Zoe food plan

[Dobcross1]

Hi, wondering if anyone on here is trying the 'Zoe' food plan and, if so, how are you finding it? Apparently, you are given a glucose monitor, blood and poo tests and after the results are analysed you are given an individualised food (not diet!) plan to follow tailored to your body's needs. Tim Spector the Epidemiology man runs it and it seems to make sense in that individuals all react to foods differently (as we do with our medications!). So the 'one size fits all' approach may not suit - for example a food which makes my blood sugar spike may not affect you at all... Though, being sceptical it does sound a little 'too good to be true' plus of course there's cost involved. Interested to know experiences of other. Thanks 😁

[Boxerlady]

I hadn't heard of this (although I report in the Zoe app every day) so I just looked it up - looks very expensive! 🤨

I wonder how involved Tim Spector is - the cynic in me suspects that it's run by others and is aimed more at the American market but then I'm naturally suspicious! 😂

I'll be interested to see what answers you get.

[helixhelix in reply to Boxerlady]

Is it available outside the UK?

Both my sisters have signed up, and rabbit on about it. What they are finding interesting is learning which foods spike their glucose levels - not necessarily the obvious ones.

But it is expensive so even if it was available here not sure I would pay beyond the initial tests..

[Dobcross1 in reply to helixhelix]

Yes, I'd be interested in Glucose spikes too. My problem would be sticking to it as I have a terrible sweet tooth! I think it might be only available in the UK now but I'm sure they will roll it out in the future.

[Boxerlady in reply to helixhelix]

I just assumed that it was as the blurb struck me as being in "American English" 😂

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to helixhelix]

You can do that yourself if you buy a blood sugar meter and test before you eat and 90 minutes afterwards. Record everything you have eaten and you will know exactly what foods spike your blood sugar then you can avoid those foods.

A Pilates friend signed up for the Zoe project. She has stopped it now, a) it was expensive (she is quite well off too) and b) she got fed up with it all and c) she didn’t lose any weight - well she does love eating out.

[Amnesiac3637]

Agree with Boxerlady. I had a look at this. I signed up to Zoe in the pandemic when they wanted symptoms reported and still receive all the blurb.

Got quite excited about the food plan until I got down to the nitty gritty and discovered the cost per month and went off the whole idea! It’s been rolled out in America for a couple of years and I think it’s now in the UK or about to be. A good concept but would be better if it was free (in the interests of science of course 🤪) cos someone’s making a small fortune out of those who do sign up and are paying monthly for glucose monitoring. Of course I want to know what foods are better/healthier/less likely to cause problems but the advice is out there already so I think I’ll stick and wait till the volume outweighs the turnover and it becomes considerably cheaper……….

[AgedCrone]

I read about it on Zoé & then saw Tim Spector on TV describing the type of foods in the eating regimes & no matter how healthy it might have made me….it seemed to take so long to make a meal….& looking at the breakfast options on the regime that I looked at….the thought of glugging down strong black coffee at breakfast was a definite NoNo…but I did only look at one choice.

But if somebody feels it might help them & they are struggling with weight or have digestive problems ….TS looks a reasonably healthy man so what he eats is presumably healthy…it could be worth a try. TS has a UTube Ad showing some of the menus.

The programme I saw didn’t give the cost..but you could work it out ..but all the natural yoghurt, berry fruits, avocado & special bread could easily swallow up a fiver for one breakfast. I wonder….do many people spend £35 PW on just breakfast ? Then for lunch & dinner?

And if you get all the gizmos to do the testing…it could be a very expensive experiment.

[Boxerlady in reply to AgedCrone]

It isn't the cost of the food that concerned me, it's the cost of the plan itself -about £300 for the tests and then about £25 a month for the membership which tells you what the results mean and how to improve things 😱

[AgedCrone in reply to Boxerlady]

Wow..that is expensive. Tbh…..having reached the grand old age of 82….I think I might have been eating kinda the right stuff for me…no diabetes, not obese…just RA/SS…. & eating the wrong foods didn’t cause that.

I suppose if you are a younger person & do tend to eat a lot of processed foods & have all sorts of health problems….budget permitting it could help to to know what could help you be healthier.

When I worked night shifts I used to eat a Mars bar on the drive home….being slow on the uptake…it took me ages to work out such an intake of sugar on an empty stomach was the cause of what I had assumed was a tension headache because I was so tired….but it was that darned Mars bar!

[helixhelix in reply to Boxerlady]

Had a long conversation about this with my sister last night. She is v pleased with it, and having initially signed up just for one month (the minimum) is now going to do 3 and then stop as she thinks that will tell her what she needs.

She was always convinced she eats well, but has found this has helped her make little tweaks that aid her blood sugar and blood fats - both of which were shown to be too high.

We both think diet is important but neither of us are people who believe in the strict regimes that float about promising you the complete panacea to all your woes. So she is somewhat startled to find that her hand arthritis has improved in 2 months (She has an erosive and inflammatory specific type of osteo-arthritis that just attacks hands).

She is also hoping that if she continues to follow the guidance she will be able to avoid going on statins, which her GP has been nagging her to do.

