Zone Diet Blocks

The zone diet primarily focuses on controlling your hormones. This article provides a brief description of the zone diet blocks.

The zone diet is a unique diet plan which tries to maintain the right balance between the intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. This helps control three major hormones produced by the human diet such as insulin, glucagon, and eicosanoids. This diet has been approved by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), and it is universalized by Dr. Barry Sears, a biochemist and researcher of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This diet leads to permanent fat loss, and provides good health with an increased ability to fight several diseases like diabetes, depression, cancer, heart disease, etc. It also provides hormonal balance and helps boost metabolism.

The zone diet is composed of blocks of vital nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, and fats. They are:

Carbohydrates

• 1 block = 9 g
• 2 blocks = 18 g
• 3 blocks = 21 g

Protein

• 1 block = 9 g
• 2 blocks = 18 g
• 3 blocks = 21 g

Fat

• 1 block = 1.5 g
• 2 blocks = 3 g
• 3 blocks = 4.5 g

Following is a sample schedule of the diet:

Following is the description for a block(s) of meal:

• 1 block meal = 1 block of carbohydrates + 1 block of protein + 1 block of fat
• 2 block meal = 2 blocks of carbohydrates + 2 blocks of protein + 2 blocks of fat
• 3 block meal = 3 blocks of carbohydrates + 3 blocks of protein + 3 blocks of fat
• Therefore, ‘n’ block meal = ‘n’ blocks of carbohydrates + ‘n’ blocks of protein + n blocks of fat, where ‘n’ is greater than or equal to 1

The average intake of zone food blocks per day for:

• Men = 14 zone food blocks
• Women = 11 zone food blocks

Food Blocks List

The following table enlists some food items pertaining to 1 block:

For example, 1 block meal will be: 1 oz. cheese, ⅓ cup oatmeal (steel cut) cooked, and ½ tsp. peanut butter.

Zone Diet Basics

Following are certain rules that need to be followed during a zone diet

• Ensure that the snacks provide 100 kcal while a meal does not exceed calorie limit of 500 kcal.
• Do not stay hungry for more than 5 hours.
• Consume carbohydrates in the form of vegetables and fruits. Avoid fruits with high sugar content like banana, grapes, and figs. Vegetables such as potatoes, carrot, and corn should be consumed in moderation.
• Eat only low-fat protein and add a dash of mono-saturated fat to every meal.
• Drink 8 glasses of water everyday.
• It is advisable for pregnant women to eat minimum of 14 blocks per day. This could be achieved by adding one block to each of the major meals.
• Avoid fruit juices and soda.
• Exercise regularly.

Zone diet promotes healthy eating with a slight change in eating habits. The proper intake of diet blocks ensures healthy weight loss. Like any other diet plan, this diet also has its pros and cons, and therefore, it is advisable to consult your physician before opting for it.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.