From: "Stephanie D. Brooks" <s1brooks@email.sjsu.edu>

Subject: Re: High protein diets: Zone diet

> From: JETHURNAU@aol.com

> Subject: Re: High protein diets: Zone diet?

>

> Thom

> the diet she is following allows no more than 15 gms of carbohydrate a day.

> it's designed by a follower of the zone diet.

> julie

>

>

Julie-

The reason the Zone works is because it restricts calories (I think

about 1200 women, 1500 men). Any "diet" that contains less calories than

one utlizes will result in weight loss, regardless if the calories are

from Carb, prot, fat, alcohol. You will find it

quite difficult to follow a diet of 15 grams of Carbs. Approximately one

apple would be it for the day. You would be missing out on many

vitamins/minerals from such a restriction too, not to mention fiber.

I have not been able to find any of Barry Sears' (author of Zone) research in the literature. His hypothesis "Americans are getting fatter because we are eating less fat" is not so.

Our fat consumption has not really changed in the past 25 year, however,

we are eating about 100-300 Cals more and exercising less. The July/August

'96 issue of "Nutrition Action Healthletter" has a nice write-up on this

diet.

I believe this is another fad diet that will be gone in a few years. But

never fear-it too will recycle.

Stephanie Brooks, MS, RD, CNSD

Registered Dietitian

San Jose State University