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 All Thumbs Book Reviews
Mastering the Zone
By Barry Sears, PhD
Review by Sally Fallon
Sears' first book, The Zone, promises us that everything will
be just wonderful in our lives if simply learn to keep a strict balance
of protein, carbohydrates and fat in our meals. The lipid hypothesis
was wrong, he says and fat is OK--but then comes the bad news.
We're not supposed to eat saturated fat, or fats containing arachidonic
acid--which eliminates delicious and nutritious foods like butter, whole
cheeses, egg yolks, meat fat and organ meats--leaving the Zone diet
eerily similar to the American Heart Associations "prudent diet" of
lean meat, low-fat concoctions and vegetable oils. The only real difference
is that Sears has replaced corn oil with olive oil.
Mastering the Zone offers a range of recipes that allow you
to enter the hallowed circle of macronutrient balance--but a quick perusal
reveals that there is even less fat--or rather oil--in the Zone recipes
than can be found in many "heart healthy" recipes books endorsed by
the AHA. Dinner entree recipes call for only 2 2/3 teaspoons of olive
oil and that's for two people!
Skim milk cheeses, low fat yogurt, egg whites (but not the yolks),
soybean imitation products, and protein powders feature large in Mastering
the Zone as aids on the road to Nirvana.
If you have trouble figuring out the exact proportions of fat, protein
and carbohydrates you need to get yourself into Zone heaven, you can
order specially-balanced Zone bars by calling a toll free number. Principal
ingredients include fructose syrup, soy protein isolate, honey, calcium
caseinate (Elmer's glue), corn syrup and sugar.
About the Reviewer
 Sally
Fallon is the author of
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct
Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats (with Mary G. Enig, PhD), a well-researched,
thought-provoking guide to traditional foods with a startling message: Animal
fats and cholesterol are not villains but vital factors in the diet, necessary
for normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection
from disease and optimum energy levels. She joined forces with Enig again to
write Eat Fat, Lose Fat, and has authored numerous articles on the
subject of diet and health. The President of the Weston A. Price Foundation
and founder of A Campaign for Real Milk,
Sally is also a journalist, chef, nutrition researcher, homemaker, and community
activist. Her four healthy children were raised on whole foods including butter,
cream, eggs and meat.
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