Established 2005
The Zone diet was founded by Barry Sears, PH.D. This diet is based on healthy balances of 40 percent carbs, 30 percent proteins and 30 percent fats. Daily caloric intake is limited to 1,100 calories.
Sears gets very scientific about how to come up with the personal 40-30-30 that each individual person will need. He explains that all the foods we eat are in "blocks." Once you figure out your unique combination of blocks, you eat those blocks at each meal. Snacks are half of the meal blocks.
You must give up caffeine, some cereals and artificial sweeteners. Also, it can be very hard to meet the daily requirements for vitamins and minerals with this low-calorie diet.
In short, entering the "Zone" involves a significant
reduction in calories for most people and this calorie reduction is the
cause of any weight loss, not the 40:30:30 nutrient split.
If you want to live like a normal person and eat with your family and
friends, this diet will be very difficult and expensive.