Can you get zone bars and shakes anyplace other than the zone website?

No. To get the "real thing", you would have to order online.

Ok......thanks

Just getting back into the zone...After years of abuse and stupidity, I was diagnosed with type 2 this week. I noticed when looking at the zone bar ingredients that they do not list Omega 3 any more!

Is it true? Did they stop adding omega 3 to the zone bars?

I was last in the zone back in 98 and have been forced to return. It works plain and simple.

David, you may want to check ZoneLabs, but I believe that is true. I believe that they removed it to improve the taste. Also, the amount was not significant enough to really make a difference. Perhaps this is also a cost-saving technique.

Welcome back David! No time like the present to get back into the Zone!

Wit until you try the newest bars! Absolutely delicious!

Thank you all for the quick reply,

I have tried the new bars and they are awesome. I am wondering why the selection on the official site is so limited.

I am already feeling the results after 2 days. I was in the hospital for 3 days due to chest pain and "weird" blood sugar related symptoms. I was clueless and probably have had Type 2 for a few months. It all came crashing down this week.

I remembered how healthy and awesome I felt back before my son was born back in 1998. I was a zoner since Dr. Sears first book came out. When the cardio came back negative and they told me I had Diabetes..I imediatlely knew what I had to do.....Get back into the zone.

The "nutritionist" :confused:That consulted with me upon my diagnosis disappointed me...they mixed my diet requirements up.....I stopped eating the crap the hospital was feeding me (one ceral/muffin/oj beakfast they served spiked my blood sugar to 320)
My wife began to smuggle my 4 block meals to me. :satisfied:

My goal now is to get off the meds. (metformin/BP/Statin). Lucky for me, I know how....The Zone:)

Hi David!

Sorry you had to go through all that, but good that your symptoms were not cardio in origin.

The bars on this site are the only Dr Sears Zone Bars that exist. Barry Sears and Zone Perfect went their separate ways around the time you exited the Zone in the late 1990's. Barry Sears is not affiliated with Zone Perfect and he does not endorse their products. ZP no longer carries the bars that Barry Sears developed. Their's are not the ones Barry Sears has tested on diabetics, and not the ones he has patented.

Sounds like you have a good plan!

OMG!...Thanks for the info Sue

No wonder...I got some ZP bluebery things from publix. I did not pay close enough attention. I was kinda wondering about the corn syrup and other crap I do not remember being in the original Zone bars.

I wonder how many people are affected by this confusion. The zp bars taste good and did not seem to drastically hurt me...I just feel better knowing I have the real thing.

Thanks again

You're welcome David!

Yes, lots of people don't seem to be aware of the difference, so spread the word!

More info on that. If you go to the ZP web site, you'll see ethy are owned by Abbott and the dietary info they now promote isn't the Zone Diet.

Here's some additional interesting info. Information I read about the newest Dr. Sears Bars, those with the crunches in them, explained that they were made possible with the development of a pure fructose syrup that is used as a binding agent. As I understand, previously there were no binding agents that would allow for the controlled release of nutrition that sets Dr. Sears Zone bars apart from other bars. As you know, it's not simply only about how the numbers of P, C and F grams in a bar add up. In addition to those proportions, its the quality of the ingredients and the hormonal response they offer that will make or break the bar.

Oh, another good topic!

I would advise people NOT to be fooled by the "real" zone bars, either. If you really read the nutrition label for the ingredients, there are some things on there that are NOT zone-healthy.

Now, not to say that they aren't balanced, but eating these bars on a regular basis is probably not really the best way to stay in the Zone. For an emergency, any of the "balanced" bars will do, or will be better than going completely out of the Zone.

Rather, if you read what SEARS intended for people to eat on the Zone nutrition plan, I see "lowfat protein", zone-favorable veggies and fruits" and "a dash of mono-unsaturated fat". The bars were created for convenience, but I highly doubt that Sears intended for people to consume them on a daily basis in order to stay in the Zone.

