Anti-Inflammation Zone . Reversing the Silent Epidemic Thats Destroying Our Health

Few books prompt me to want to TELL THE WORLD because it may make a big difference in the quality of life of anyone who reads it. This is the first book Ive read about the Zone diet, inflammation and fish oil supplements so it was all news to me and makes sense. An excellent companion book is Zone Meals in Seconds which enabled me to apply the theory using recipes, canned/frozen food, and even restaurant visits.

A high cholesterol report and watching Morgan Spurlocks movie, Super Size Me, prompted me to pursue some changes in my diet. in the month since entering the Zone I have discontinued Sudafed use (after years on it) and my husband is off of glucosamine and pain free. Plus, we are not hungry, have energy, and sleep better than before. Dont underestimate the health effects of the right food if you are currently in pain or taking any medications this book might help, wont hurt.

This book made a lot of sense when it was talking about eating more vegetables and less heavy starchy foods. But then when he started talking about oils and suggested olive oil, I wondered why he didnt mention Canola oil because Ive heard its better than vegetable oil too. Then he has a chapter about how the olive oil you find in the store isnt any good, in fact, he says none of the good stuff leaves Italy. Its as if no oil is good except one brand, which ends up being the one he sells on the internet. Then I read about the fish oil supplements. The book says they are all very poisonous except the ones listed on a website, which happens to list ones sold by him. He doesnt mention other ways of getting Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax oil or evening primrose oil. I started to wonder whether this book singles out some foods as the ONLY healthy brands of food because the author sells them. On the other hand, it could be that he just went out of his way to make them available because he believes in them. Wish I knew.

Ive been a reader and fan of Barry Sears since his first book and never fail to learn something from his books. Sears was the first to really pull together various forms of cutting edge information--caloric restriction, minimal consumption of bad grains, restricted amounts of saturated fats--and blend it into a usable, realistic program. Even if one tries other diets on the market, there are still take-aways from the Zone that will help optimize the value of other programs, there is that much information available. His new book provides new insights on his Zone prescription with updated research and information for the reader.

For Love to Read, just a couple of suggestions.

- Canola Oil is extracted from rapeseed and there is some controversy as to the safety of this product. Rapeseed byproducts are used for fuel, soap, lubricants and synthetic rubber base, and in magazines to make the pages glossy. Hence the concern over safety for human consumption.
- Dr. Sears notes that humans can only utilize a certain percentage of flaxseed oil. Some researchers note it ranges between 10 - 20pct.. Per Sears, youd have to consume quite a bit of flaxseed oil to get the (current) recommendations of Omega 3 which would be detrimental to your weight.
- The UC Berkeley Wellness Letter (2003) noted that primrose oil has no proven properties and may have potentially toxic side affects in consumed in too high of dosages.

Regarding Sears selling his products via his books, well, that is just good ole capitalism. Body for Life/EAS, Udo Eramus/Udos Oi, etc., are no different. .0)

This book was a God-sent.I had been suffering with terrible eczema ,iching and swelling and could not get any advice that would really help.When I saw the anti-inflammatory Zone diet,I thought maybe this could help me because I knew my skin was in an inflammatory condition. The results was absolutely just short of a miracle. After following Dr sears diet very closely and using the recommended amount of fish oil,in just three days, my iching stopped and in two weeks my terrible rashes stated to disappear and the bonus was I lost 25 lbs.
Dr sears gives a fantastic explannation of how silent inflammation starts and why insulin makes you fat and causes illnesses to set in.Read it and get healthy and lose weight.

If you have never read any of the Zone books, then this is a must read. But even if you have remained current through the last book Omega Rx, there is new information presented here.

As you read through this work, it appears apparent that the author has researched this topic and does an excellent job of presenting the information in an easy to read format.

For those who tried the Zone in the past, but had difficulty with blocks, Dr Sears has added a point system that may make it easier to follow.

Keep in mind that any changes to your medical program should be discussed with your physician, as they may change the dosages and mix of medications that you may be on. Even if you are not on any medications, it is best to work with an open minded Physician so that you can maximize your health benefits.

As a direct beneficiary of Dr Sears work, it is nice to know that there is a program like this out there. It is also reassuring that the work outlined here is now being substantiated by other sources and research.


Update. June 1, 2005
I first mentioned this book to one of my bosses about 4 months ago. They have since recommended it to others. To make a long story short, my copy of this book has been on loan for some time. Some questioned its wisdom at first, but after trying it, couldt wait to recommend it to others.

