I was at work, but it wasn’t a typical Monday. I was in the Caribbean on our annual Zone Cruise: Clear skies, 81 degrees. A nice contrast to our record-breaking winter in Boston. Over the next week our Zone group of about 70 people enjoyed beautiful weather, great Zoned food (featuring Zone PastaRx) and detailed lectures by Dr. Sears.
In the previous Newsletter I outlined the basic Zone guidelines Dr. Sears talked about on the cruise and how they can improve your life. Now we’ll discuss:
- Dr. Sears’ new Zone PastaRx
- How to change your genes
- Tips on reducing stress and
- The three tests you must pass for a healthier, longer life
Zone PastaRx
Dr. Sears discussed the history of food ingredients from Paleolithic times to the modern foods of today consisting of refined sugars, carbohydrates, alcohol, and vegetable oils. These are the foods we love (bread, pasta, pizza), and we won’t give them up because they taste so good. The foods that make us fat and increase our risk of chronic disease have been transformed into the next generation of Zone foods, Zone PastaRx.
But the cover of Dr. Sears’ New York Times bestselling book “The Zone” said, “Basta the Pasta.” Now you’re telling us that pasta is actually good for us? Yes, Dr. Sears’ Zone PastaRx is the first breakthrough in baking in more than 400 years. Unlike traditional pasta that is high in carbohydrates and low in protein, Zone PastaRx contains only 28 grams of carbohydrates (standard pasta has more than 60 grams of carbs) while providing 20 grams of protein per serving.
While there are other pasta products that contain protein, there are two things to consider. 1) The protein content is too low and carbs are too high, and 2) when you cook and rinse, most of the protein goes down the drain. Zone PastaRx provides the key to not only weight loss but also long-term weight control. Consider the patented Zone PastaRx to be the foundation of a Zone meal that shuts down hunger and fatigue for five hours. How? A patented process promotes the linkage of protein to carbohydrate in the pasta, extending the lifetime of the protein through the digestive system. This results in more protein reaching the lower regions of the gut, enhancing the release of digestive tract hormones that shut down hunger signaling the brain to stop eating.
So if you are never hungry and never tired, then losing excess body fat and keeping it off is simple. In fact, the more meals you have using Zone PastaRx, the more excess body fat you lose. And the more excess body fat you lose, the healthier you become. It’s as simple as that.
Zone Pasta Recipes
Here are two easy recipes that were served on the Zone Cruise.
Breakfast Orzo
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Zone Orzo
- 4 cups water
- ¼ cup milk or Almond milk
- 2 tablespoons mixed berries
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Procedure:
- Boil 8 cups of water.
- Add 1 cup Orzo to boiling water.
- Stir until water boils again. Reduce to simmer.
- Cook for 7 to 8 minutes or until al dente.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Place 1 cup in serving bowl. Add ¼ milk or almond milk. Reheat if necessary.
- Add cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of sweetener (stevia) if necessary.
- Garnish with mixed berries.
- Put remaining 2 cups in the fridge.
Notes:
This is not your grandmother’s oatmeal. Due to the patented cross linking of the protein and carbohydrate, the Zone Orzo does not break down and become creamy. Add any savory ingredients and spices, consume and look at the time. Most likely you’ll get more than 4 hours of appetite suppression. You won’t be hungry. Check it out. It’s amazing.
Zone Fusilli with Marinara Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Zone Fusilli
- ¼ cup prepared Marinara sauce
- 1 Tablespoon grated cheese (Romano/Parmesan)
- Basil or parsley for garnish
Procedure:
- Boil 4 cups of water.
- Add the Fusilli to boiling water; stir until water boils again.
- Reduce to simmer.
- Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente.
- Drain and stir in Marinara sauce.
- Top with grated cheese. Garnish with basil or parsley
Notes:
These recipes are simple and easy. Additional recipes at: http://www.zonediet.com/resources/pasta-recipes/
How to change your genes
The message from conventional science and the media is: “Your fate in life is determined by the genes you received at birth. You’re a victim of your heredity, and you can’t change the outcome.” How many times have you heard the phrase, “There’s nothing I can about my illness or future health. It’s in my genes. My relatives had it so I’ll get it.”
Hello! There is something you can do about it. Epigenetic research demonstrates that genes account for about 10 percent of human disease. So if our genes aren’t causing disease, what is? It’s our environment: Nutrition, emotions and stress. Following an anti-inflammatory diet and supplementing with your optimal omega-3 dosage may set the foundation for changing the expression of your genes.
Stress Management
The first step in learning to manage stress is to become aware (mindful) of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and your environment on a moment-to-moment basis. A little challenging, but paying attention to what is going on now rather than getting lost in our thoughts about the past or the future is the key. Here’s a simple exercise.
Make yourself comfortable and gently close your eyes. For the next few moments focus your attention on your breath… notice the gentle inhalation and exhalation. Don’t change your breath, just follow the gentle inhalation and exhalation. That’s right, quietly observe your breath for the next few minutes.
The 3 Tests you must pass for a healthier, longer life.
Dr. Sears believes that the following tests are your best clinical markers for you future state of wellness. The tests are AA/EPA, TG/HDL and HbA1C.
- AA/EPA (arachidonic acid/eicosapentanoic acid)
Measures your levels of cellular inflammation. The ideal range is between 1.5 and 3.0. Most people’s ratio is 15 and above! High test score? Follow the Zone to lower arachidonic acid (AA) and supplement with OmegaRx to raise the EPA. Order the test. - TG/HDL (triglycerides/high-density lipoproteins)
Measures the degree of insulin resistance in your body. A test result above 3.5 indicates that your body is not using insulin effectively and increases your risk of developing pre-diabetes and then type 2 diabetes. The ideal range is less than 1.0. Physicians’ standard blood work will provide these figures. Lower with the Zone Diet. - HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1c)
Also known as glycosylated hemoglobin, it measures your long-term blood-sugar control. What levels of HbA1C are associated with longevity? 5.0% (percent of total red blood cells). Request from a physician or order an online home-test kit. The best way to reduce elevated HbA1C is to reduce grains and starches and consume lots of colorful, non-starchy vegetables.
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