Any zone neighbors live in Southeastern MA or Providence, RI area? katie

Hi Katie..
I live in the Providence area..
I tried the Zone diet about 6 years ago a lost about 11 pounds in 3 weeks and felt great...I then had a binge during my sister-in-laws birthday and never got back into it.<img src='desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/sad.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Sad' align='absmiddle'> I whole heartedly believe in it...esp. the science behind it (eicosanoids) and am desperate to feel better again. I have an annoying automimmune condition so it is that much more important that I get back into this diet.

Enough about me...how about you? I hope to hear back from you
Hope your Thnaksgiving was wonderful.
~DD

Hi katie and DD!

I'm a kinda sorta neighbor, east of Hartford. You'll find lots of Zone favorable foods in S&S, especially Nature's Promise brand (poultry, spaghetti sauces, dairy etc.).

Hey ..we are the New Englanders!<img src='desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/smile.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Smile' align='absmiddle'> Yes I have noticed Natures Promise in S & S..and they just put up a store about 1.1 miles away from my house...so I really don't have any excuse not to have the ingredients Zone Diet on hand.
~DD

Hi!

Only a mile away...you can walk to the store for exericse! (just kidding)

For a quick dinner tonight I browned some Nature's Promise ground turkey and mixed it with Nature's Promise spaghetti sauce, and little Zone pasta and Zone organic olive oil.

Just a quick little tip on zone pasta... don't forget that it is an unfavorable carb. But, perhaps it won't be too bad for you, since you are only using a little.

Hi Cranberrycat...
This is what confuses me..why is the pasta promoted as a Zone product if it is considered unfavorable? Hmmm...I would assume that it's b/c it is better than traditional pasta?

Sorry if this is a no-brainer but I was just curious.

Thanks
~DD

Hi DD!

It is better than regular pasta because it contains both protein and carb in Zone balanced proportions. In addition, the protein doesn't seem to leach out into the cooking water as happens with many other pastas that contain added protein (the water's not cloudy when it's finished cooking). Zone Pasta also has a very nice texture when cooked. I consider it to be an outstanding product.

DD,
Actually, I must disagree with Sue on that point. The Zone pasta is NO BETTER than regular pasta. The carb in the pasta is duram seminola wheat, which is the same ingredient in traditional pasta. The only thing that sets this pasta apart is the added protein, and that the protein/carb is zone balanced.

First, Zone-balanced is not always zone-favorable. You can balance a 3 block portion of a Hershey bar with a 3 block protein and 3 block fat and call it "balanced". But, very few of us would actually stay in the Zone having that for a meal!

Second, I feel that the added protein actually causes the Zone pasta to lose it's flexibility because I would rather enjoy a meaty tomato sauce with my pasta, if I am going to eat pasta (which I generally do not anymore). If my pasta already has protein, then it becomes difficult to add a meaty sauce to this.

I had questioned the "favorability" of this pasta a few months back, and I got an email back from Dave Shreck regarding this. He told me in his reply that the pasta would be considered an unfavorable carb.

Now, favorable vs. unfavorable is always an individual consideration. Some people will claim that they do just fine eating large amounts of unfavorable carbs. Those people may be more tolerant of those carbs, and so one must not judge a carb based solely on favorability. And, we should not dismiss a particular food just because of that (might miss out on some valuable vitamin content). But, IMO, the favorability of a carb is what Sears bases his scientific research on, it is what makes or breaks one's ability to control insulin levels.

OK, I will step down from my soap box now...LOL!

Good Morning CranberryCat..
Wow..what an informative reply... Thank you!! I was having some trouble understanding why it was promoted as a Zone product when it was considered unfavorable..but with the explanantions from you and Sue..I think I understand!!! I think I would have the same issue as you about wanting to add extra protein but really not being able to add to much b/c of the amount of protein in it already...so in otherwords..you would count the carbs as well as the protein in it..kind of like milk and yogurt...but what about Steel Cut Oats..would I count the protein in it as well? I guess I get confused as to when to count protein when the item is not meat or eggs.
Have a great day!
Much appreciated...
~DD

Protein is counted if it comes from an animal source or soy. If it is from a grain or vegetable, then it isn't counted. So, in the oatmeal, because the protein is directly from the grain, it isn't counted.

Have a good one!

Hi again CranberyCat!
Forgive me...but isn't the pasta also a grain source?...it seems that you may be counting the protein from the pasta but you wouldn't from the oatmeal?
Thanks for all your helpful replies!
~DD

You are right, pasta is a grain, but the added protein comes from added soy and pea protein isolate. So, it is not a protein that naturally occurs in the pasta.

As opposed to the oatmeal, where the protein is a naturally occurring part of the grain.

Hope that helps!

Hi DD,

Both the protein and carb are to be counted in Zone Pasta. Incidentally, I'm a very carb sensitive individual, been in the Zone on a 3P, 2C balance for almost 14 years and I have a recent fasting insulin test result of 3, while including Zone Pasta in my diet. I do fine adding Zone Pasta to my meals, but I find I can't stay in the Zone when adding even only 1 block of other pastas to my meals. Everyone's different and can easily find what works best for them with a little trial and error.

OOOHHHH...now I get it!!! I guess I could have taken the time to read the ingredients..sorry!!! Thanks ladies!!!

~DD

You're welcome! :-)

I happen to be carb sensitive, as well. My last fasting insulin level was 4.8 or thereabouts (definitely was under 5). This is also an excellent reading.

That being said, I guess I would not even consider consuming zone pasta because I have read those words from Sears regarding eating your veggies and fruits! And, this is coming from a former pastaholic! Besides, along with the fact that it is pretty expensive, then you have to pay for shipping, too!