000305 Making Fast Food a Healthy Choice

Los Angeles - Fast food fanatics now have positive encouragement from groundbreaking scientist and best-selling author Dr. Barry Sears, author of the #1 New York Times best-selling book, The Zone. With some simple adjustments, menu items from McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell and even Pizza Hut can be effortlessly transformed into perfectly balanced and healthy meals based on his Zone Diet.

These tips are detailed in Dr. Sears' new book, A Week in the Zone, now in bookstores, and summarized on www.drsears.com. The Zone Diet is based on how the proper balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat can help eliminate excess body fat, prevent disease and increase mental and physical performance by maintaining the hormone insulin within a Zone; not too high, not too low.

"Order the grilled McChicken Sandwich without any french fries or soft drinks, and you are ready to enter the Zone," stated Dr. Sears. "With pizza, order thin crust instead of thick. Select a low-fat protein topping like chicken. Eat the topping of every slice, but only eat every other crust. Order extra vegetables to make it more satisfying."

Why is Dr. Sears advocating the Zone approach to what many have considered unhealthy food? To show how easy the Zone can be applied to today's lifestyle is one way Dr. Sears is trying to overcome a great misconception that "the Zone is just too complicated." Another reason is a recent Harvard Medical School study, which has confirmed that the major health benefit of the Zone Diet can be gained in only one meal. The Harvard Study showed how a single Zone meal can achieve a superior hormonal balance that provides better hunger control leading to a reduced calorie intake in the next meal when compared to the meals recommended by the U.S. government that contain the same number of calories. Other recently published studies by independent medical researchers have validated many of the health claims of the Zone Diet such as its use in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Although his books have been mega best sellers (more than 3 million sold), Dr. Sears admits to one mistake. "I went the extra mile to explain the science behind the Zone because I felt a radical overhaul of the food pyramid required significant scientific detail, something physicians and engineers could appreciate. Unfortunately, it clouded the inherent simplicity of the Zone Diet for everyone else."

With independent scientists saying the Zone makes a difference in just one meal, Dr. Sears is now challenging health-conscious Americans to give the Zone Diet just seven days to feel the positive differences for themselves. But this time, he's making the Zone Diet much easier to follow with his new book, A Week in the Zone, which can be considered the ultimate starter book for his revolutionary dietary program.

Here are some highlights of Dr. Sears' recommendations for fast food and restaurant goers. Typical Zone meals at restaurant chains might be:

Burger King (BK Chicken Broiler w/o mayo),

McDonald's (Grilled Chicken Deluxe w/o mayo and discarding one-quarter of the bun),

Subway (Turkey breast sub after discarding half the bread),

Wendy's (Chili or Grilled chicken sandwich), and

Taco Bell (2 Grilled chicken soft tacos).

Dr. Sears suggests that you just use your common sense to avoid fatty meats, fried foods, french fries, chips, and excessive amounts of starches (rice, pasta and bread).

However, his ultimate "fast food" recommendation is the supermarket salad bar. After making your selections in the produce section (vegetables and fruits), then venture over to the deli to make a low-fat protein choice (tuna, chicken, or turkey breast) and now you have the ultimate fast food Zone meal.

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