Barry Sears latest book, THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE (2005), is a provocative read for anyone seeking improved health--both mentally and physically. This work builds upon the cumulative, decade-long body of Zone guidance the author began dispensing with his best-selling THE ZONE (1995). Much, if not all, that Sears discusses here is scarcely unprecedented. not only did the author himself touch many of the same bases ten years ago, but still earlier works from other writers treated, in varying degrees, most of the same issues. Nonetheless, Sears possesses an undeniable knack for tackling an old topic and revamping it into something ostensibly new and undeniably intriguing.

For anyone not already acquainted with Sears Zone diet--which is actually not a diet but a lifelong mode of eating and living--the basic premise is that you should think of food, collectively, as a drug deserving fully as much respect and care as any doctor-dispensed, pharmaceutical prescription. and by carefully yet easily balancing or apportioning every meal or snack into three primary macronutrients (40pct. carbohydrates, 30pct. proteins, and 30pct. fats), you can maintain your crucial insulin level in an optimal zone that is neither too high nor too low. Eating thusly, Sears asserts, engenders a longer, more productive, disease-free life.

From the get-go Sears books have collectively stressed that thusly (dietetically) maintaining your metabolic state in the Zone optimizes the all-important balance of (a class of) hormones known to science as eicosanoids. of these, the author labels some good eicosanoids, and others bad eicosanoids. Along with proper diet, three complementary things Sears has long endorsed in his books are. regular exercise (both aerobic and anaerobic). relaxation/meditation techniques. and, not least, ingesting omega-3 fatty acids (not only via eating certain species of fish but, more especially, via high daily doses of refined, pharmaceutical-grade fish-oil).

In THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE Sears continues to advocate all the above things, which collectively comprise the Zone lifestyle. But, more emphatically than before, he links them--especially the fish-oil supplementation--to the reduction of what he heralds as the epidemic thats destroying our health. silent inflammation.

Perhaps heralds is a moot word in this context, given that, for many years, numerous authors have spun book after book featuring the word inflammation in the title. Indeed, one thing Ive noticed about Barry Sears body of (literary) work is that only occasionally has he presented anything categorically original. Instead, his genius is in recycling and reconstituting old topics or trends into a (more or less) new system all his own. In this light, one book that I suspect Sears might have perused with keen interest before (co-)writing THE ZONE a decade ago is THE OMEGA=3 PHENOMENON (1987), co-authored by Donald O. Rudin, M.D. Although there are admittedly many absolutely fundamental points of departure between Rudins earlier work and that of Sears, some of the general resemblances seem, at times, interesting. But perchance this is merely my mistaken supposition. In any case, it seems likely that Barry Sears own Zone dietary technology owes at least some modest debt to published antecedents.

Now, that doesnt significantly diminish Sears formidable flair for transforming old news into new systems. Indeed, were it not for his popular books (and audiobooks), countless Zone adherents--including this reviewer--would surely never have altered their wonted, lifelong, dietary habits in such fundamentally healthy ways as to finally shed many pounds of unhealthy body fat while feeling, functioning and looking better. Indeed, I myself owe a debt to Mr. Sears various books and audios for helping provoke me to lose over 17 pounds since adopting his Zone diet two months ago. I wont say that its been 100pct. easy, but I can report that its easier, by far, than any prior diet Id tried. But never forget that, in the Zone, the term diet should be understood in its best etymological sense, meaning a permanent way of life.

In THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE Sears explains that chronic inflammation within our bodies can be insidiously silent insofar as its below the perception of pain, and thats what makes it so dangerous. you dont know its there, although it is constantly eroding your wellness until chronic disease erupts decades later.

Sears proclaims, Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimers consume the vast bulk of our heath care resources. Yet they all have a strong inflammatory component. This inflammation is relentlessly driving your body toward chronic disease. Control that inflammation, and you have gone a great distance to minimizing, if not reversing, the symptoms of those chronic diseases, moving you back to a state of wellness.

Regarding the usefulness of his book to the reader, Sears states. The continuous control of inflammation is the foundation of the Zone. However, it usually takes at least a year before such habits become ingrained in your lifestyle. So, view this book as a wellness manual that you will refer to constantly to reinforce the necessary dietary and lifestyle skills.

