ZOE: Personalized Nutrition 17+

I greatly value the individual assessment of foods suitable for your gut biome, blood fat and blood sugar. ( Although part of me questions whether my ability to deal with blood sugar spikes and high blood fat is as bad as reported back to me- I have gone with it though) . They make a complex task as easy as possible. The app works extremely well in helping you identify the foods that suit you best based on a very complex feedback of my test results. I find the educational side invaluable. That the info given is based on peer reviewed research is brilliant. The podcasts are excellent and throw up some very surprising results. It is clear that this app is also to be used by American markets and this is reflected in some of the terms used esp in recipes. In general you can get clear scores for foods eaten but there is a bias towards ready made foods rather than homemade options but this becomes easier overtime especially if you adopt the recommended recipes. Overall though it is a brilliant adventure - where I view my stomach as a ‘garden’ to nurture. Lots of people I talk to are interested in the health study and results although it doesn’t go down too well if a thoughtfully resourced and cooked meal by your friends scores between 0-10 and you then share the score with them. - even though no foods are off limits but frequency of eating them is another matter! So overall a very exciting journey / just started!

I thought I ate healthily - mostly home made and never UPF. But what has been fascinating is seeing my unique microbiome results and discovering that I had poor blood sugar and blood fat responses. Some very simple diet tweaks, adding in my gut boosters, no longer eating my gut suppressors but also working harder to diversify my veg intake which isn’t that hard thinking about how I sequence my fat or sugar intake has been incredible. I have energy; I no longer feel I need an afternoon sleep or generally lethargic after eating; my digestion is 100% improved and efficient; and I sleep better. The lessons on the app might seem simplistic at times but over the 4 months I’ve really built up some interesting information about fat sequencing, about glucose hacks, about not ever depriving myself of food I love but how to work around them to stop the glucose spikes. I find it fascinating so I’m totally committed and also now I can really see what difference it makes to me uniquely, why wouldn’t I keep going. And on the days I fall off the wagon and eat stuff that doesn’t suit me, I really notice my body’s reaction to that with my tongue getting sore, my stomach bloating, wind and lethargy. So armed with all this info I can make choices. But I am never hungry, always satisfied and feel great. So thanks to the team and Prof Tim Spector

I’m so pleased I decided to pay for the Zoe nutrition programme. I’m 67 and want to stay as healthy as I can into my old age. Although it seemed expensive for me to do the 4 month programme, (given I’m on a budget), I’m very impressed by the app and it’s helping me a lot. I’m even thinking of extending my membership to the full year. The feedback about how my body processes sugars and fats has been so interesting, and not what I expected. Although it was a bit daunting, the thought of attaching the glucose monitor to my arm, it actually didn’t hurt at all. And because of the monitor I now know that wholemeal bread makes my blood sugar go way too high, and since I cut it out I don’t feel tired after my lunchtime sandwich. No more post- lunch torpor. Brilliant! And it’s been fascinating finding out about the types of microbes in my gut and how I can make them more healthy. Since I’ve increased my plant food intake and started eating more of the foods that are right for my body I don’t feel hungry at all. So I highly recommend it if you’re struggling with your weight or just want to get healthier. (Especially impressive is the support team. They’ve responded quickly to my questions and been very helpful.)