From www.ZoneDiet.com, here is scientific evidence to prove what we already knew. This is a great website with recipes, bulletin boards to talk with other people on the Zone and guidance of all kinds. You have to create an account but it is free so don't be scared off.
New study points to the superiority of Zone Diet
The two major problems that plague diet studies are
(1) they are too short in duration, and (2) the subjects rarely maintain the
diet they were supposed to follow. In a recent study published in the Journal
of Nutrition with Don Layman of the University of Illinois as lead author, both
these problems were overcome. In this study done at two separate locations, 130
obese men and women were placed on iso-caloric diets (1,700 calories for
females and 1,900 calories for males). Half were following the Zone Diet
guidelines (30 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrates, and 30 percent fat),
and other half were following the USDA Food Pyramid dietary guidelines (15
percent protein, 55 percent carbohydrates and 30 percent fat). The subjects had
weekly educational meetings to maintain the appropriate diets.
At the end of one year, those on the Zone Diet had
lost 38 percent more fat mass than those on the USDA Food Pyramid diet. The LDL
levels were the same in both groups, but the triglyceride levels were much
lower and the HDL higher for those following the Zone Diet. As Don Layman
stated, “studies that report there is no difference among diets also report
that subjects were not carefully following the diets. It is very important to
realize the difference between diet compliance and diet effectiveness.” Bottom
line—the Zone Diet is once again more effective than the usual low-fat,
high-carbohydrate diet where virtually everyone fails to maintain initial
weight loss.
We
have heard from a number of people lately who are just starting on the Zone and
encountering various challenges: do we really have to measure everything? (it
is a good idea until you can really eyeball it), do we really have to do a body
fat analysis to figure out the number of blocks (it is the best way to optimize
the Zone for your body), I am hungry all the time.....the answer depends
on your particular situation. Bill and I are happy to share our experiences
with you as we have faced all of these challenges. Bill has a great summary of
starting tips which he published here a couple of weeks ago. We are considering
Zone classes a couple of times a year. But we are not experts, just people who
have studied and experienced the Zone for a year and looking forward to many
more years of good energy. So keep your questions coming, get yourself one of
Dr. Sears' many Zone diet books or check out this site. It's all good.
