Diet claims to use food as a drug for overall good health, weight loss and prevention or management of heart disease and diabetes.

Sears says that you can test to see whether you are ‘hormonally’ correct by eating following the Zone diet and see how you feel four hours later.  To simplify the Zone Diet, fill one-third of a plate with low-fat protein, and then two-thirds with fruits and vegetables.

Celebrities and some health experts say that the Zone’s recommendations do not stray far from the USDA’s (United States Dietary Association) dietary guidelines and therefore are advocates of the Zone Diet.  Others argue that the Zone Diet has flawed ratios but Sears argues that the Zone diet is a low-glycemic-load diet that has adequate protein.  . 

A critic of the Zone diet such as the AHA (American Heart Association) classifies the Zone Diet as high protein and does not recommend the Zone Diet for weight loss.  They contend that the Zone Diet has not been proven effective in the long term for weight loss.  The AHA issued an official recommendation warning against diets like the Zone Diet.  They believe that the Zone Diet is hazardous as it restricts the intake of essential vitamins and minerals present in certain foods.  The AHA also contends that the protein ratio in the Zone diet is too high even if the minimal fat ratio is good.  Robert H. Ecker M.D of the A.H.A. finds the Zone Diet’s theory on insulin flawed and argues that there is no scientific proof that the hormone insulin plays a big role in weight regulation.

I have heard of many people who claim to have solved their cystic acne problems through diet, but unfortunately it doesn’t work for everyone. There is some ambiguity on what a “good diet” consists of. For example, some diets are not too keen on grain and carbohydrate based foods while most nutritionists recommend a grain based diet. Also there are lots of books on diet and foods, and there are some differences in opinion.

Interestingly, many studies had been performed on the diet and cystic acne relationship, and none was found. Also, a sickness or disease caused by malnutrition or poor diet tends to linger on until the poor diet is rectified. For example, if you had a low iron intake, you would continue to feel tired and run down until your iron intake increased. Cystic acne (in most cases) disappears in the mid-twenties even though sufferers have made no change in their diet. Now, if cystic acne is a disease caused by poor diet, why should it suddenly disappear?

One thing I would object strongly to, is the idea that cystic acne is a symptom of western diet.  In fact, those of us who have travelled may have noticed that traditional Asian and African diets are no better for their culture than western diets, at least in terms of the incidence of cystic acne amongst their people. There may well be strong evidence to suggest that western diets are not actually very good for us – but there really is no evidence that it can either cause or worsen cystic acne.

I am not seeking to totally discredit the claim that diet has a part to play in cystic acne but still there are lots of other factors that can trigger this skin condition like hormones, genetics, vitamin deficiency, stress and much more.