2.0 out of 5 stars
Good information, terribly badly presented, Mar 11 2002
By A Customer
I don't quite agree with the January 30 1999 review that this is the book Dr Sears should have written in the first place - I'd consider it a rough draft for that book; Dr Sears needs a competent editor!
This is the hardcover edition of the book that has been republished in paperback under the title of "The Age-free Zone". I think it is better to read "Enter the Zone" instead of or before reading this one. I have reservations about recommending this book because there are some obvious mis-statements that should have been caught by an editor, a great deal of boring repetition, and some very stretched analogies (e.g. pages 32 and 50). The persistent reader might reach a point where they are rewarded by more details of biochemical mechanisms than are given in the earlier book. The tables of food amounts are different from those in the other books and appear to be intermediate between the earlier version of "Enter the Zone" and the later amounts of "The top 100 zone foods".
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4.0 out of 5 stars
The best Zone book to read, Jun 28 2001
This is Barry Sears' most technical book so far about the biological principles behind his Zone diet.
He describes biological markers of aging and mechanisms of aging. He also gives a short course in hormones, which are strongly involved in aging.
Sears explains his anti-aging pyramid, which consists of meditation, moderate exercise and his Zone diet. Unlike the US Department of Agriculture food pyramid, which put bread, grains and starches at the bottom, to be eaten in big amounts, Sears' pyramid puts these at the top, to be eaten very sparingly, to reduce insulin secretion.
Insulin is so important to his Zone diet that he devotes an entire chapter to its effects on the body. He also devotes a chapter to cortisol, a hormone important in stress reactions. Plus, he has a chapter about eicosanoids, which are hormones that are very important in coordinating important body functions.
Insulin strongly affects the output and mix of eicosanoids. Since maintaining the correct amount of insulin in one's body is fundamental to his Zone diet, Sears gives a list of 14 different signs that one has the right amount and kind of eicosanoids active in one's body.
These signs consist of such varied things as hair strength and texture, appetite for carbohydrates, length of time of appetite suppression between meals, sleeping time and grogginess on awakening.
If all of these 14 different signs have the right status, it's an indication that one has had the right amount of insulin in one's body recently.
Sears ranges widely enough to get into trouble. For example, he recommends Coleus forskohli as an anti-cancer agent. Actually, it's catnip for some kinds of cancer.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Zone Diet works for me., Jun 13 2001
By A Customer
For several years I have had high triglycerides (TGL). Two and half years ago, my TGL/HDL ratio was 25. My doctor said I could either follow the American Heart Association (AHA) diet, or start taking medication. I choose the AHA diet, and after following the high carbohydrate, low fat diet for a year, my TGL/HDL ratio was 42. My doctor was alarmed and strongly advised taking Gemfibrozil in addition to the AHA diet. Last November after a year of Gemfibrozil and AHA diet, I was developing muscle pain in my legs where I had never had pain, lower back pain, and was gaining weight. My TGL/HDL ration was only down to 8.8. My doctor told me I had bad genes and was destined to have heart problems, and should continue with the medication to minimize the problem. I discussed the problem with my boss at work and he told me about the "Entering the Zone" book. I read most of it and on November 20th, 2000 I stopped taking Gemfibrozil and I started the Zone Diet. At the end of January after being on the Zone diet for just over 8 weeks, my TGL/HDL ration was down to 2.2. For me, a side affect of the Zone diet has been the loss of a little over 30 lbs since starting the diet. The real benifit has been to reverse my aging metrics. The Anti-Aging Zone book isn't easy reading, but is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. I highly recommend you read it and try it. It has improved my health in many ways mot mentioned in this summary.
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