Dr. Sears Zone bars were not only created for convenience sake, but more importantly to provide an excellent means for maintaining hormonal control within the parameters of the Zone. They have been tested on diabetics with excellent results. Dr Sears holds patents on his state of the art nutritional products. One need not hesitate to rely on them on a daily basis. In fact one of the Zone ads promotes getting into the Zone by eating two of your meals a day from Zone bars and shakes. My whole family has been eating them daily for years with excellent results. We're also fans of Zone Cereal and Zone Pasta

That is nice that you shared that information with us, Sue!

I would regard a zone bar as a nutritional replacement for a candy bar.

There is a "line" that I feel should be drawn, when it comes to the Zone.

The line falls between the "real" zone that Sears wrote about in his books, and then there is the "business" zone that keeps the zone going on and on.

The "real" zone is the place where I feel Dr. Sears had intended for us to be. Living our lives eating just the things that Elias mentioned.

The "business" zone is composed of the products that make it attractive to people who would otherwise not give the zone a second look. For instance, the Zone pasta (refer to the pasta thread for more info on it), the bars and shakes, and the cereal. If one really LOOKS at the labels of these products, I think the eyes would widen.

Am I going to swear off of these products? Of course not. But, I think it is reasonable to approach the use of these products as things to be used in moderation.

Besides all of that, I would go broke if I were spending my money on all of these products all the time!

I don't think the use of zone bars and shakes are an indicator for the level of commitment to the zone. Many people live lives that are highly variable and low on time. The bars and shakes provide an extremely quick and convenient passport for 3 to 4 hours of the zone. The also provide additional enjoyment since that taste so dang good.

Dr Sears has been very honest about his products. I've yet to every read or hear of him explicitly pushing any of the 'supplements' other that Sea Health Plus. My guess is that he realizes that while they might make a small difference to the end-goal, they are certainly not the place to start.

There is also the issue of environmental sustainability. Something I wish Dr. Sears would weigh in on. He lightly touched on it in his soy zone book. Presumably these products could be used to replace some of the animal proteins that are likely consumed by an individual to stay in the zone. I for one don't feel it makes sense to sacrifice my own health in an effort to consume less energy. These products alleviate some of the pressure to make that choice.

As for the zone pasta, I wonder how many of the critics have tried it? If you did, was the meal not satisfying? Were you hungry too soon? I love the stuff. It may not be as ideal as blueberries + broccoli + salmon but it has certainly eased some of the tension between my wife and I! She now gets to cook her pasta dishes and I now don't have to consume something that i don't particularly enjoy and that doesn't make me feel particularly good.

thatsalligot.

Chris,
Thanks for weighing in!

As for environmental sustainability, I think that there are lots of other choices that can be made without eating animal products for protein. I have never read the Soy Zone, but I am sure that you are correct in that this is probably touched on. Besides, if you look at a wrapper, isn't one of the proteins a whey-based protein? Whey comes from dairy.

I have not tried Zone pasta, nor will I put my money into that product. The ingredients are exactly the same as the ingredients in store-bought pasta, except that it has less carb and it has protein added. If you want to save a ton of money for your wife, you can just portion out the pasta, so that you have the right # of blocks of carb. Personally, regular pasta is much more flexible to eat with, because you are not limited as far as what toppings you can add to it. With Zone pasta, there is much less "wiggle-room" for adding things to it.

I will admit, the zone products ARE very convenient, and for those who are not able to find the time to come up with their own meals, then hopefully they can find themselves in the Zone. However, a zone meal should last 4-6 hours, and I don't think that 3-4 hours' lack of hunger is an indication of an adequate zone meal. I know how busy my life is. I am a mother of 3 children, ages 5-8-11, plus I work a full-time job. I still find time to make up my own breakfasts and other meals, without having to be dependent on the bars and shakes.

This is not to say that I haven't used the bars. I do try to keep them on hand for life's emergencies. A snack that was forgotten... or a day that just presents itself as too difficult to deal with fixing lunch. But, these events are "emergencies" and not every day life. Events that save me from using the vending machine, or eating something that I should not!

[quote]Posted By Cranberrycat on 08/18/2008 10:40 AM


I will admit, the zone products ARE very convenient, and for those who are not able to find the time to come up with their own meals, then hopefully they can find themselves in the Zone. However, a zone meal should last 4-6 hours, and I don't think that 3-4 hours' lack of hunger is an indication of an adequate zone meal.


