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Michael  Posts:1
 Newbie
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| 08/02/2008 2:26 AM |
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| I was looking into the $300 AA/EPA serum phospholipid test Dr. Sears recommends. As far as I can tell, YFH seems to indicate that you take the test every 14 days to track your blood levels. Is this right? How many iterations of test results does it usually take to find your correct dosage? |
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Sue K  Posts:8672
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| 08/02/2008 8:04 AM |
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Hi Michael, Usually one would decide upon a dose one of the Zone Labs fish oil concentrates according to the dosing info in "The Anti-Inflammation Zone". After one month on this does, they would then have the AA/EPA test done. Dr Sears has explained that once a person has had one full month at a particular dose they will be receiving the full benefit of that dose. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/02/2008 3:02 PM |
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I also think that one should get a baseline AA/EPA test before even starting fish oil, and then restest in one month to see if the beginning dosage was effective. The, one would know how to gauge the increase/decrease of the dosage. Of course, if already on fish oil, then just start from where you are. I would probably follow Sear's recommendation regarding testing after a month on fish oil. It is his area of research, and I would regard his opinion more highly than YFH. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8672
 Zone Expert

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| 08/02/2008 3:18 PM |
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Michael, I don't see huge value for the average person in regard to getting a baseline AA/EPA test done prior to beginning fish oil supplementation, except in some unusual extreme cases, especially because it's an expensive test and one's beginning dosage can be estimated pretty accurately with the recommendations provided by Dr. Sears. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/03/2008 8:35 AM |
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Sue, The VALUE in getting a baseline is VERY important, for those who consider the AA/EPA. And, besides what I posted in that post, any practioner will say that establishing a baseline will help to determine if the course of treatment is effective at all, and will help to gauge the way future increases/decreases are made. If the baseline numbers and the numbers after one month of treatment are very close together, then the SMALL difference in the numbers would suggest a LARGER increase. Or, if the baseline numbers and the numbers after one month of treatment are far apart (and greatly improved), this would suggest perhaps a very small increase in dosage to be necessary. Establishing the baseline may seem silly to you, but in the end, it will save money because one would not have to continually "guess" at how much to increase the dosage by. There would be a definite set of data that can be used to make an informed decision. And, this will save money because one could arrive at the correct dosage much sooner, by using data rather than guessing at the dosage increase. Besides, if the dosage can be estimate pretty accurately with the recommendations provided by Dr. Sears, then perhaps the AA/EPA test is not even worthwhile! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8672
 Zone Expert

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| 08/03/2008 5:00 PM |
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To everyone following this thread, The info and my opinions I've posted in this thread come directly from "The Anti Ifnlammation Zone" and/or my personal experience. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my experiences, Barry Sears has been speaking with me and advising me personally in regard to my fish oil dose and my SIP (AA/EPA) testing, since 2001. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/03/2008 11:00 PM |
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Oh, Sue! I really think you are addressing this to me! LOL! Barry Sears has done a lot of research in this area. I give him credit for that, definitely! He is the genius that gas gotten all of us to this point. However, he is not a clinician. Sure, he has worked with specific cases, you in particular. But, on a daily basis, he is not a clinician. A clinician would be VERY interested in knowing the baseline blood levels before starting ANY kind of therapy. In order to make an educated decision on how to adjust a dose of ANYTHING, it is necessary to know the baseline. The degree of improvement in the blood test on the second test will give lots of good information on how to increase. Plus, the baseline also gives the clinician a really good idea on what the initial dose should be. The information that I posted did not come from any book, nor did it come from any of my personal experiences (I have never done the test due to its expense). But, from my experience working with clinicians who deal with dosage adjustments on a number of other things, I know that they rely on that baseline value. And, I have always wished that I WOULD have gotten that baseline AA/EPA before I ever started FO. I would have loved to have seen the improvement in the values. Kind of like, "the proof is in the pudding". |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/04/2008 10:47 AM |
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Sue, Perhaps I am having a duh day, but I have no idea what you are referring to? |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cici  Posts:55
 Aspiring
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| 08/04/2008 1:23 PM |
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Cranberrycat, you're becoming rather obnoxious lately. What's the problem? You're sparing with Sue all the time now. You're changing the atmosphere here from friendly and fun to I'm not sure what. What is your intention?