To put into perspective Sears latest book, it will be helpful to recall the continual evolution of his prescribed Zone approach to better health. After all, not all of his many Zone books have been, relatively speaking, breakthrough works. Those of his titles that particularly stand out as signposts of key modifications to, or extensions of, his Zone formula include the following.

THE ZONE (1995). Although, in retrospect, Sears inaugural work covered a remarkable range of Zone territory (laying, in fact, the foundation for virtually all Zone topics that followed), it chiefly focused on dietary means to maintaining your hormones (most especially insulin) at a healthy point of equilibrium, i.e., in the Zone.

MASTERING THE ZONE (1997). Although his second book--continuing to emphasize dietary matters--wasnt exactly a breakthrough, it did introduce some key diagrams starkly contrasting the (then current) USDA Food Pyramid with Sears own Zone Food Pyramid. Whereas the government-sanctioned pyramid included bread, cereal, rice and pasta as the very foundation of a healthy diet, Sears protested that such (mostly) refined, high-sugar carbohydrates should be either limited or avoided altogether. His own Zone pyramid included sufficient daily water intake as its foundation, with vegetables and fruits placed one level higher, and (above, respectively, low-fat proteins and monounsaturated fats) the breads, grains, starches, and pasta group perched atop the very apex--meaning that the latter foods should be considered not essential but merely optional condiments, permissible only in extremely limited amounts.

THE ANTI-AGING ZONE (1999) augmented Sears own (above-delineated) Zone pyramid by simply placing it entirely within a still larger paradigm that included moderate exercise and, finally, meditation as the topmost components of a an all-inclusive Anti-aging Zone Lifestyle Pyramid. In other words, albeit diet was still considered, by far, the most effective means of establishing and maintaining your bodys hormonal balance, exercise and relaxation techniques could add benefits in their own rights.

THE OMEGA-RX ZONE (2002). Suddenly Sears pyramid was given a brand-new foundation. High-dose Fish Oil. The still higher tiers were, respectively, the Insulin-control Diet. Moderate Daily Exercise. and Meditation. Sears hailed the then recently invented pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplements as being as close to a medical miracle as we will see in the 21st century. Seemingly, there were few conditions that could not be improved via the omega-3 fatty acids in such amazingly potent fish oil.

All of which returns us to Sears latest book, THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE. The reader may justly inquire exactly what is altogether new or special about this most recent installment of ongoing Zone guidance Well, other than its conspicuous amplification of the inflammation theme (which Sears had already mentioned in some considerable degree in THE OMEGA-RX ZONE and had touched upon in still earlier writings), basically theres not much here amounting to an utter departure from the authors previously published body of Zone work.

This is not altogether a bad thing. For not only does the inflammation topic itself merit greater focus, but also Sears sporadically injects elements of other new or modified information throughout the book, including his latest take on the importance of including high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil in ones diet as an anti-inflammatory food. Olive oil, being largely a monounsaturated fat, has been generally advocated as an ideal Zone oil even as early as Sears 1995 book. He explains that such extra-virgin olive oil contains the healthful phytochemical hydroxytyrosol. Noting the extremely low rate of heart disease among the Cretan people (in the Mediterranean region), and noting that that population consumes more than 40pct. of their calories as fat (primarily extra-virgin olive oil), Sears observes, They are basically taking liquid aspirin.

Regarding extra-virgin olive oil, Sears maintains that most of the good stuff never leaves Italy and that you should expect to pay in the range of USD20 to USD30 b bottle but isnt the reduction of silent inflammation worth it He mentions a web site where you can order the good stuff.

However, he likewise stipulates that you can put any extra-virgin olive oil to the following, simple test. Take a teaspoon of olive oil and put it in your mouth. It should have a buttery taste, as opposed to a bland oil taste. Now swish the oil along the top of your mouth with your tongue until it hits the back of your throat. You should notice a very pepper-like taste. I must report that when I applied Sears test to the bottle of extra-virgin olive oil that Id bought at my local Aldi grocery for somewhat over three bucks, it passed with flying colors on both counts. But perhaps my palate is less discerning than Dr. Sears

Now, I frankly dont know if Barry Sears has any financial stake whatsoever in prompting folks to purchase that aforementioned, y olive oil (via the web site he mentions), but I naturally wonder. In a somewhat analogous vein, its become pretty obvious that Sears seemingly has been, for the past several years, relentlessly steering readers toward purchasing his brand of (outrageously expensive) fish oil, despite the fact that various competing brands of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil have become available at much lower s. Even supposing, for the moment, that Dr. Sears were indeed indulging in a bit of old-fashioned capitalism, I personally would not be unduly perturbed by that inclination--not so long as the main body of his Zone technology still rests, as I like to think it does, on trustworthy ground.