[/quote]

4 hours without hunger is the very basis Barry Sears uses to determine that a Zone meal is hormonally correct!

The importance of the 4 hour hunger free time frame is explained in detail in every Zone book.

----------------------------------



For those readers who might be unfamiliar with Dr. Sears Zone products, the packaging of a Dr. Sears Zone bar states "3 Hours of Satisfaction" in regard to hunger control provided by "Controlled Release Nutrition". That's 3 hours for 1 bar because 1 bar contains 2 blocks. If you use Dr. Sears Zone bars for a meal you eat 1.5 bars (3 blocks) or 2 bars (4 blocks), and you get 4 to 6 hours hunger free.

The packaging of a Dr. Sears Zone shake mix (each shake makes 3 or 4 blocks, depending upon whether it's mixed with 1 or 2 cups of milk) states that it provides "4 Hours of Satisfaction", that's 4 hours without hunger. For more details click on the PRODUCTS tab.

To read about Zone Labs' mission click on "ABOUT ZONE LABS" at the bottom of thie page. Here's the address for that page: http://www.zonediet.com/AboutZoneLa...fault.aspx

Sue, thanks for all the info about the bars and shakes. I find that when I use them as meal replacements, I feel squarely in the Zone - unlike the way I feel when I consume a candy bar. Glad to know you use them regularly. I think I'll include them in my diet a bit more now. I placed my second order today, and look forward to getting them.

About how long does it take to receive an order? If I ordered today, any chance I'd have it by Thursday? I'm in the Midwest.

You're welcome Cici!

Dr. Sears Zone bars and shakes, as well as Zone Cereal and Zone Pasta, work great for me too, and I'm one of the more carb sensitive people. I go for hours and never become hungry with them, and my most recent fasting insulin blood test (June 2008) was excellent, as it's been for many years, at a reading of 3.

Hi Shari,

I'm in the Northeast, so I don't know how long it takes for the Midwest. If it helps, my orders arrive 1 or 2 days after the day they ship.

Well, just for the record, I have never had a zone bar or shake (or even the cereal) sustain me for the same amout of time that an equivalent meal would. AND, my last fasting insulin was 4.7.

Hi Cran!


My insulin level demonstrates that one can maintain excellent insulin levels while frequently eating these products, contrary to your hinting at earlier that those who eat them may be compromising their ability to be in the Zone (re your comment "hopefully they can find themselves in the Zone"). I have many friends and family members, who eat Dr. Sears Zone foods on a frequent basis and enjoy results similar to mine.

There could be a number of reasons why your ability to achieve longevity with meals and snacks differs from those of others.

Keep at it and you'll reach your goals!

My best to you!

[quote]Posted By Sue on 08/19/2008 11:57 AM
There could be a number of reasons why your ability to achieve longevity with meals and snacks differs from those of others. quote]

Sue,
Same thing goes for your experience and that of your family. Your individual experience with maintaining good insulin levels while eating these products is just that--individual.

As they say, "individual results may vary".

Hi Cran!

Though you may choose to view the experience of my family and friends as individual responses that don't represent the usual, I don't think that Zone Labs' test results on the products can be as easily dismissed.

[quote]Posted By Sue on 08/19/2008 5:12 PM

Hi Cran!

Though you may choose to view the experience of my family and friends as individual responses that don't represent the usual, I don't think that Zone Labs' test results on the products can be as easily dismissed.

[/quote]

Sue,
Do you think you could do me a favor? Plesae direct me to the research literature that publishes the test results that were done on the Zone products. Perhaps, if I can just read it for myself, I may be more convinced.

Unfortunately, I have never seen an actual study done on Zone Lab's products. So, if Zone Labs claims that they have tested this stuff out, I think that there should be some research articles available.

So, if you wouldn't mind, I am sure you must be aware of where this can be found. I think that this information would benefit most anyone here!

Thank you, in advance!

It would be most appropriate to submit your request to Zone Labs.

Have a good day in the Zone!

Sue,

One thing that I have learned over the years, is that I don't necessarily "trust" all of the claims that are made on the labeling of products.