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Sue K  Posts:8672
 Zone Expert

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| 08/04/2008 2:43 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Cici on 08/04/2008 1:23 PM Cranberrycat, you're becoming rather obnoxious lately. What's the problem? You're sparing with Sue all the time now. You're changing the atmosphere here from friendly and fun to I'm not sure what. What is your intention? [/quote] Thanks for posting this Cici! I've been wondering the same thing. Its certainly not pleasant to be the target of this type of behavior. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/04/2008 3:12 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Sue on 08/04/2008 2:43 PM [quote]Posted By Cici on 08/04/2008 1:23 PM Cranberrycat, you're becoming rather obnoxious lately. What's the problem? You're sparing with Sue all the time now. You're changing the atmosphere here from friendly and fun to I'm not sure what. What is your intention? [/quote] Thanks for posting this Cici! I've been wondering the same thing. Its certainly not pleasant to be the target of this type of behavior. [/quote] . Sue and Cici, I REALLY was not following what Sue had said in the post that I questioned. If what I said was taken the wrong way, and interpreted as obnoxious, I am sorry. It is really difficult to convey emotion or mood in the written word. That is why we have smileys (but they don't work here and so I don't use them). However,the other side of this is that I simply stated my opinions in this (and other threads). If I happen to disagree with what someone else said, shouldn't I have the right to say so-and give my reasons why? If anyone would like to discuss this issue in private, feel free to send me an email. cranberrycat@hotmail.com |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cici  Posts:55
 Aspiring
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| 08/04/2008 3:46 PM |
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There's no need for smileys. Besides, what's wrong with: :) or :)) or ;) ? You can make your own smileys.
We aren't talking about disagreeing with someone else's opinions. We're talking about how disagreeable you are toward Sue. You are badgering her much of the time. You jump on her posts to have the last say. What's up with that?
Thanks for offering your email address. I'm more comfortable keeping my communications out here in the open. |
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Cici |
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Sue K  Posts:8672
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| 08/04/2008 4:13 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Cici on 08/04/2008 3:46 PM There's no need for smileys. Besides, what's wrong with: :) or :)) or ;) ? You can make your own smileys. We aren't talking about disagreeing with someone else's opinions. We're talking about how disagreeable you are toward Sue. You are badgering her much of the time. You jump on her posts to have the last say. What's up with that? Thanks for offering your email address. I'm more comfortable keeping my communications out here in the open. [/quote] Cici, I second this posting. I couldn't have stated it better myself, and ditto from me about keeping this issue here in an open forum. My thanks again for addressing the topic. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/04/2008 4:20 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Cici on 08/04/2008 3:46 PM There's no need for smileys. Besides, what's wrong with: :) or :)) or ;) ? You can make your own smileys. We aren't talking about disagreeing with someone else's opinions. We're talking about how disagreeable you are toward Sue. You are badgering her much of the time. You jump on her posts to have the last say. What's up with that? Thanks for offering your email address. I'm more comfortable keeping my communications out here in the open. [/quote] Cici, In all honesty, I have never really been in the habit of using symbols in my written word. Mostly, I just use LOL to communicate that I was trying to keep my comment "light" and humorous, rather than for it to appear "obnoxious". I guess it would sound logical that perhaps Sue and I might bump into each other in the forums. I don't have any intent on badgering her, and I have no intent on having the last say. I would hope that people would appreciate a variety of responses. And, perhaps I am not the one to judge, but I hope that if you really look at it objectively, you will see Sue disagreeing with what I posted. In this particular thread, I posted on 8/2 after Sue had posted. The post was not at all disagreeable to what Sue had said. It was "additional information". It was SUE who posted after me and disagreed with what I said. Again, I guess that if she disagreed with me, I would THINK I have the right to have a rebuttal. In any case, it doesn't help Michael (the original poster in this forum) to have this discussion here. I started a new thread, called "Forum etiquette". Feel free to post any new comments over there. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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E.Wally  Posts:271
