Rating: 
Summary: Fish Oil and 30/40/30 Ratio
Review: Dr Sears, author of the popular Zone series of books, has come out with another whole book which can pretty much be summarized in one sentence: Take the Omega 3 fish oil manufactured by his company and modify your food intake based on carb/protein/fat ratios stipulated in his other books.
Whether or not this works or not depends on how you individually feel when you abide by the Zone's rules. The Diet: I have been following the Zone ratios for about four years now and know I gain weight and feel sluggish when I fall back on old habits or new media insistence that eating more grains, fruits and vegetables than what is Zone-advised for my bodyis beneficial. If you actually follow the diet without cheating, you will be eating plenty of vegetables and fruits without wreaking havoc on your insulin glucagon balance. More of the accepted dietary 'experts' are now claiming that this balance is the key to controlling weight gain and loss. The Fish Oil: Sears was touting the use of fish oil--about 9 capsules a day when I started to delve into this diet 4 years ago. He claimed at that time that a beneficial side effect was that it helped with the constipation caused by eating less grains. This was not true for me; I found that eating more soy products and legumes was the only way I combatted this problem. Whether or not his molecular brand of fish oil is better or not, I have no idea. Omega 3 oils in general are good for you, but, I must wonder,however, if he is not just 'selling' his own product. Case in point, in his first book, he mentions that 'drinking' one's meal in the form of shakes etc. is absorbed more quickly by the body resulting in increased hormonal inbalance, yet, months later he came out with a series of powdered and pre-mixed canned shakes all sporting the Zone logo and the 30-40-30 ratio. If this was not beneficial or not as beneficial as a regular meal--why manufacture and promote it? Only one reasonable answer. . . Bottom line: Sears is his own worst enemy. Whether or not his ideas are truely beneficial or not, his commercialism cancels out his good intentions. You already know what you need to do by reading the other books, so why buy this one?
Rating: 
Summary: This book is brilliant
Review: His writing style is very clear and easy to follow. Or at least it was for me, since I am trained as a Chemist. It was nice that he explained some very basic details that are missed when people get stuck in their fad diets. 1. Rebuffs the Atkins diet (high protein, high fat, low carbohydrates) as being metabolically unbalanced. And explains WHY. 2. Makes a clear distinction between "good" and "bad" carbohydrates. Fruit and vegetables ARE carbs, but they are generally "good." But even among them, some fit into the category of "bad." (Corn, potatoes, mangos). 3. Points out the regulating what you eat consistently (i.e., at each meal) is a better way to go than going on six week diets. There is no way to lose weight but by eating right. 4. Shows the *detailed references* upon which his reasoning is based. And demonstrates how his diet was tested and survived the authentication process in other studies. 5. Explains some things that are often overlooked: A. The obstructive bureaucracy involved in the FDAs assignment of categories to foods and the resulting slowness of change of conventional diets (The FDA is the reason that drugs cost so much in the US, in spite of what some of these babbling neo-hippie protestors would have us believe about "corporate greed.") ; B. The fact that humans are eating higher levels of foods that were actually not available to use 100,000 years ago when people were essentially the same as now, but with different diets. We were actually not evolved to eat such things as we are now; C. Debunks some of the common myths about exercising and then eating *whatever* after that will undo all that you've just done. 6. Gives the Reader's Digest version of the behavior of the body under abnormal circumstances (excess insulin production, etc.) His writing style is also fabulously easy to read, and the book is set up in such a way that you can find the papers to get more detailed discussions of some facts of which he gives the Reader's Digest version in the passages. Some aspects may be too technical for people who don't have any background in science. And in that case, then you can get "Entering The Zone" and it will tell you essentially the same things as this book does, without the emphasis on high dose fish oil. I'm sure that Dr. Sears has made a lot of money on this book. It's Stephen Covey revisited-- Packaging old wine in new bottles and making a mint off of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Correction of reneofc's review.
