The Sonoma diet has billed itself as the "most flavorful diet under the sun." The Sonoma diet has been created to package and sell the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, using the principles described in the Lyon heart study.
Like the Mediterranean diet, the Sonoma diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. In fact, it singles out 10 "super foods" based on recent scientific research suggesting health benefits of each of these foods. They include: almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, and whole grains. The Sonoma diet also encourages the moderate intake of wine.
Like other popular diets, the Sonoma diet is structured in 3 phases. The first phase is very restrictive with tiny portion sizes to provide a fast initial weight loss. The second is a longer weight loss phase, with slightly larger portion sizes. The third phase is designed for weight maintenance, and is intended to be life-long.
The Sonoma diet book describes the diet and 3 phase structure, and provides a step by step guide with over 500 recipes. The recipes are very well thought out, tasty, and easy to cook. Because of the types of foods included in most recipes, it is not by any means a low cost diet, but the health and weight loss benefits may make the cost worth it. The online diet program provides more recipes, and helps by putting together printable shopping lists. Costs of the online program are $5 a week.
Overall, I think that the Sonoma diet is one of the better commercial diets. It is based on scientific research showing significant health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and recent studies showing benefits of specific "super foods." The recipes are healthy and tasty.
My only concern about the Sonoma diet for weight loss is that the 3 phase structure seems to be a gimmick employed by many popular fad diets. The very restrictive 1st phase is a weight loss trick, used by most diet gurus, to provide a very rapid weight reduction so that dieters will start talking about how much weight they are losing. I am disappointed that the author fell prey to this gimmick. The science of dieting shows very clear that this kind of "crash" dieting is not beneficial and contributes to the yo-yo dieting phenomenon.
With this criticism aside, I think that overall the Sonoma diet is an excellent weight loss program based solidly on the science of healthy eating. The whole family can enjoy the health benefits of the Sonoma diet.
About The Author: Andrew Wolf invites you join him on his journey to uncover "the dieting secret" to help him lose 30 lbs, and keep it off for a lifetime. Click here for more of Andrew's reviews on the latest diets and share in his own weight loss progress. http://www.TheDietingSecret.com/blog Copyright 2007 - Andrew Wolf. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles terms of service for Publishers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Wolf |
Obese Patients Run Higher Risk Of Post-Operative Complications
Obese patients have a significantly higher risk of complications following surgery, including heart attack, wound infection, nerve injury and urinary tract infection, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Health System. [click link for full article]
Foods To Prevent Obesity?
This, surely, is the oxymoron of the year. Reuters reports that the "Dutch hope to invent foods that prevent obesity". That single sentence encompasses the arrogance, greed, and plain foolishness that exists in the minds of those who "invent" foods. "We are working on certain food ingredients, which provoke more satiety than others do on the long run, so that...
Belly Fat May Drive Inflammatory Processes Associated With Disease
As scientists learn more about the key role of inflammation in diabetes, heart disease and other disorders, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that fat in the belly may be an important promoter of that inflammation.Excess fat is known to be associated with disease, but now the researchers have confirmed that fat cells inside the abdomen are secreting molecules that increase inflammation. [click link for full article]
Patients Should Be Alert For Obesity Surgery Complication
It is important for obesity surgery patients to take their prescribed vitamin supplements and to be alert for symptoms such as vomiting, confusion, lack of coordination and visual changes signs of a serious neurological condition that can develop after the surgery. [click link for full article]
Red Pepper: Hot Stuff For Fighting Fat?
Food scientists in Taiwan are reporting new evidence from laboratory experiments that capsaicin - the natural compound that gives red pepper that spicy hot kick - can reduce the growth of fat cells. The study is scheduled for the March 21 issue of the ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication. [click link for full article]