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| 08/04/2008 4:56 PM |
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Michael, In any case, it doesn't help Michael (the original poster in this forum) to have this discussion here. I started a new thread, called "Forum etiquette". Feel free to post any new comments over there. [ from previous response ] Well that seems like a good idea so let's see if I can help you ! [another response from above ] 08/02/2008 3:18 PM Quote Reply Alert Michael, I don't see huge value for the average person in regard to getting a baseline AA/EPA test done prior to beginning fish oil supplementation, except in some unusual extreme cases, especially because it's an expensive test ... Let's see if I can provide you with some additional information and you can decide for yourself how you want to prceed. That is, proceed with an expensive "out of pocket" baseline AA/EPA test AND another to follow, and maybe, another after that - or - maybe there's a THIRD alternative : the standard "blood test" aka a "cholesterol profile screening" - one of the most common medical tests and well covered by health insurance. First of all : I would really suggest you follow the link I've pasted in down below a bit to another thread. At that thread try and focus on my responses to Lisa. The "subject matter" in THAT thread is closely related to those in this one it seems. There is a LOT of information there in regards to what the standard "cholesterol test" can reveal - in short - it MAY provide you with what you want to know without spending a fortune. This IS NOT my opinion but that of the well noted people quoted in this thread. http://www.zonediet.com/RESOURCES/Forums/tabid/121/forumid/4/postid/ 25523/view/topic/Default.aspx However, as an adjunct, let's try and provide you with some guidance here more "fine tuned" to the issue at hand in this thread. Getting some testing is a great idea. It takes all the mystery and guessing as to "where you are" hormonally and at this point especially where you are just starting The Zone eating plan. You will have a "baseline" to judge/measure your progress and effectiveness of your dietary adjustments. You might start with some tests that are covered by your health insurance and which can give you excellent insights into your "Zonal Health". A standard "lipid profile" test [ cholesterol level screening test] is almost always covered by health insurance and you should be able to get a "fasting insulin" measurement as part of it. I say "should" because interestingly Dr.Sears mentions that it may be difficult to get your doctor to do it and that is exactly what the case was with mine - I basically had to insist ! Your "lipid" levels [ cholesterol ] tell much about our Zonal health - in particular the Triglyceride and HDL levels and in particular the RATIO OF Triglycerides to HDL [ high density lipoprotein ]. FROM PGS 208 - 209 THE SOY ZONE : ... for optimal health ... these are the two blood tests that you want to pass every time you take them : 1.Fasting Insulin 2.Fasting Triglyceride-to-HDL cholesterol ratio ... the Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio is an indirect marker for insulin... The passing grades for these tests are ... INSULIN ...IDEAL 5 GOOD ..... less than 10 TG/HDL ... IDEAL .. less than 1 -------------GOOD .. less than 2 {end of quote ] All you do is divide your triglyceride level by your HDL level. I've had my blood tested every 6 months for about 10 years. After being on the Zone for about 2 years my TG/HDL RATIO settled in very close to "1" and has been there ever since. It runs a little above or below "1". On two occasions I literally insisted on a "fasting insulin" test as part of my cholesterol test. {Why they resist doing it I don't know but Dr.Sears himself warned in one of his books this would be the case - and it was !] With my TG/HDL ratio measured @ 1.5 fasting insulin was @5.4 With my TG/HDL ratio measured @ 1.07 fasting insulin was @4.4 As you can see the TG/HDL RATIO is INDEED, AS Dr.Sears STATED an excellent marker for "fasting insulin" Prior to my most recent cholesterol test by my cardiologist I hadn't had a fasting insulin test as part of it in some time so I asked him if he would schedule it. [ I usually ask my GP ] Interestingly he looked through my previous tests and said it would be a waste of time and money because of how my triglycerides and HDL levels ran and in particular because my Triglycerides and HDL have been consistently almost equal. [Just what our good Dr.Sears had been saying ! ] So I prodded him a bit and he went on to say that unless I had some totally bizarre rare disease that had no apparent symptoms he had never seen anyone with an abnormal insulin condition with triglyceride and HDL levels and ratios like mine - a "resting insulin" test would be a waste of time and money. How interesting to hear this from "outside the Zone community". I might