Review: I was doubtful about the claims I've heard regarding Omega-3, then after trying everything from meds to therapy for depression and losing hope anything would ever help I decided to learn more about Omega3. I am finally feeling better and am a believer! If you've read Sears book, I found The Omega-3 Connection offered even more mind blowing/informative facts on the effects of eating our now Omega3 depleted food because of all the chemical alterations and genetic enhancements it undergoes and the effects it has on the brain. The grade, source, manufacturing, and ratio of EPA to DHA make all the difference in quality. I don't believe Dr Sears is simply promoting his product as much as this is a newly pioneered area and like all first productions ... production & quality improve as we learn more about benefits and Sears is trying to convey this important fact and has produced a supplement that is of a purer resource (fish from less poluted areas) & follows a higher standard of production (removes more than required environmental pollutants) to ensure its quality and its effectiveness. Helpful Hint: Don't be fooled by claims of 250mg - 1200mg per capsule (can simply mean its a bigger pill). To compare the amounts of Omega3 per capsule, you need to find the highest concentrate per capsule (less pills to swallow) by dividing the mg amount of EPA/DHA by the number of capsules per serving. A good source is www.omegabright.com, 90% concentration, virtually tasteless, pharmaceutical grade, and inexpensive.
Rating:
Summary: Good Info and also self-serving
Review: My wife always brought home and tried several different "diet" books. I was (and still am) skeptical of most. Then, coincidentally on the same day I came home from the doctor with a Cholesterol reading of 285, she brought home from work (library) a copy of this book. I read it. First one made some sense in terms of balanced eating lifestyle. In retrospect, I see now it is all his old stuff + High grade fish oil. But for a first timer, it was helpful. There are, as I found out later, plenty of info on Fish oil. But the Balanced, lo-grain diet was most helpful, and avaiulable in the other books. And one can get a good quality Fish oil (Dr. Murrays RX Omega from iherb.com) at a real reasonable price.
After being in the ZONE for 4 months and taking Fish Oil, my Total cholesterol dropped to 204! And my weight dropped 25 lbs!
Rating:
Summary: Good Info and also self-serving
Review: My wife always brought home and tried several different "diet" books. I was (and still am) skeptical of most. Then, coincidentally on the same day I came home from the doctor with a Cholesterol reading of 285, she brought home from work (library) a copy of this book. I read it. First one made some sense in terms of balanced eating lifestyle. In retrospect, I see now it is all his old stuff + High grade fish oil. But for a first timer, it was helpful. There are, as I found out later, plenty of info on Fish oil. But the Balanced, lo-grain diet was most helpful, and avaiulable in the other books. And one can get a good quality Fish oil (Dr. Murrays RX Omega from iherb.com) at a real reasonable price.
After being in the ZONE for 4 months and taking Fish Oil, my Total cholesterol dropped to 204! And my weight dropped 25 lbs!
Rating:
Summary: The Many Benefits of Omega-3's
Review: The author of the The Zone series returns with a comprehensive look of the many benefits the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. He recommends using pharmaceutical-grade fish oil at his high doses to avoid toxins and gastric disturbances. And they are high dosages; the equivalent of a tablespoon of cod liver oil (2.5 gms of Omega-3s) just for maintenance, twice that for optimal cardiovascular health, double that and more for inflammatory pain and neurological conditions. All of these are explained in different chapters. At these doses you will want to get the regular blood tests that he recommends. After reading his book I am convinced. Yet his recommendations won't be cheap. The oil he recommends, his own, will cost $[money] a month for the maintenance dosage. I look forward to seeing the results of adding Omega-3's to the Zone nutrition program.
Rating: 
Summary: One big advertisment?
