Is the Zoe nutrition test worth it? Or Emperor's new clothes?

@vestanesta , thank you.
how did the referrals work? Is it something that people share on here for an extra free mth?
Would you recommend signing up for four months then, even if I don’t figure out how to get extra referrals? Thank you

@Moongerbil I signed up for 4 and got 3 months free via the referrals. I won't renew. I do track maybe 50% of the time but I've stopped logging my poo and stuff.

I was poised to buy the Zoe program today, but I couldn’t decide whether to go for the 4 mths or 12 mths package.
Does anybody have an opinion?
Personally, I do eat a healthy diet, and I am wondering how much I would benefit from the 12 months… Maybe I will get fed up of logging my food for that long?
I guess what I am wondering is, can you get all the information you need from 4 mths or is there some benefit from having the plan for a whole year? Thank you.

I'm not sure. I signed up in March 22 and waited until this mon

joinzoe.mention-me.com/m/ol/dh3ub-anna-overy

This is my refer a friend code for pre-order access if anyone is interested. I think it's great to try and eat well in the long term by knowing how different foods affect you.
You also might be able to find a 10% discount code online.

@LisaLovedUp thank you!

As my previous post- see General Health board for other Zoe threads and ask peeps for a referral code for instant access.

Hi @hydroxyapatite You could try asking on the other threads if anyone has a referral code and then you get instant access.

I think the other threads on Zoe are on the General Health forum (I started one there when I started the program.)

Anyone who joins gets referral codes to hand out to friends etc (I've used mine up) but you might be lucky!

I’ve signed up to the waiting list but didn’t see an option to buy in to the program.

Anyone know how long-ish I could be waiting for?

You're welcome.

Bear in mind that this is a discounted rate and when they launch publicly in the summer they say it will be £500. (I don't work for them- honestly!)

It is a big chunk of cash but there is a history of heart disease in my family and my mum, although very slim was pre-diabetic for a while (although she is 90) - she's cracked that now with my advice on carbs.

I’ve paid to start in April.

In the last five years, I’ve gone from being a conscious eater and runner into a fat, early perimenopausal slob with terrible digestion, skin and energy. My usual diet and exercise regimes that I’d turn to and have reliable results with, no longer have any effect whatsoever. It’s like my whole being has changed and I hate it.

This has happened to almost all females in my family. Hit peri and wham! Weight gain, T2 diabetes and heart issues. There’s clearly some genetic issue with processing sugar and fats (the fat gene?) and I’m determined to avoid it and reverse the damage I’ve already done but I feel I need the daily guidance I hope this program will provide.

I read that this is something they are working on - a follow up gut health test.

@hydroxyapatite The lipid test shows how your body handles fat. You eat the muffins over a set time period and your scores are then calculated against others of the same age and sex.

It says it measures triglycerides and an estimated fasting cholesterol into one score.

This is different I assume to other tests where you wouldn't eat the food provided by the tester.

The difference with Zoe is that your body is matched against others - 2000- to give your score relative to them.

My blood fat score was 'Good' but when matched against other women my age ( 60) it was better.

I looked at other tests around and found that most gut health tests are around £180.
The 2 week blood Libre glucose monitor is £40- £45 (on its own)
A cholesterol test would be £whatever.
So that brings it up to maybe £250.
The Zoe kit etc is £295 and then there is the mandatory one month of coaching for £60.

I didn't really benefit from the coaching and most of my questions for them were techie stuff about the app and giving them feedback on the app.

For me, it was about getting some 'reassurance' or otherwise.
I had excellent gut health, but low on diversity so that's a goal to work on.
I had excellent blood glucose control which surprised me as carbs just pile the weight on me.
My lipids were 'good' so if anything I need to be careful I don't overdo the fat or do more exercise.

@OriGanOver yes that is annoying. I find it quite tricky to stick to 75+ but it's easy to get between 65 and 70 most days and I'd like to see what that looks like consistently. I may try a cgm again at that was my 'bad' result....

The only think stopping me from buying the tests when I reach the top of the waiting list is that you don't get a follow up test in a year or so time.

@Dailymailtroll tesco do an unpasteurised kimchi in the chilled section. It lasts two weeks from opening.

I have made my own kimchi, I'd love to be one of those people who regularly makes kimchi with leftover cabbage, but I'm not. I work FT, I exercise, single parent and I get tired.

And YY to who said add in not take out approach. I really like that too.

I have bought and am enjoying the package. I expected my gut microbiome to be really diverse after 30 years of pescatarianism. Reader, it wasn't.

I have learnt a lot about adding to my diet and swaps that I can make that are achievable and don't leave me feeling hungry. I haven't gone anywhere near kimchi or sauerkraut. It's not my thing, and that's fine.

I was not looking to lose weight, however I have been concerned that as an 'apple' I have a tendency to visceral fat, and have lost 2 cm on my waist and 2cm on my hips in the last 4 weeks. I feel energetic. I have postgraduate qualifications in biology including substantial components of study in nutrition and still feel like I've learnt something.

If it's not for you that's fine. You may get some benefit feom microbial diversity testing, or wearing a libre for two weeks, but doing it all as a 'one-er' has been really helpful for me, as all of the results overlap with the others to give a more complete picture of what works for me and what really doesn't.

Info here about Zoe's competitors, you could check to see if one of them is better place to spend your money.

Zoe's fat test is tuned to the muffins they make you eat.

Oviva is free in UK (?) but only if you actually have T2DM I think (?)

I am on the fence about it (have done it). It was expensive and I'm not 100% it was worth it. My results were a bit better than I expected but my blood glucose was poor. No surprise as I am overweight and have type 2 diabetes in the family.

I have made some changes and others I am aware of but don't adhere to. I did/do lose weight on it but as others say that isn't the primary purpose.

What I found the most useful was the 'add not take away' approach as well as all things in moderation. For example, my breakfasts are bigger and I eat more good fats.

To be honest, before I started it I read 'why we eat' and the Rangan Chattergee book which helped just as much. Combining that with the podcasts and IG feed probably will get you 90% of the way there. Eat whole grains, plants, fermented food. Limit the ultra processed shit. Exercise a bit.