add that ALL of his medical training was through Harvard and his undergraduate degree was Summa Cum Laude. ---------------- *** Although the "desired" levels of the various components [ of a "blood lipid profile" ] are GENERALLY agreed on there has been and continues to be some disagreement as to the exact levels of some components and the "ideal" ratios between them.' In any event here's a partial explanation of the "TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL RATIO" which our own Dr.Sears considers very important : _____________ [quoted from The Soy Zone ] ***TG to HDL Ratio <1 ideal <2 Good, --Fail >4 *** This is the ratio that is considered a "marker" for "fasting insulin" level - a ratio of "1" means it should be exactly where you want it - about 5,",,,in a 'zone of wellness' -not too high and not too low" ...] per the author - Dr.Sears. [Mine was measured @ 5.4 and 4.4 with a TG/HDL ratio of 1.5 and 1.07 so you can see that indeed it is an excellent "indirect marker"] ______________ ________________ I wanted to pass on to you an example of "current thinking" regarding Lipid Profile Tests and their interpretation. The "standard" cholesterol test has been around for some time but HOW the data is interpreted has been constantly evolving. **** In a nutshell - lately much thinking regarding this has come into agreement with none other than what our wonderful leader Dr.Sears has been saying for some time ! **************************************** [excerpt of abstract of study] Regarding the lipid ratio, it is apparent from Framingham Study data that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is strongly linked to the total/HDL cholesterol ratio—whether or not either the total or the LDL cholesterol level is high.1 A total/HDL cholesterol ratio of 2.5 is, taken alone, highly favorable. William B. Kannel, MD, MPH Professor of Medicine and Public Health Boston University School of Medicine Boston [end of excerpt] Further research is revealing that when the RATIO OF TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL CHOLESTEROL is tracked it has turned out to be a far more accurate predictor of future heart disease. There are those in the field of cardiology who say this ratio is the single most important factor in a lipid profile and predictor of future cardiac health. ****** Something Dr.Sears professed a number of years ago.**** Here are additional and more comprehensive and more current research findings on this : http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/cholesterol-level-scale.html • Cholesterol level scale – Cholesterol ratios. Blood Cholesterol Ratios _ ------ ----- Total Cholesterol / HDL Protective: Less than 4.2; Warning:4.3 and higher LDL / HDL :Protective: Less than 2.5; Warning:2.6 and higher In Protein Power, by Michael and Mary Eades, they write that this ratio of HDL to LDL and total cholesterol, is actually more important then total cholesterol in predicting heart attack, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases. These numbers help tell us whether more cholesterol is being stored in our cells or else is being broken down and removed from our body. That's why you can see heart attacks in people that have low total cholesterol levels. Their ratio HDL is low as well, and as a result their ratio is high. To determine these ratios for yourself, simply divide your total cholesterol and LDL numbers by your HDL number. The ratios of TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL should be below 4 as a general rule for both men and women. HOWEVER: A VERY GOOD RATIO IS 3.5, EXCELLENT IS 3.0 AND FANTASTIC IS 2.6. If you can get your TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL ratio down between 2.4 and 2.8, you can actually experience a REVERSAL of heart disease. [END OF QUOTE ] "...this ratio of HDL to LDL and total cholesterol, is actually more important then total cholesterol in predicting heart attack, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases. ..." Michael, the list of above diseases ALL have something in common : INFLAMMATION EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY LED TO THEIR OCCURANCE. [ Mine is 2.66 - and I thank the Zone Eating Plan for that and often remember Barry Sears in my prayers.] MY ADVICE : Start with the inexpensive excellent tools at hand and have a "baseline" lipid profile with fasting insulin as part of it - insist on the "fasting insulin" if you have to. Then have another one done when you feel you have made significant changes to your diet that should show up in a further test - and/or - if you are just plain curious to see "where you are" as to your HORMONAL BALANCE, that is, to DETERMINE that you are "in the Zone" and whereabouts "in the Zone" - what part of the RANGE. [ Personal note about the value of a "baseline" medical reading : It was NEVER SUGGESTED TO ME BY ANY OF THE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS WHO I CAME IN CONTACT WITH PRIOR - REPEAT, PRIOR, TO MY HEART ATTACK - to have a "baseline" cholesterol screening. However - they were quick to give me one the minute it occurred and every 6 months since ! A "free" cholesterol screening test with fasting insulin is about as cheap a "health insurance policy" as you can possibly obtain, and, if at the same time, provides excellent insights into your "Zonal well being" - why not start with that, see what it brings, and go from there. ... from the "END"Zone E.Wally ewally@verizon.net |