Not to pick on Zone Labs, but in general, many products will "claim" to do one thing or another, stating that they have studies to prove it.

Well, WHERE are the studies, and THEN, who did the studies (who paid for the funding makes a HUGE difference), how many people were tested, etc.

Perhaps I will do that, ask Zone Labs to cite the text of the research that they did on the bars and shakes. However, I am not sure how that would benefit me, since I am really not interested in finding a substitute for real food.

Sue, not that I am picking on you or anything, but it sounds to me as if you are "pushing" the products a lot!

Makes me wonder if you have anything to gain from that?

I have heard of the "affiliate program", and if someone buys a product that you have recommended, then you get some sort of "credit" for that, which will reduce the amount of your own zone purchase.

[quote]Posted By Elias on 08/20/2008 10:01 PM

Sue, not that I am picking on you or anything, but it sounds to me as if you are "pushing" the products a lot!

Makes me wonder if you have anything to gain from that?

I have heard of the "affiliate program", and if someone buys a product that you have recommended, then you get some sort of "credit" for that, which will reduce the amount of your own zone purchase. [/quote]

I have nothing to gain from my posts here in the Zone forums other than the good feelings that come from helping others and being part of a friendly online community. I do not receive financial awards in regard to purchases made by members of these forums. I have been posting here in similar fashion since long before there was an affiliate program.

Have a great day!

It sounds like the zone bars have really worked for you, Sue. And with my lifestyle I will be more dependent on those bars on a daily basis. Which ones are your favorite? Are they all about equal as far as nutritional value? I am talking about just the actual Zone bars not any other brands.

Hi Kimberly!

Yes, Dr Sears Zone bars work very well for my whole family. They are all 2 blocks each. I also just posted some info in the otherthread where you asked about them.

My favorites, hard to pick! Theye' all so good! The ones I like best are Cocoa Crisp, Sweet & Salty Nut Crunch, Iced Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Fudge and Chocolate Raspberry.

Let us know how you like them!

Kimberly,
As far as the taste of the bars go, I think they are awesome!

I have always enjoyed the roasted peanut, but I also really like the Iced Oatmeal Raisin.

I am not a big fan of anything that is fruit flavored, so I don't think I would enjoy the raspberry. But, I think I might give the apple a try.

Unfortunately, they just do not work as well for me as far as glycemic response. So, I don't rely on them for meals. I guess I feel better about making the bars a nice "alternative", and focus on getting my meals from foods that are not highly processed. Working full time and taking care of the family, this isn't always easy, but it can be done!

Dear Sue,

The only raspberry that I will eat is an entire raspberry (as in the berry, itself).

I do not prefer fruit flavors, artificial or natural. Based on what you posted, that would still not turn me on to the bars.

Thanks for the replies. I will order some. I just wish there was a way to order or buy other than being online. Raspberry flavors aren't really my thing either. I will definitely try the other flavors though.

You're welcome Kimberly!

[quote]Posted By Kimberly on 08/23/2008 1:34 PM

I just wish there was a way to order or buy other than being online. quote]

You can order from a Zone representative by phone 24/7 by calling the number at the top of this page.

Enjoy them!

Kimberly, I agree. It would be nice to just go to the store and pick some up, rather than having to order a shipment. They are expensive enough, and then you get those shipment charges, too!

I ordered the OmegaRX and some protein bars. I was surprised at the shipping charges. Does anyone use the automatic shipment?

I do the auto ship. The big disadvantage is that if you want to cancel, you have to call in to cancel the order. But, if it is something that you would order frequently, then the autoship makes sense.

[quote]Posted By Sue on 08/21/2008 8:20 AM


I have nothing to gain from my posts here in the Zone forums other than the good feelings that come from helping others and being part of a friendly online community. I do not receive financial awards in regard to purchases made by members of these forums. I have been posting here in similar fashion since long before there was an affiliate program.

Have a great day!

[/quote]

Sue, I wasn't speaking of your posts, in general. I was speaking about the way that you promote the products. There are plenty of natural foods that can be consumed. I thought I had you pegged for someone who cares about the where their food is coming from. I can see where you would want to push the fish oil and all, but I don't understand why your focus is so heavily on bars and shakes, when the Zone was really created using whole foods (as opposed to highly processed foods)?