Review: The information that Sears offers in the Omega Zone is mostly correct.My only problem with this book is his constant reference to "pharmacuetical grade" fish oils. It turns out that he suggests that only two companies manufacture this "only" good fish oil, and at least one is definitely owned by Sears! He has a whole new line of commercial products based on these very expensive "pure" fish oils, and this book strikes me as a way to increase the sales of these products. Under such circumstances, a credibility gap is created in my mind. I've used several brands of fish oil supplements, and have never experienced the untoward symptoms that Sears warns about in his book, such as intestinal gas and bloating. On the other hand, I do agree that omega-3 fats are very important for long-term health, and many people are deficient in such essential fats.
Rating:
Summary: I am a trained weightloss counselor and teach the Zone
Review: The OmegaRXZone is an excellent source of information on Omega 3 Fish Oil and what it may do to improve your health, both mentally and physically. A tremendous amount of studies on Omega 3 are being done and many more that have been completed. Sear's OmegaRxZone gives you a summary of many of the already completed research projects in simple language that the layman can understand rather than searching through medical articles that usually go way over our heads. The book suggests that large doses of the oil may may improve several major health problems that Americans are suffering with. Taking Omega 3, eating within " Zone " guidelines, a little walking and staying away from partially hydrogenated fats has turned the lives and health of many of my clients around. The book is a sales pitch for Sear's Oil because it is purer than most other company's Omega 3, an important factor as the oceans become more polluted. It is also a pitch for the Zone Nutrition program, which is probably the safest and one of the least restraining weight loss programs out there. As long as the salesman is selling a great product it is worth " the listen. " My only relationship to Sears is that I believe in his program and feel he is doing what he can to get America healthy again. This book is for #1. Nutrition buffs, #2. People who would like to be educated about the good effects that the right combination of foods and Omega 3 can have on your body, #3. Adults with health problems such as Heart Disease, Arthritis, Cancer and Neurological problems.
Rating:
Summary: I am a trained weightloss counselor and teach the Zone
Review: The OmegaRXZone is an excellent source of information on Omega 3 Fish Oil and what it may do to improve your health, both mentally and physically. A tremendous amount of studies on Omega 3 are being done and many more that have been completed. Sear's OmegaRxZone gives you a summary of many of the already completed research projects in simple language that the layman can understand rather than searching through medical articles that usually go way over our heads. The book suggests that large doses of the oil may may improve several major health problems that Americans are suffering with. Taking Omega 3, eating within " Zone " guidelines, a little walking and staying away from partially hydrogenated fats has turned the lives and health of many of my clients around. The book is a sales pitch for Sear's Oil because it is purer than most other company's Omega 3, an important factor as the oceans become more polluted. It is also a pitch for the Zone Nutrition program, which is probably the safest and one of the least restraining weight loss programs out there. As long as the salesman is selling a great product it is worth " the listen. " My only relationship to Sears is that I believe in his program and feel he is doing what he can to get America healthy again. This book is for #1. Nutrition buffs, #2. People who would like to be educated about the good effects that the right combination of foods and Omega 3 can have on your body, #3. Adults with health problems such as Heart Disease, Arthritis, Cancer and Neurological problems.
Rating:
Summary: It really works!
Review: This is a great book for the lay reader. It introduces one to a set of difficult concepts without ever talking down to you but not requiring you to get a degree in biochemistry before reading it. There is a wealth of references to studies done by major universities around the world which is really appreciated. I started using the Zone Dietary protocols in 1995 when his first book was published, Enter the Zone. It worked just as he said it would. Over the last two years I've strayed and gained about 10 lbs of unwanted body fat. Having recently gotten myself reorganized, I've started again and not only has the fat just melted off, but my BP has lowered. I've also started taking the Omega3 and can tell a difference. There are other books on Omega3 but Sears has a way of dealing with the subject that gives one the sense of talking to a family member about the stars: he's right there and present and witty and smart. I only wish I'd known about Omega3 years ago. It, too, works. And what in this day of endless infomercials is more fascinating than to find something that works just as its promoter says it will???
My only criticism of the book is in the editing and proof reading. The publishers should be horse whipped.
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