Throughout much of THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE, Sears repeatedly stresses the importance of supplementing your diet with (only the most highly refined, contaminant-free varieties of) fish oil. He provides countless intriguing explanations of why and how such oil--containing highly concentrated proportions of the healthful long-chain, omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA--helps to ward off diseases (including heart disease, cancer, dementia, arthritis, and diabetes) and augment mental and physical functioning, not to mention longevity.

Arguably, Sears does not, however, sufficiently stress what Ive read elsewhere about fish oil, namely that, given that its a fairly powerful vasodilator or blood-vessel expander (which is presumably a primary reason it can improve circulation in the majority of people), it might actually be detrimental to exceptional users health. While it is perhaps unlikely that you will suffer any adverse affects whatsoever from using contaminant-free, refined fish at the dosage levels Sears recommends, it still might be a good idea to check first with your physician. On a personal note, I myself have been tolerating very well approximately Sears recommended daily dosage (albeit not his own brand) of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil for nearly two months, even though I have a history of being susceptible to headaches. Only once or twice have I experienced fleeting suspicions that the high doses of fish oil had worsened or even caused one of my typical, occasional headaches. On the whole, Im comfortable with, and expect to continue, my large daily, fish-oil doses. Given that both of my late parents (at very advanced ages) suffered terribly from Alzheimers, I naturally pay attention when Sears writes that the Big A is one of those maladies that are largely preventable via high doses of fish oil (not to mention the Zone diet and lifestyle). But I will continue to monitor this, and I suggest you apply a comparable modicum of common sense and alertness if you, too, elect to add such fish oil to your daily regimen of dietary supplements.

Regarding fish oil generally, for my part I will also remain alert for further news from sources other than Sears himself. For I dont know that the proverbial jury is yet out on this issue. There surely needs to be still more in the way of clinical trials, not to mention much greater federal-government oversight of all manufacturers of (so-called) pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, lest consumers unwittingly ingest dangerous amounts of (manmade) contaminants that more or less accumulate in the bodies of fish.

About 36 pages of THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE comprise a well-illustrated tutorial of physical exercises that employ no costly or space-requiring gear or machinery. While this section of the book is perfectly nice (and I personally appreciate the black-and-white photos of the lovely, smiling, photogenic Leah Garcia who demonstrates the motions), this section can hardly be considered highly original. It could be argued that amounts to a bit of padding, albeit agreeable padding. But if it serves to prompt even one reader actually to perform some of those routines regularly, then well and good.

Likewise, comparable to virtually all Sears foregoing books, about 54 pages of THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE comprise Zone-favorable meal recipes. I personally get little good from most of the provided recipes, whether here or elsewhere. Instead, using my own favored foods, I merely consult the food-block (i.e., the permitted weights or portion sizes per meal) appendix that can be found in most of the previous Zone books. Unfortunately, I dont see that THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONEs own appendices are as all-inclusive in this regard. For example, although theres an appendix regarding Zone Carbohydrate Blocks, theres an inexplicably conspicuous lack of the corresponding guidelines for proteins and fats. This seems an incomprehensible omission.

On the other hand, for those Zone followers who have had trouble thinking in terms of food blocks, THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE introduces an alternative points method of measuring food portions. Some folks might, indeed, find this approach significantly preferable, even justifying buying this book. Indeed, I can perceive some real merit in the new points approach, albeit I dont personally have any trouble with the old, tried-and-true food-block system, which actually is not as complicated as it may sound.

The final two chapters are entitled What Will Our Future Be and Avoiding the Coming Collapse of the Health Care System. The latter theme is actually nothing new for Sears, as hed already addressed it a decade ago in THE ZONE.

Before closing, I must confess that Ive not really addressed various other, significant chapters and sections of the book that, collectively, serve to make THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE much more than the sum of its motley parts. For example, there are successive, focused passages regarding particular diseases and how daily doses of highly refined fish oil (together with the Zone diet and Zone lifestyle) can help with alleviation or prevention.