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snickers  Posts:82
 Aspiring
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| 08/04/2008 5:45 PM |
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I tend to agree with E. Wally on that (I think). Stick with the less expensive tests that are more likely to be covered by insurance. Why spend all of that money on the AA/EPA testing, anyway? If you can get a really good idea of where you are based on the lipid profile and the fasting insulin, then you should be able to assume with some degree of certainty that the AA/EPA is in line, too. Without spending hundreds of dollars on the test. |
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snickers  Posts:82
 Aspiring
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| 08/04/2008 5:51 PM |
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Cici, I think that your statement is extremely rude and that it is offensive to Cranberrycat. And, for Sue to go along with that, well, I respect Sue and her opinions, but I just lost some of my respect for her with her response to that. I also agree, this discussion does not belong here. I feel sorry for Michael, he just wanted an answer to his question. |
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Sue K  Posts:8672
 Zone Expert

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| 08/04/2008 6:11 PM |
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[quote]Posted By snickers on 08/04/2008 5:45 PM Why spend all of that money on the AA/EPA testing, anyway? [/quote] The AA/EPA test that Michael asked about is the only way to know a person's inflammation level. Cholesterol and triglyeride blood tests do not tell you a person's actual inflammation level. A person can be at an ideal body fat% with excellent fasting insulin blood results and still have elevated levels of inflammation above the ideal of 1.5 to 3 AA/EPA. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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snickers  Posts:82
 Aspiring
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| 08/04/2008 6:22 PM |
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But, Sue, isn't it true that this very expensive test is not really a necessary part of being in the Zone? E.W. posted some really good information, which I seem to remember reading in the Zone books, regarding lipids and fasting insulin. In addition, there is the Eicosanoid Status Report which is found in the OmegaRx Zone. If there was NO OTHER way to determine a person's inflammation level, then I highly doubt that Dr. Sears would suggest these alternatives. |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
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| 08/04/2008 6:42 PM |
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snickers, Although I appreciate the support, I would like to divert the attention regarding the comments away from this thread, in respect to Michael, who posted the original question. I started a new thread called "zone etiquette". I think that the comments from E. Wally are good ones. In the heat of the moment, I was trying to explain the value of getting a baseline reading. But, in reality, the AA/EPA testing seems to me to be a waste of time, as well. I posted on 8/3/08 at the end of my statement "Besides, if the dosage can be estimated pretty accurately with the recommendations provided by Dr. Sears, then perhaps the AA/EPA test is not even worthwhile!" I hope that we can continue this thread and feel free to discuss the topic at hand. There is a LOT of value to be had in reading opposing opinions. Meaning, an informed choice based on the information presented. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Dr. Barry Sears is a leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response. A former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Sears has dedicated his research efforts over the past 30 years to the study of lipids. He holds 13 U.S. Patents in the areas of intravenous drug delivery systems and hormonal regulation for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
A turning point in his research occurred in 1982. That year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for discoveries of the role that specialized hormones, known as eicosanoids, play in the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and cancer. Since eicosanoids are only generated from dietary fat, Dr. Sears reasoned that one could apply intravenous drug delivery principles to nutrition in order to control these exceptionally powerful hormonal responses with laser-like precision. In essence, his approach treats food as if it were a drug.
