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Author:
Christopher Luck

Do any of the fad diets out there, like the zone diet, work? I see them on television, in magazine, and on line: ads for the latest and greatest fad diet. Each one claims to have the answer to easy weight loss. Such fads are the price we pay for living in an obese capitalist society, but do any of them work? Statistically, those who use fad diets gain back their weight or even more weight 90% of the time.

One of the most popular recent fad diets to hit the mainstream is the zone diet. The zone diet, not unlike many of the recent fad diets, is based on carbohydrate intake. The diet is based on proportions of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. In addition, it is based on the idea of favorable or unfavorable types of each of those dietary components.

The biggest draw back to the zone diet is that it is very restrictive and structures. In the zone diet, you are to have five meals and two snacks per day. You are supposed to eat within an hour of getting up in the morning, eat regularly, and not eat more than 500 calories at one time. The zone diet’s “rules” make it so that the dieter’s life forever revolves around the food and eating.

The next issue with the zone diet is the learning curve involved. When you have to basically get a full dietary education in order to work a diet, then success is that much more difficult to reach. You have to learn things like how much food it in one “block” of protein, fat, and carb. You also have to know how to combine them and know a fair amount about glycemic loads in carbohydrates.

The alternative would be to have a sensible low calorie diet, work out a few times a week, and drink plenty of water. You don’t have to take the time to schedule precise meal times and a masters in dietary chemistry is unnecessary. With the zone diet, you will be constantly in calculation of your blocks and meals and combos. Isn’t it just easier to work out, eat sensibly, and enjoy your life a little more?

Fad diets are a tempting trend. Each one claims a quick fix to your weight problems. The all claim to be easy, but each ends up requiring you to read extensively and stay on a strict schedule. Making the switch in lifestyle to just eating less and working out more will allow you to, in moderation, eat the things you enjoy and to gain the overall health benefits of increased muscle tone, hormone production, and sense of well being. So don’t fall into the trap set by fads like the zone diet. We live in an obese and capitalist society, but here is a free way to stay out of the world of obesity: eat well, work out often, and love yourself.

If you would like the latest information on the zone diet, or find more of my personal articles like the one you just read, visit my dieting site.

| Article Keywords: Healthy Diets

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Healthy Diets... Hair Loss and Diet While the evidence that links hair loss to dieting is becoming increasingly clear, you won't see diet companies providing this information on warning labels. Further, the faster you lose pounds with some of the more severe crash diets, including many liquid diets, the more stress you're putting on your body. This stress may increase the risk and incidence of thinning hair - hair loss is a high price to pay for dieting! A diet, by definition, deprives the body of one or more nutrients which are essential for growth. Even a mild diet can deprive the body of nutrients. When this occurs it's natural for the body to allocate those limited nutrients to the functions of the body that are essential to stay alive. Nutrients for hair growth are low on that priority scale. When the body is deprived of a nutrient such as protein, it will save this protein, and hair growth will be shifted into the resting stage. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three months later. Another symptom of diet related hair loss and thinning is the ease at which hair can be pulled out. Some of the more common nutrient deficiencies that can lead to hair loss include; iron, sudden changes in magnesium, zinc, essential fatty acids, protein, and vitamins A, B and D. Crash diets, quick weight-loss programs that claim you can lose upwards of 20 pounds in a short time period, and those that suggest the elimination of a particular food group, can accelerate hair loss and are of particular concern. These types of diets may include everything from vegetarian, low-fat, or even high protein diets. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go on a diet, just do it in moderation and keep your diet plan balanced. One of the best ways to lose weight is a reduced-calorie plan over an extended period. This approach...