Hi Everyone!

Have a look at my meals (the photo album of my meals and snacks). Most all the food I eat is organic.

Sue:
So, why aren't "all" of your meals organic?

Most people who have embraced the organic movement take it as an "all-or-none" venture.

Do you know if the website is the only place that you can buy Zone products?

Hi Denise,

The info that arrives with my Zone orders explains that Dr. Sears Zone products can be ordered from this site, ordered from the Zone call center (number above), ordered at your local MediZone Center (not available in all states) or ordered from your doctor or other health care professional if they happen to be in the Zone program.

I have seen the bars for sale at Trader Joes -sold individually or by the box and much cheaper than on-line i.e. half the price.

Those in Trader Joe's aren't Dr. Sears Zone bars.

I'm new to the boards, not new to the Zone. Frankly, I'm shocked at the price Sears is charging for the bars. That is crazy and totally unafforable for many, I would think.

Becky, I agree, they are expensive. But, if you break it down to a price per bar, they are not much more than some that you buy individually at the store.

However, I am with you on this, the cost of some of the Zone products may make it very difficult for many people to consider. In fact, I am a bit "selfish" with the products that I order. I don't allow my DH to eat my bars, because up until now, he hasn't really embraced the Zone. So, eating a bar for him is not doing him any good, if he doesn't eat in the Zone for the rest of the day.

But, this may be changing soon!

Well, adding S&H plus tax makes them ridiculous, really. No wonder people are going for the Zone Perfect ones.

Well, I can't disagree with you on that!

That is also a big reason why I would not even consider purchasing other zone products. I stick with the fish oil, though.

I think that paying about $3 for a zone balanced 3 block meal is not bad all. When you factor in the cutting edge nutrition technology used in Dr. Sears bars, I'd say they're a bargain!

Sue, how do you figure that?

I did a little math, and if you figure that a box of bars is $35 + $10 for shipping, that comes out to about $5 per "3 block meal" or over $6.00 for a "4 block meal". Even if you choose autoship, it is still $4 for a "3 block meal".

I think I can get real food meals less expensive than that! And, then I can be satisfied that I am not eating another processed food. Whole foods are always a superior choice to a bar.

Autoship prices Cran. It's $2.05 per bar and it's much less than $10 shipping. At about $1 a block, if an average female were to eat only Dr. Sears Zone bars for every meal and snack (I'm not recommending that) it would cost $80 a week. They're superior products and the price is a huge bargain for what you're getting. Whole food is not always a superior choice to a Dr. Sears Zone bar. It would depend highly upon the food choices.

Sue,

I figured autoship prices, please re-read my post.

BTW, I can feed myself real food from the grocery store on $80 per week.

Perhaps shipping is of no concern to you, but to ship bars 1/2 way across the country is at least $10, according to my invoices.

Perhaps you are getting the employee discount?

how cancel my buy by credit card? si me pueden contestar en español, mucho mejor

Laura, call a Zone representative for help with that.

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Sue on 01/10/2009 9:16 AM

Autoship prices Cran. It's $2.05 per bar and it's much less than $10 shipping. At about $1 a block, if an average female were to eat only Dr. Sears Zone bars for every meal and snack (I'm not recommending that) it would cost $80 a week. They're superior products and the price is a huge bargain for what you're getting. Whole food is not always a superior choice to a Dr. Sears Zone bar. It would depend highly upon the food choices.
</div>


Sue - I'm just curious. When you read the list of ingredients on the Zone bars here, the real ones, they list a total of 24-25 grams of carb, only 2-3 grams of fiber and 14-18 grams of sugar. How do you figure getting more than half of your carb from some form of sugar as being superior to whole food? This is an honest question. After I read the label I was shocked that this would be promoted in this way. They include Fructose (fruit sugar), sugar, barley malt (sugar from barley), honey, fructosaccarides and maltodextrin. After all of that, they also list Sucralose which is Splenda and I believe that Dr Sears is against artifical sweeteners? or do I have that wrong?

I'm not trying to pick on you hear, I'm just really very curious, because I truly don't understand this.