This area of his research led to various patents in the area of hormonal control by essentially using food as an oral drug delivery system to modulate eicosanoids especially for cardiovascular, diabetic, and neurological patients.
The impact of Dr. Sears’ revolutionary work in the dietary control of hormonal response began with the publication of his landmark book, The Zone. Since its publication in June 1995, The Zone has sold more than 2,000,000 hardcover copies, and became a #1 best seller on the New York Times book list. In addition, The Zone has been translated into 22 languages indicating a worldwide response to Dr. Sears’ research. His second book, Mastering the Zone, published in 1997, also became a New York Times bestseller with hardcover sales in excess of 500,000 copies to date. His third book, Zone Perfect Meals in Minutes, published in 1997, quickly became one of the best-selling cookbooks of 1997 and an another New York Times bestseller. The Anti-Aging Zone was published in 1999 and provides the molecular insights into how the Zone Diet can reverse the aging process. The Omega Rx Zone, published in 2002, explores the molecular foundation of chronic disease and how high-dose fish oil can dramatically reverse it. His latest book The Anti-Inflammation Zone discusses how to combat silent inflammation in order to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and many other inflammatory conditions—and how to reverse these conditions if they are already present. To date more than 5 million hardcover copies of his Zone books have been sold in the United States.
His research has elevated food from more than simply a source of calories to being recognized as an exceptionally powerful drug. Because of his revolutionary research, Dr. Sears has been a frequent guest on many national programs such as 20/20, Today, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, CNN, and MSNBC.
Dr. Sears continues his ongoing research as President of Zone Labs, a biotechnology company in Danvers, MA as well as the President of the non-profit Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. In addition to continuing research on the hormonal effects of food, Dr. Sears has expanded his research in developing innovative dietary approaches to treating cancer and neurological conditions, as well as his on-going work in treating cardiovascular diease and type 2 diabetes.
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I have been taking the Fish Oil for over 3 years now. I am 44 playing hockey and working out. The Fish oil helps with the pain that I get from playing hockey. It greatly enhances my performance on the ice and while working out. I have noticed a big difference in my energy, attentiveness and memory. If I miss a day for whatever reason, I notice a huge difference and it feels like something is missing. Anyway that is my short little story and it comes from the heart.
– Carter B.
I am a nutritionist and Ph.D. doctor of health and nutrition. For Dr. Sears to figure out balancing fat, carbs and protein, is really beyond brilliant. It is a milestone in diet history. I go over people's diet/emotional journals. Mostly all the time, we discover that the fatigue, irritability, unstable emotions were due to the imbalance in their diet. Using the Zone to balance them out, helps control weight, roller coaster emotions and gives them energy. Dr. Sears is so right when he says food is medicine. He has figured out the most powerful drug combination going, called The Zone.
Best and healthy wishes,
– Elaine W., Ph.D., N.C., M.A.
I have a very exhausting job as a flight attendant. I read the "Omega Rx Zone" about 4 years ago and started taking the fish oil. I am 47 and have been flying for 22 years. I am very active, I run and lift weights. But combining lack of regular sleep, a physically demanding job, and irregular eating patterns this job takes a toll on the body. Since taking the fish oil, I have noticed that I do not get exhausted. I get tired, but not exhausted. I stopped taking it for a couple of months and then started taking another company's fish oil. I started getting exhausted again. I came back to Zone Labs and will continue with the fish oil for the rest of my life. I believe in the product and it makes a huge difference in my life. It makes a difference with my running as well. I also bring the bars and shakes with me on the road. It is almost impossible to eat the way I should at work. I haven't found the right secret. At least I have my Zone fish oil, bars, and shakes.
– Kathryn S.
