Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

The Isometric Diet and Balanced Health


The concept isometric has been a part of the health care vocabulary for decades. The most common application of the term, until now, has been with respect to physical exercise. Taken from the Greek root word Iso, meaning equal, the familiar term Isometric exercises involves applying equal weight to achieve strength goals.

Fairly recently, health researchers have discovered another innovative application of the isometric concept in the health care field: nutrition. These researchers have identified that an isometric approach to diet - a.k.a. the "Isometric Diet" -- can lead to health improvement.

The Isometric Diet®, which provides the philosophical basis for the Zone Diet, has swiftly gained respect from the health and nutrition community because it applies this clear "balance" lens to the rather confused, often misinformed world of dieting. Created by Dan Duchaine in the mid 90s, and evolved by researchers such as Dr. Barry Sears (founder of the Zone Diet?), the Isometric Diet is an eating regimen that calls for a balanced ratio of protein, low-glycemic carbohydrates, and essential fatty acids.

The balanced ratio is the result of an overall awareness that the human body does not necessarily desire, or require, all kinds of micronutrients in all situations. While carbohydrates, proteins, and fats do provide the essential building blocks of human life, not all sources of each are optimal in all situations.

The Isometric Diet therefore takes a holistic approach to eating, and incorporates both macronutrient and micronutrient sources of energy. This goes beyond simply balancing proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Instead, an optimal balance is achieved on a deeper level one that leads to optimal body functioning, normalized blood-glucose levels, a controlled metabolism, and a healthy satiating of hunger.

This optimal balance, and particularly the point about healthily satiating hunger, is in stark contrast to some "fad diets", which seek to artificially suppress hunger. This potentially dangerous suppression often forces eaters to experience a weakened immune system, bone density loss, and other adverse consequences of malnutrition.

The Isometric Diet is founded upon five integrated principles: balance protein diversity unsaturated fats low glycemic carbohydrates and awareness of food priority.

Principle One: Balance. The Isometric Diet recognizes the fact that the human body functions optimally when it is fueled by a balanced micronutrient ratio of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.[i] The optimal ratio for these three is 1:1:1, or the same number of calories from proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Principle Two: Protein Diversity. The human body responds differently to different sources of protein.[ii] For example, a post-exercise meal that consists of quick-assimilating whey protein will have a more beneficial health impact than an intake of caseinate or soy protein. The Isometric Diet therefore promotes a blend of protein intake to seek an amino acid balance, and to select the most appropriate assimilation rate for optimal health.

Principle Three: Unsaturated Fats and MCT's. The Isometric Diet recognizes that the human body processes saturated fats differently from mono- and polyunsaturated fats.[iii] Furthermore, the diet exploits the fact that there are some fats, called Medium Chain Triglycerides or "MCTs", which are shorter chains of 8-10 fatty acids. These MCT chains are shorter, absorb quickly, and digest very easily. The end result is a more efficient digestive system and better results through less effort.[iv]

Principle Four: Low Glycemic Carbohydrates. Healthy eaters are swiftly adopting the Isometric Diet's promotion of carbohydrates that do not cause the blood-sugar to rise. Dieters can therefore use the "glycemic index" (GI) as an intelligent way to measure the body's insulin response to a given food and to monitor the intake of "good" carbohydrates.[v]

Principle Five: Awareness of Food Priority. The Isometric Diet is aware that there are naturally occurring micronutrients found in food that supplements, typically, cannot engineer. As such, the Isometric Diet does not propose an eating regimen that regularly replaces food with supplements. Rather, a controlled diet that is fortified by scientifically designed supplements is most effective.[vi] This is particularly important in a very fast paced world where eating a complete meal can be quite a challenge. In such cases, the Isometric Diet approves of the supportive value of supplements - provided that such supplements are created in light of the above four principles.

One such supplement that has been engineered within the framework of these principles, and that is receiving positive acclaim in the health care field, is called Isometric®, created by Pennsylvania-based Protica, Inc. So named to reflect its balanced composition and support of the Isometric Diet principles, Isometric is a third-generation supplement that provides a complete spectrum of macro- and micronutrients.

Of greater importance to most health-conscious eaters, however, is Isometric's balanced micronutrient breakdown. Each all-natural 3-fluid-ounce serving - which can be responsibly used as a meal replacement -- delivers 25 grams of low-glycemic carbohydrates, 25 grams of protein, and 10 grams of unsaturated, highly-bioavailable essential fatty acids. Of added value to dieters is Isometric's? modest 300-calories per serving.