Interesting thread.

I have wondered the same thing about bars. It would be nice to have a bar for convenience, but I have some questions about the ingredients. And, seems to be a lot of variance in opinion regarding bars!

My take on it is to use bars sparingly. I am an experience zoner, although I am new to the forums. Of all the books that I have read, Dr. Sears does not write about staying in the Zone eating bars and drinking shakes all day. He advocates using whole foods.

I hope I don't come off sounding too opinionated, but I don't see how the zone bar (the real thing) can be as good as whole food?

Sue, from the short time I have been on here, I have been reading a lot of your posts, and you seem to be the expert here, so can you fill us in as to why zone bars are equal to food, even when the label doesn't quite show it that way?

jaybe, I'm not sure what you mean by "equal to food". I haven't heard of Dr. Sears or anyone else advising to eat bars and shakes all day. You could try asking that question on LIVE ZONE CHAT (top right of this page).

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Sue on 08/19/2008 11:57 AM

My insulin level demonstrates that one can maintain excellent insulin levels while frequently eating these products, contrary to your hinting at earlier that those who eat them may be compromising their ability to be in the Zone (re your comment "hopefully they can find themselves in the Zone"). I have many friends and family members, who eat Dr. Sears Zone foods on a frequent basis and enjoy results similar to mine.
</div>

Sue, I think it was this post (this thread is so long), along with the post by the other sue, which gave me the feeling that your message about bars was that they were "equal to" or even superior to food.

Also, as a long time zoner, I think I remember some years back when Zone Labs was promoting a "starter kit" of sorts, the package included a supply of bars and shakes. The intention was that the beginning zoner would eat bars and shakes in place of most meals, and then eat one "regular" meal at some point during the day.

Of course, I don't see this promotion around anymore, which is probably a good thing.

I don't think I will submit my question, because I would think their intention would be to sell me on the bars. It is just very curious to me, as the other sue pointed out, how you these bars can be any better, when a good portion of the carbs are coming from sugar?

Oh, Sue K! Sorry to be such a pest, but you are probably very busy with other things, you probably missed my post here!

I know you recommended contacting zone labs, but I am not really interested in THEIR opinion. I want to know how "true to the core" zoners really can rationalize using the Zone bars?

In case you have lost track of what the other sue posted, here it is--

Sue - I'm just curious. When you read the list of ingredients on the Zone bars here, the real ones, they list a total of 24-25 grams of carb, only 2-3 grams of fiber and 14-18 grams of sugar. How do you figure getting more than half of your carb from some form of sugar as being superior to whole food? This is an honest question. After I read the label I was shocked that this would be promoted in this way. They include Fructose (fruit sugar), sugar, barley malt (sugar from barley), honey, fructosaccarides and maltodextrin. After all of that, they also list Sucralose which is Splenda and I believe that Dr Sears is against artifical sweeteners? or do I have that wrong?

Wanted to make a quick note here. I seached fructosaccarides and found that it too is a fake sweetener.

sue, is that a bar ingredient?

yes CC that is one of the ingredients listed in the bars. Go to products, select a couple of the different bars and read the ingredient list.

Oh, I see you listed it in your prior post, too.

I just don't get it... if Barry recommends against this stuff, then why is it in his bars?

Hi Zoners!

Try not to make the mistake of not seeing the forest for the trees. The Zone is about insulin control and inflammation lowering; everything in moderation. Barry Sears has developed exceptional products to that end. Kudos to Barry Sears for giving those who want it the option of convenience foods made of superior ingredients that allow people stay in the Zone!

Also keep in mind that US labeling practices dictate how ingredients are categorized and appear on food labels. I don't know if this applies to the specific ingredient(s) that are of concern to those posting in this thread, but many times there is one all encompassing generic name designated as the one to be listed on the label, when in fact the actual ingredient could be one on a list of a dozen ingredients, all which are different from one another but fall under that single general heading (occurs with some sweeteners).