I have been in the Zone, for about 1 month now. I wanted to share with you how wonderful I think this program is. I have been a personal trainer for almost 10 years and actively compete in numerous athletic activities. The Zone program has helped me to achieve a better awareness of my nutritional needs and the results I have seen are amazing! I have lost nearly 13 lbs since I have been in the Zone. I feel more mentally alert, more focused at work, have greater intensity during my training, have made significant strength gains, and just feel better over all. With that said, I would like to thank you for helping me in my quest for "super-health"!
Thank you!
– Rob Y.
I read 'The Zone' and as exactly as I could followed the advice for diet. I noted weight loss progress. Over six months, I lost 33 pounds. One year has passed since then. I have maintained the new weight, guided always by Zone concepts. The Zone is powerful - I have found it fantastic and I am very grateful to Dr Sears.
– Lyn S.
Before I stumbled across the Zone I was weighing close to two hundred pounds and I was depressed. I used to be a gymnast as a young man. I would think, "look at me now," when I looked in a mirror. The day I found 'The Zone' book, I was intrigued and as I read it the science made sense and so, I began to follow the "treatment". I began to lose weight and I was feeling way more energetic. I am forty two years old, I am very active and my weight is down to 162 lbs, 38 pounds lost on the Zone. I cycle, walk, jog, swim and I can now perform some of the more simple gymnastic skills I did twenty years ago...I literally feel like I have turned back the clock.
Thank you!
– Jack J.
I have been on the Zone diet for 7 years. I did not go on the diet to lose weight necessarily; but fairly quickly I lost 25 pounds, going from 190 to 165; from a 36-inch waist to a 32-inch waist. I primarily did the Zone to live healthier. My health is excellent now. I just turned 62 years old. My Zone is my eating lifestyle now; I seldom stray; and I do not miss anything. It is The Good Life.
– Curtis Y.
My wife's doctor told her to read "Enter the Zone" and to do the diet, so I told her I would do it with her. After only one week on the plan we went on a strenuous hike (the first of the year), and when we stopped at our favorite coffee shop on the way home I was able to get out of the car and stand upright and walk into the place without pain or stiffness. The Zone had eliminated all the inflammation that had always forced me to stumble all humped over into the coffee shop any time we skied or hiked all day.
Thank you, Doctor Sears.
– Larry C.
I used to have a lot of knee pain when I walked or ran. I have been taking Omega Rx for almost a year now, and rarely have any pain. I believe it is the anti-inflammation action of the oil. I feel smarter as well. Thanks for developing such a superior oil!
– Joe W.
Prior to following the Zone Diet, my body fat was around 15% and my weight around 153 pounds. No matter what I did, my weight and body fat did not change much. I regularly cycled 20-30 hours per week logging well over 400 miles. That had little impact on body fat or weight. Diet also seemed to have little impact on body fat or weight. Within a couple of months of following the zone diet, my weight dropped rather quickly to 142 pounds and body fat to about 8%. I still regularly cycle up to 20 hours per week (during the summer). I have also started strength training. I eat about 16 blocks per day. I take 3.6 grams of fish oil per day, along with Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and B & C vitamins. I also take GLA, which in my opinion, has significantly reduced fatigue and improved recovery times after exercise.
– Jeremy S.
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All polyphenols have antioxidant properties than can be measured by their Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC), but not all polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties. The polyphenols in Dr. Sears’ Zone Polyphenol Plus have been carefully chosen to have both.
Polyphenols are the phytochemicals that not only give fruits and vegetables their color, but also help regulate inflammation. In addition, polyphenols also activate the key enzyme (AMP kinase) that helps restore cellular ATP levels. Polyphenols also help regulate the activation of inducible inflammatory proteins (such as COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines).
There are more than 4,000 known polyphenols, and the richest sources are fruits and vegetables. In general, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the richer the polyphenol content.
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Zone Labs’ Ultra Refined Omega-3 Concentrates are three times fresher and contain less than 1/10th the mercury than what is allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard
Zone Labs adheres to the International Fish Oil Standard (IFOS), an independent third party validated laboratory quality standard that is more rigid than any other global standard for purity.
