Zoe Nutrition Testing

[Wombat27A]

Not sure this is the right place for this...

Anyone else doing the Zoe Nutrition Testing?

My results were poor, so now I'm tackling my diet. I thought it was pretty good but it's clear it needs a major overhaul. So much information but finding it good.🙂

Thanks Flockameanie for the sign up code. I am tempted but it does seem a bit expensive at £34.99 a month for a 4 month membership with a £140 upfront payment so I am not sure.

The tests are useful as they show how good your body is at regulating blood sugar and fat and whether you have a wonderful variety of gut bugs.

The tracking is a bit more difficult - I'd like macros as well, or for it to link with a better organised food tracker as the one on the app seems to be quite US based (lots of cups in the recipe and it really wants me to eat types of seafood which are hard to find in the UK) so I'd suggest paying for the minimum amount of app support and upgrading if you find it useful.

I'd agree with this.

I think they know the UK version isn't quite there yet. I think they said this was the reason for how it's being launched here.

I was suspicious of the marketing tactics too as it smacks of a very American approach to signing up customers. Having refused to sign up for lots of these types of things in the past if there's a massive funnel to get to the price, I was actually surprised by the price being fairly reasonable. I'd seen the US reviews & it was more for testing, I think. Gut testing has always been expensive or I'd have done it before.

The muffins are formulated so that all participants eat a standard meal, then the results are compared to everyone else to get your recommendations for foods. It's part of a scientific study too but that is voluntary.

I've run out of words but I'm sure someone else can explain more. 😁

Thanks @FinallyHere - have had a look and may buy another to get the continued testing and checking for another 2 weeks - agree with others it is addictive! I know it seems like a big investment but I am working on the basis that I have spent that many times over on weight watchers, slimming world, Noom, Atkinson and fast 800 plus countless others over the last three decades none of which have helped me unless I am on a constant diet. What attracts me is finding out how I react, and what is good for me not for other people. I am fed up of being surrounded by people who can eat anything and I sit there with my sad little plate of calorie counted food and nothing comes off or it even goes on. I really like knowing the science behind what is happening and being a ‘citizen scientist’ and joining in to help others. My overriding aim is to push down on being a decimal point under prediabetes so if I can do that and lose some weight that will be well worth it. I am never going to be Cindy Crawford but would like to look less like SpongeBob Squarepants

Yep, I've fed my DH huge amounts of good food over the years, whilst I've had to be exceptionally restrained or gaining weight. I've gained and lost more than he weighs. His weight has remained unchanged and he does indeed look like the whippets.

I wanted to know where I was going wrong...

I also wanted to know about my gut microbiome as I've been interested in this for years and I heard about the studies where people had different responses to food. I wish DH had done the tests now, would love to see what his scores would be.

Thanks very much to @Flockameanie for the referral code. I signed up this morning and my testing kit is on its way. Very excited! I have a number of autoimmune conditions and am really keen to see if this helps manage them and slow down progression.

I have three referral codes if anyone wants them, so please PM me if you want to sign up straight away. I personally think it sounds like reasonable value for money and the evidence base is pretty strong.

I know nothing about this programme but it sounds fascinating.

One question...as someone with raging health anxiety, do any of the tests flag up anything nasty? That would really trigger my anxiety when waiting for results. If it’s just a case of what foods are good/bad for me then I’d be really interested!

@MassiveSalad22

I think the biggest selling point of is that it is a personalised service. In the app they tell you about how the food they recommend is a combination of 3 things - how well you process fat (measured by the muffin eating), how well you process sugar (blood sugar sensor) and what your gut microbiome looks like (poo sample). Apologies if that's stating the obvious and you already knew it.

As others have said, the blood sugar sensor gives you real-time feedback and if you're remotely interested in these things is so very interesting.

I've not had the results of blood or fat yet, but I am very interested to know what that's going to look like.

I am doing this out of curiosity and because I've been looking into microbiome/nutrition stuff for a while, and I love the idea of contributing to the general science for the greater good, and also for the insights into my own health.

@QueenofWhatever I did try and pm you but not sure if it worked. Would be mega grateful if you had a spare referral code

I think if your blood fat levels are massively high, they would tell you. The sugar levels are there for you to see as the app shows them and gives you an average reading. Otherwise, it's your results compared to others but not the numbers.

GP can do lipid testing.

You can only judge for yourself if you'd be adversely affected. I'm a bit depressed to find I have poor control over my sugars and fats but I can't say I didn't know with my family health history. Just a bit gutting, some of it is genetic, some lifestyle, etc.

The website blod has articles on things like how the food matrix works.

Just sent you the link!

Sorry @lugeforlife i never got round to telling you to PM me for the link. If anyone is in need please send me a PM

How do we all feel about meal planning?

Bit of a nightmare for me. The minute I label something "a plan", I rebel. It does not fit well with my poor odd brain.

I don’t feel good about meal planning at all.

I have 3 DC to work around and very little time and I need to make things which suit all of us.

I also want to be able to eat what I want when I want!

are they providing you with a strict plan?

Meal planning for me starts with the regular weekly shop, where I have an idea of what will be available to eat over the week. What we eat on any one day depends partly on sell by dates and partly on whim.

I'm not sure who else to do things.

DH would be happy to shop each day for the evening's meal. I delight when cooking on one day provides meals for a second day. Sigh.

who, meant how.

Thanks for the explanation earlier. I have signed up! Very interesting.

meal planning - I am veggie, DH is not, plus 2 young kids. So I have a few meals which work for all of us and I’m not changing them 😄 I just eat a smaller plate instead of cutting anything out, weight-loss wise.

Right I've now signed up! I can pay it forward if anyone needs a referral code. I did gulp at the cost a bit but I am thinking it could save me on prescription charges!

I know where to come when my poo hammock arrives in a week.....

Have PMd you

Has anyone tried it with ibs? How does it compare to doing a fodmap exclusion diet does it pick up if your gut bacteria react to fodmaps?

Also what is the glucose monitor like to apply? I'm squeamish about that bit!

I don't think it's like fodmap as it isn't about excluding food - just minimising stuff which isn't good for your gut based on the tests and algorithm.

The glucose monitor is a bit scary to actually apply - It's a bit like having an injection but less painful and very straightforward. I was able to do mine on myself - I had DH primed to help but it wasn't needed.

I’ve worn a glucose monitor before and found it no problem to apply. It didn’t hurt - just like someone pressing into your arm momentarily

Applying the glucose monitor was indeed very simple. Having not really thought about it in advance, I had a squeamish moment as I unpacked it

It comes in an 'applicator' which is held against the skin and lightly pressed so that it's all over before you know it.

I'd become a tad obsessed by mine, have bought a a couple more to continue the tests.

I was surprised to find the glucose monitor didn’t hurt at all.

I found the finger prick test slightly worse, it didn’t hurt much but there was quite a bit of blood that took a little while to stop, but all in all it really was fine.

@ArrangeYourFace1 i have sent you a pm - do you still have a code? Thanks!