Some more info:

http://www.zonediet.com/tabid/130/i...ology.aspx

"New Zone Bar flavors feature new technology
Dr. Sears has developed four new Zone Bar flavors based on his Controlled Release Nutrition™ technology to stabilize blood sugar and to control hunger throughout the day.
What makes these bars unique is the newest technology that is incorporated in them. All of these bars use only pure fructose syrup as a binding agent. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, which has been the only binding agent available in the past, this new technology gives rise to a much lower glycemic load. What this means to you is greater satiation and more sustained freedom from hunger.
In addition, two of the bars use a totally new crisp technology that dramatically improves blood glucose stabilization. Before the development of this technology, Dr. Sears was not going to associate his name with the markedly inferior blood glucose response of traditional crisps used in standard bars. You are not going to find these new technology developments in standard mass-market bars because it is too costly. However, at Zone Labs our mission is to provide the state-of-art nutrition products to help you stay in the Zone. This is Dr. Sears’ guarantee to you. These new bars will demonstrate that sophisticated nutrient delivery and great taste can go together."

Again, I just don't get it... I don't see how the ingredients list shows "superior ingredients"?

Zoners- I understand about labeling, however, whether or not it is the "exact" ingredient, the fact still remains that more than 50% of the carbs in the bars comes from some type of sugar(sweetner) and it also includes 2 fake sweetners that have no history to know whether or not they will be found to cause problems in the future. I just don't get that.

I realize they are convenience foods for some, but that doesn't necessarily make them a healthy choice. I know the zone is about insulin control, but Barry does state very clearly how he feels about the use of sugar and fake sweeteners Considering the contents of the bars, I could take a 1/2 slice of bread (homemade oat), or some baby carrots, or cut up bell pepper and a portable protein, like low fat string cheese or pouch tuna and a couple of almonds and have something that contained less sweetener than the bar.

It's not hard to make up small baggies once a week and have them ready at a moments notice to throw in your bag.

I guess the hardest part for me to swallow is the amount of sugar/sweetener that is used in the bars. It explains to me at least, why some don't get the desired response from them and therefore can't use them at all. I know I'm personally sensitive to where my carb comes from, balanced or not. There are things I can do and things I can't. Different fruits cause different reactions. For me whole wheat bread (homemade) works better than grapes, but for you it may just be the opposite. That doesn't mean I make a meal out of whole wheat bread. I still keep it to 1/4 of my carb, if I have it at all, which is rare these days.

I also can eat mellons without a problem and they work better than berries for me. Shouldn't be do to the glycemic index, but for me it is.

I realize everyone is very different, but I just don't understand the use of that much sugar(sweetener).

I was thinking, as I was reading sue's post, about the studies that were done on the Zone bars. I have never been directed to the actual study, the literature, that supports the claims that these bars were tested on diabetics. Needless to say, I am not suggesting that the studies weren't done. But, the studies were done years ago when the bars had a different formulation, and when there was Omega-3 fatty acids added to the bar. Are there any recent studies done that show that these bars are effective?

And, it does also concern me about this being a highy processed food with ingredients that no one can even pronounce. Those ingredients don't grow on trees, in gardens, or come directly from an animal, without a high degree of processing.

I would consider a bar as a convenience food if it is something that comes from ingredients that we are all familiar with.

For instance, there is a bar (I forget the brand name) that is made of only 3 ingredients: ground almonds, whey, and honey. It is too bad that this bar is unbalanced and unfavorable, but this is what I am talking about. Nothing on the label that is unfamiliar, and no preservatives.

actually there is a bar....called "organic food bar" that may be the one youre thinking of, CC, but if you choose the flavor called "protein", it is balanced!!!! I ate a few of them, but got bored with them. They are ok, but since they are so natural and all.....they aren't as exciting as some, but maybe I just burned out on them.

Barry, if you are listening: buck the FDA and go with stevia, the all natural sweetener! We love it!

Another side of the coin, I'm not a fan of stevia because it leaves a very unlpeasant after taste when I eat it. I've heard many others who've had the same experience, so I doubt it's unique to me. I see it simply as a matter of personal choice.

Janet, Not sure if that is the one or not. Seems as if there was one that I had tried with a different name to it.

I think one of the issues regarding bars is that they generally need something sugary to get it all to stick together.