- No company in the worlds runs more tests with IFOS than Zone Labs
- Zone Labs receives a 5 out of 5 star IFOS rating for every batch it tests
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| Standard |
IFOS Standard for a 5-Star Ranking |
Council for Responsible Nutrition |
European Pharmacopeia |
Norwegian Medicinal Standards |
| Peroxide |
< 3.75 meg/kg |
5 meg/kg |
10 meg/kg |
10 meg/kg |
| Totox Levels |
< 20 meg/kg |
26 meg/kg |
NA |
NA |
| Lead |
< 10 ppb |
10 ppb |
100 ppb |
100 ppb |
| Mercury |
< 10 ppb |
10 ppb |
100 ppb |
100 ppb |
| Dioxans and Furans |
< 1 ppt |
2 ppt |
2 ppt |
2 ppt |
| PCBs |
< 45 ppb |
90 ppb |
NA |
NA |
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"IFOS – THE TOP GLOBAL PURITY STANDARD FOR OMEGA-3 FROM FISH"
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Zone Labs products show no detectable lead or mercury when tested down to 10ppb, which is 10 times below the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard limits.
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Zone Labs products are three times fresher than the minimum allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standards (based on average peroxide values).
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Zone Labs starts with only wild, small fish from pristine Chilean waters and ends with proprietary validation and testing processes to achieve an IFOS certified 5 star rating.
8-Step Manufacturing Process - Quality Assured
Testing to specification all raw materials, bulk products, packaging material and finished products – always using stringent internal standards and in-process testing.
- Extraction of fish oil
- Winterization – remove limited amounts of saturated fats
- Absorption – remove heavy metals
- Preliminary Molecular Distillation – refining “touch up” to reduce contaminants
- Oil conversion to ethyl esters
- Ethyl ester thermal fractionation – remove additional saturated fats
- True Molecular Distillation – final refining to remove pcb’s and long-chain monoenes
- Rigid Processes – proprietary validation, inspection and encapsulation methods. Independent lab verification of IFOS requirements and certified 5 star rating
No farmed fish. No large fish. Pristine waters.
Zone Labs starts with wild sardines & anchovies fished from cold, pristine waters off of South America where there are less environmental impurities.
A recommended serving of Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Concentrates delivers 8 times more omega-3’s than a typical retail fish oil supplement.
Most fish oil supplements have 30% or less of the healthy omega-3s EPA and DHA, with the remaining 70% of the capsule containing unbeneficial, lesser refined fatty acids that contribute to their bad taste and gastric side effects.
Getting a clinically valid dose of omega-3’s is easy with Zone Labs’ Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates.
Typical Retail Dose = 300mg omega-3
Standard Zone Dose = 2400mg omega-3
A serving of canned tuna has 12 times less omega-3’s than
Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates
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Commonly consumed fish and shellfish in the United States
Mercury Source: Food and Drug Administration, FDA 1900-2004, “National Marine Fisheries Service Survey of Trace Elements in the Fishery Resource". Omega-3 Level Source: American Heart Association Website.
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Mercury level
in parts per million (ppm) |
Omega-3 fatty acids
(milligrams per 3-oz. serving) |
| Zone Omega-3 Products |
< 0.01 |
2400 (standard 4 capsule serving |
| Salmon (fresh, frozen) |
0.014 |
1200 |
| Flounder or sole |
0.050 |
480 |
| Pollock |
0.041 |
450 |
| Crab |
0.060 |
400 |
| Scallops |
0.050 |
290 |
| Shrimp |
ND* |
290 |
| Catfish |
0.050 |
270 |
| Clams |
ND* |
250 |
| Cod |
0.095 |
210 |
| Canned Tuna (light) |
0.120 |
200 |
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Zone Labs’ leading product. OmegaRx delivers all of the benefits of Zone Labs’ ultra-refined omega-3 concentrates.
Advantages
- Delivers clinically proven health benefits from the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA*
- Promotes a healthy heart, healthy brain, healthy immune system, healthy circulatory system, healthy joints, healthy moods, healthy triglyceride levels and a healthy pregnancy*
- Combats silent inflammation
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