Just as Sears best-selling premier of 1995 was somewhat rambling in its arrangement of chapters and sections, a bit of that quality manifests in THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE. Nonetheless, any longtime Zone adherent will not want to miss this latest installment of compelling guidance from Doctor Sears who, despite the implication conveniently engendered by the publishers subtle reworking of the authors name on the covers of his two most recent books, is actually not an M.D. bur rather a medical researcher with a Ph.D. Moreover, even for your average Zone neophyte this book could serve as a fairly effective introduction to Zone basics. However, in that regard, an absolute beginner would be better served by the authors A WEEK IN THE ZONE (2000), a more easily portable paperback whose overriding purpose is that of Zone primer and whose layout and discussion seem a bit friendlier. After having thusly digested the basics, any reader should greatly benefit from going on to peruse (most portions of) THE ANTI-INFLAMMATION ZONE.

Recommended.

The initiator of much public discussion about blood chemistry and chronic disease, Dr. Sears explains the importance of sub-clinical levels of inflammation in joints, tissues, and blood vessels. Inflammation is the number one cause of most diseases and much of the pain of old age--both of which are preventable with attention to how eating patterns influence the ebb and flow of hormones in the body. As in his previous audios, the authors resonant voice is upbeat, making his ideas difficult to put aside, especially if youre over 50 and not feeling so good. His lesson makes proper eating sound so easy that most listeners will wonder why theyre ignoring this advice. T.W. AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright AudioFile, Portland, Maine--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Book Description

Combat silent inflammation --
the most serious health
threat you never heard of

Heart disease is the no.1 killer of Americans.
Cancer is the no.1 fear of Americans.
Dementia is the no.1 concern of Americans.

What do these devastating illnesses have in common All three have been linked to silent inflammation, a condition that occurs when the bodys natural immune response goes awry. Silent inflammation can continue undetected for years, continually assaulting the heart, arteries, and even the brain -- and you will not even know it.

New research confirms that obesity is a primary cause of silent inflammation. And inflammation is the smoking gun that links excess body fat to todays epidemic rise in heart disease, cancer, dementia, and countless other health threats. Although the science of this relationship is complex, the bottom line is simple. If not detected and reversed, silent inflammation will devastate generations of Americans and bankrupt an increasingly stressed health care system. The medical establishment appears to be ignorant about this problem, politicians dont talk about it -- and yet virtually everyone in the country is affected by it.

In his number one New York Times bestseller The Zone, Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized the way we think about nutrition when he showed that a high-carbohydrate diet is a real risk to our health. Now, with eye-opening new research in the field of hormonal control and nutrition, Dr. Sears offers the first comprehensive plan to combat silent inflammation. This important book gives us the tools and tests we need to assess the current level of silent inflammation in our bodies -- and determine our future health.

As youll discover, the Zone dietary plan -- including supplements of high-dose, ultra-refined fish oil -- is the best way to get the hormonal control you need to reduce inflammation. In The Anti-Inflammation Zone, Dr. Sears shows exactly what steps to follow to reduce your risk of each disease and condition, or to reverse it if you have it already -- in only thirty days. And the Zone Lifestyle Program includes a week of delicious Zone-friendly meals, easy home exercises, and important stress-reducing methods -- all of which work together to put you on a path toward wellness that will improve the rest of your life.

The day you start fighting silent inflammation is the day that you start to slow down the aging process -- and all the chronic diseases that come with it. Welcome to the Anti-Inflammation Zone -- and the return to wellness.

Download Description

From the no.1 New York Times bestselling author of The ZoneTM, comes a groundbreaking look at how inflammation is the silent source of almost all disease - and how to stop it using the Zone dietary plan and fish oil supplements. The Anti-Inflammation Diet provides convincing evidence that shows the deleterious effects of long-term inflammation-and specific plans to combat it. Whatever your health concern, youll learn that we are only now beginning to understand the mechanisms that make us sick. And most important, youll have a clear blueprint toward health that starts with the Zone.--This text refers to the Digital edition.

About the Author

Dr. Barry Sears is recognized as one of the worlds leading medical researchers on the hormonal effects of food. He is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller The Zone as well as Mastering the Zone, Zone-Perfect Meals in Minutes, Zone Food Blocks, A Week in the Zone, The Age-Free Zone, The Top 100 Zone Foods, The Soy Zone, The Omega Rx Zone, Zone Meals in Seconds, and What to Eat in the Zone. His books have sold more than five million copies and have been translated into twenty-two languages in forty countries. He continues his research on the inflammatory process as the president of the nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The father of two grown daughters, he lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts, with his wife, Lynn.