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

[hydroxyapatite]

I've read a lot about Zoe nutrition - a much hyped, expensive nutrition package which helps you to regulate blood glucose and blood lipids, and improve your microbiome profile.'

Has anyone done this and found it worth the money? Aren't they really just testing your cholesterol levels and finding out by using a £40 monitor what foods causing a sugar spike after eating? Therefore guiding a better diet?

Oh good, this one is about inflammation & aging.

Technically, aging happens because of passage of time & is inevitable. Nothing can stop it. But I think Spector means "damaging effects of aging" which he shortens to just "aging".

Oh cool! So something I hadn't heard before:
chronic inflammation can cause heart disease, T2DM & some MH disorders.... (1) this inflammation is caused by too high blood sugar that somehow irritates the lining of the blood vessels (& other blood-related actions that they don't specify). If you eat polyphenals (they claim), those reduce the inflammatory effect.... which food have polyphenals ...then Spector goes on to say that lack of best gut microbe balance means too much fat in the blood & that keeps blood sugar high (3) too which keeps inflammatory effect going ...

Berry says that increasing polyphenals in diet improves cognitive function (2)

(1) trying to read wider to better understand, other sources say that high blood sugar leads to constricted vessells which reduce blood flow & increase blood pressure ; I understand those sources better than the "lots of little fires" language that Berry & Spector used.

(2) this review says that's not proven

(3) I know the relationship isn't universal (someone's numbers say opposite)

There are other podcasts on those links, if someone like me finds it easier to scan than listen. Both the transcripts I read were keen on beneficial effects of polyphenals, maybe because that's Berry's area.

So when PP said " Try listening yourself! "

I shouldn't have not followed that suggestion, right, is that what later PP agree with. People should not read or listen for themselves.

As others have said it's not about weight loss.

I'm on the waiting list, I've devoured his podcasts. I did eat fairly healthy already but the last few weeks I've adopted the 30 plants a week, fermented food daily and I like it. On his IG or the Zoe IG page there are nice easy recipes that would not be weight loss recipes, they are gut health recipes.

He is a proper scientist and dr. It's not pseudo science. He is doing research but he's been doing research for years. Check out his twin study.

Gut microbiomes impacting your mood is research that has been around a while now. It's not a new fad.

I shouldn't have not followed that suggestion,

I don't understand double negatives.

You mean you should have followed my advice. ?

People should not read or listen for themselves.

I'm sorry but I don't understand you last post at all.

Sorry but you are not making sense,😀

I had signed up for the waiting list but decided to go ahead when I was given the option of getting an earlier start by buying into the programme. I am interested in the gut microbiome and its impact on health. I think it has a lot to teach us but it has to be scientifically evaluated, and you can only do that through a stool sample. I am looking forward to starting in May but have already started making small tweaks to my diet. You state your own particular health goals, of which weight loss may be one, but this is not the main focus of the study.

I did it, and havent followed much of the advice at all! Was an expensive insight into my body but the advice after was pretty rubbish.

yeah sorry, was an extra not in my last post.... someone said "listen for yourself" and then when I did read podcasts for myself, and commented what I got from those podcasts, it felt like other PP were saying "don't do that! " <shrug>

Hope OP finds it easier to make decision now, whatever their decision is.

I'm so tempted to join it but the cost is very prohibitive.

I eat very healthy but am interest in nutrition generally especially gut microbiology. I think TS is fantastic. No pseudo science, everything backed by data.

You can make your own very easily. We bought some cheap kiln jars, white cabbage, etc, Cheap and simple.

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.

Thanks everyone, some really useful info here. I think of myself as pretty well-versed in nutrition - and I've taken care of my gut health for a long time now. But I'm post menopausal, family history of high cholesterol, diabetes 2, so this might be useful for me.

@LisaLovedUp - the lipid test. Is that something I might be able to get elsewhere without doing Zoe? I can't seem to find what it might be called - it is to do with triglicerides?

I am tempted but I am not cash rich and this is pricey for me

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 (?)

None of those do what Zoe does.

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.

@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.

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.

@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....

@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.

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

@LisaLovedUp - thanks so much for very informed answers. It's appreciated.

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.

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.

@LisaLovedUp I've signed up. For good, or bad! I mean, it's not until June, and I could get run over by a bus by then, but I get that the combined test cost is still relatively reasonable if i was do to go elsewhere.