The path to perfect eating balance is an evolving one. The more information that nutritional science uncovers, the more effective shall be the resulting eating regimen. However, regardless of what innovations lay ahead, one principle will remain constant: the human body craves equilibrium, and it achieves optimal health through a holistic balance of micronutrients and macronutrients. Enabling that balance today is the Isometric Diet, and more recently, Isometric from Protica, Inc.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.

References[i] Source: "Balancing Fats, Proteins, and Carbohydrates". About Network. http://nutrition.about.com/od/recipesmenus/a/balanceddiet.htm

[ii] Source: "Picking Your Protein". C-Health http://chealth.canoe.ca/columns.asp?columnistid=9&articleid=10798

[iii] Source: "Best Diet for a Healthy Heart". WebMD. http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/54/65205.htm

[iv] Source: "MCT: Do They Really Make it Easier to Lose Weight?". http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/mct.htm.

[v] Source: "Study Shows Benefit from "Good-" Carb Diet". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6567344/

[vi] Source: "Dietary Supplements No Substitute for Proper Diet". CNN. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/05/diet.cancer.ap/

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com


MORE RESOURCES:

WXIA-TV

Wal-Mart's good food options now "Great For You," chain claims
GlobalPost
Wal-Mart — the largest seller of food in the US — is about to label its healthier fare as "Great For You" in what it says is part of a strategy to improve the nutritional choices of it customers. An employee in a food aisle of Wal-Mart's Chicago store.
Walmart Unveils "Great For You" IconMarketWatch (press release)
Walmart to label healthier food as "Great For You"Reuters
Walmart to highlight healthy foodsFinancial Times
EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
all 151 news articles »


School nutrition: A kid's right to choose
Victoria Times Colonist
By David R. Just and Brian Wansink Last fall, Los Angeles took a hard line on school nutrition. In an attempt to mold better eating habits in kids, the Los Angeles Unified School District eliminated flavored milk, chicken nuggets and other longtime ...

and more »


USA TODAY

Junk foods widely available at elementary schools
USA TODAY
The study focused on snacks not sold during mealtimes, which until recently weren't subject to government nutrition standards. Schools most likely to sell chips, cookies or similar foods were in the South, where obesity rates are the highest; ...
All-Day Buffet in Elementary Schools?dailyRx

all 131 news articles »


On Nutrition Terminology review
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
With the Super Bowl still fresh in our minds and other upcoming events, it may be helpful to review some key terminology relating to these affairs ... nutrition-related of course: Couch potato: An immovable body known to lie prone on furniture for long ...



Gwyneth Paltrow's Harper's Bazaar Cover Delves Into Fitness, Nutrition, Her ...
Huffington Post
While HuffPost Style has been appreciating Harper's Bazaar's new look with cover girl Gwyneth Paltrow, we couldn't help but notice her attitude toward fitness and nutrition. The movie star has restyled herself as a lifestyle and wellness guru with her ...

and more »


Nutrition: Low-Protein Diet May Cost Lean Body Mass
New York Times
People consuming excess calories on a low-protein diet may gain less weight than others, a new study reports, but they do so at a cost: the loss of lean body mass. In a controlled experiment published in the Jan. 4 issue of The Journal of the American ...

and more »


Cancer and nutrition: What you need to know
WKBT La Crosse
says Dr. Pankaj Vashi, gastroenterologist and national clinical director of gastroenterology/nutrition and metabolic support for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). "The consequences of poor nutrition are alarming: Malnourished patients have ...

and more »


Semper Fit Offers Nutrition Tips to Marines
Military.com
More than 30 Marines learned the benefits of a healthy diet in Nutrition 101, a class held monthly at Camp Pendleton's Paige Fieldhouse, Jan. 31. “Our goal is for Marines to understand and apply the fundamentals of a healthy diet by bringing awareness ...

and more »


Efforts to provide nutritious school lunches face challenges
Washington Post
I noticed, then, when the many optimistic stories about the Agriculture Department's new school meal nutrition standards — based on the assumption that teenagers will happily pile more fruits, veggies and whole grains on their plates — were undercut ...
Lunch preparationsFort Wayne Journal Gazette

all 2 news articles »


NuVal system helps Ozarks shoppers make smarter food choices
Springfield News-Leader
Grocery store shoppers wondering which food item is best for them no longer have to ponder sometimes confusing nutrition labels. Two grocery store chains with stores in Springfield — Price Cutter and Hy-Vee — are using a Massachusetts-based company ...


Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.