And, I agree, the issue is pretty much a personal choice as to what one desires to put in their mouth. There is not enough literature to support the safety of utilizing the processed ingredients, and I certainly don't want to be raising my risk of developing some form of cancer.

Hi Zoners,

http://www.zonediet.com/tabid/130/i...ology.aspx

"New Zone Bar flavors feature new technology
Dr. Sears has developed four new Zone Bar flavors based on his Controlled Release Nutrition™ technology to stabilize blood sugar and to control hunger throughout the day.
What makes these bars unique is the newest technology that is incorporated in them. All of these bars use only pure fructose syrup as a binding agent. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, which has been the only binding agent available in the past, this new technology gives rise to a much lower glycemic load. What this means to you is greater satiation and more sustained freedom from hunger.
In addition, two of the bars use a totally new crisp technology that dramatically improves blood glucose stabilization. Before the development of this technology, Dr. Sears was not going to associate his name with the markedly inferior blood glucose response of traditional crisps used in standard bars. You are not going to find these new technology developments in standard mass-market bars because it is too costly. However, at Zone Labs our mission is to provide the state-of-art nutrition products to help you stay in the Zone. This is Dr. Sears’ guarantee to you. These new bars will demonstrate that sophisticated nutrient delivery and great taste can go together."

Ok, that is the info from the brochure, below is the nutrition panel from the Apple Cinnamon Bars as found here on the site.

Nutrition Facts / Ingredients
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 bar (56g)
Servings Per Container: 14
Amount
Per Serving % Daily
Value*
Total Calories 220
Calories From Fat 70
Total Fat 8 g 12%
Saturated Fat 2 g 10%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 310 mg 13%
Potassium 210 mg 6%
Total Carbohydrates 24 g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5 g 20%
Sugars 13 g
Protein 16 g 29%
Vitamin A 15%
Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 15%
Iron 15%
Vitamin E 15%
Thiamin 15%
Riboflavin 15%
Niacin 15%
Vitamin B6 15%
Folate 15%
Vitamin B12 15%
Biotin 15%
Pantothenic Acid 15%
Iodine 15%
Zinc 15%
Copper 15%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
Calories: 2,000 2,500
Total Fat Less Than 65g 80g
Saturated Fat Less Than 20g 25g
Cholesterol Less Than 300mg 300mg
Sodium Less Than 2,400mg 2,400mg
Potassium 3,500mg 3,500mg
Total Carbohydrate 300g 375g
Dietary Fiber 25g 30g
Calories per gram:
Fat 9 Carbohydrate 4 Protein 4
Ingredients: Non-GMO soy protein isolate, fructose, rolled oats, apple juice concentrate, almonds, water, ground almonds, wheat gluten, inulin, whey protein isolate, high oleic safflower oil, fructooligosaccharides, rolled whole wheat, sugar, fractionated palm kernel oil, casein, calcium caseinate, nonfat milk, natural and artificial flavor, salt, calcium carbonate, cinnamon, soy lecithin, caramel added for color, maltodextrin, nonfat yogurt powder (cultured nonfat milk), dextrose, high oleic sunflower oil, guar gum, barley malt extract, sucralose, ascorbic acid, ferric orthophosphate, tocopherols added to protect flavor, alpha-tocopherol acetate, soybean oil, niacinamde, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin B12.
ALLERGY ALERT: CONTAINS MILK, SOYBEAN, ALMONDS, WHEAT. PRODUCED ON EQUIPMENT THAT ALSO PROCESSES PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, EGG, SESAME.

Dr. Sear’ Zone Bars can help support your healthy blood sugar. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meats and 1½ carbohydrates.

This one actually has a tad bit more fiber. Each bar is a little different, but as you can see, there are plenty of versions of sweetner here other than fructose. It also surprised me that this bar not only contains fake sugar (spenda (sucralose) and fructoligosaccarides, but also safflower, sunflower oils,and soybean oil which if I remember correctly are high in Omega 6.

I will give the bars credit for including vitamins.

If you read the info about the new technology, it states that fructose is used as a binding agent, that doesn't mean it only includes fructose as a sweetner.

I'm still baffled by some of the ingredients and the amount of sweetner that is used as the carbs. Just my quandry