[medway-lady]

I don’t know anything about it but it puzzles me that to be diagnosed Celioc I had a syringe full of blood taken then a camera down the throat but some of the types of plans claim that they can work out sensitivity’s from a drop of blood. Could save the NHS a fortune?. Lol

[AgedCrone in reply to medway-lady]

I think all the stuff associated with Zoë is research…& you know how long that takes!

[HappykindaGal]

I’m an absolute Tim Spector Fangirl and have looked at this. A couple of friends do it and rave about it so perhaps I’ll just crack on and do it.

Having a cost also makes you more committed to something. Even something like Slimming World is around £20 a month.

I guess it’s like having your own functional meds doctor at the start.

Your post has reminded me to take another look 🌞

[Dobcross1 in reply to HappykindaGal]

I think it is really informative. My problem is that I know I'm terrible at sticking to things and suspect that I'll just give up and eat what I want rather than what is good for me 🤣😂

[HappykindaGal in reply to Dobcross1]

Hahaha. I get you as that's me too.

[AgedCrone in reply to HappykindaGal]

I eat what I like the taste of…I know if I was told to eat something

I hated..I just wouldn’t.

[helixhelix in reply to AgedCrone]

As a result of using the Zoe programme my sister has swapped from a poor quality chocolate to a better one (more cocoa solids, less other stuff). She is ecstatic to be able to justify buying the chocolate she prefers, but which her husband doesn’t.

No deprivation at all😁😂

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

Luckily I don’t like chocolate ....except in a hot chocolate drink…but I love crisps ….which with hypertension is not a good match.

But I think I have enough blood tests for various conditions…if I was eating something that was really not suitable for me it would have been spotted by now.

But anything that sets your mind at rest about your health must be a good thing…and you can stop the Zoë programme at any time.

[helixhelix in reply to AgedCrone]

I was just giving this as a real example of how this plan is not like a restrictive diet.

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

I regard anything I have to read telling me what to eat for whatever reason as restrictive!

[Claribel55]

My husband and I started the Zoe plan a week ago. Yes it’s expensive but as another reader says the monthly cost is no more than I was paying Slimming World and - allegedly- this aims for an overall health improvement tailored to you and not just weight loss so we thought it worth a try. The glucose monitor is only for 2 weeks but that’s been fascinating so far- my husbands and my spikes are definitely for different foods!! Currently awaiting the full reports after they analyse the poo and blood samples. BTW the blood is a pin prick onto a special card and apparently that is to analyse fat absorbtion/processing rates.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Claribel55]

Thanks so much for your reply. They say knowledge is power and to know what is right for you personally will be great. Good luck!

[Lee_Scoresby]

I’m waiting to start the programme at some time this month. It’s going to be very interesting!!

[Hidden]

Brilliant stuff !

I been using it

[Lex54]

Hi

I'm afraid I'm not really impressed by this. Also very expensive. If you want to check your poo you can get a free test from Gp ir if older in Scotland the nhs send test cards regularly anyway. If you have blood in your poo you definitely need help so if concerned go to Gp. As far as blood sugar monitoring unless you are diabetic or at risk of this then a well balanced diet is all you need. You can also buy a blood glucose monitor at a chemist with sticks. Everyone has a variation in this but a normal adults bm level is between 4-8 approximately. Multiple things can affect this measurement and if anything Aspartame artificial sweeteners affect your body more negatively as it messes up your insulin levels. Also does much more damage than people realise! Therefore there are multiple problems with this as people will become obsessive with the monitoring and not really understand the results unless a nurse or medical professional.

I have RA and also struggle with losing weight but I know it's because I'm not as active as I should be and don't eat as healthily as a should either. Nobody is perfect and if there was a magic machine to analyse all your needs and help you lose weight, it would have been used a long time ago !

Yes expensive as is weight watchers etc. I recon it's our mindsets that make a difference and determination to be healthy that makes us fitter and lose weight. Sorry I'm not a fan of yo-yo dieting and never spent money on any of these apart from Forever livings clean 10 which detoxes your body. I effortlessly lost a stone in 20 days by eating better and light excercise. This is just my opinion! Good luck !

[helixhelix in reply to Lex54]

You cannot get microbiome tests on the NHS. The GP tests are just for blood as a warning sign of colorectal cancer. And the blood sugar testing is to help you understand how YOUR body reacts to food, wherever you are in the blood sugar spectrum.

This may not be for you, which is fine, but it also has nothing to do with yo-yo diets or restrictive regimes. The basic principal is that it helps you understand how what you eat affects you so you can decide to make changes.

[Lex54 in reply to helixhelix]

Ok glad that's been explained. ...

[greynot]

I'll be interested if/when the cost goes down.Meanwhile, having followed Zoe since the covid reporting ap, I've picked up some useful hints and tips along the way. Eg keffir after antibiotics helps re-set my gut.

[AgedCrone in reply to greynot]

As I said…it’s research….as was all the work done on Covid.Therefore I would imagine when the results come through…it will be marketed by some pharmaceutical company.

[Shelby37]

Hi, I have done it. It was very good and I learned a lot about the way I process foods and my gut microbiome. It was not the obvious things either, some foods I thought were good for me were actually really bad in terms of my glucose spikes and crashes. I'm in the UK and it is expensive. I just paid for the tests and the first 8 weeks and then immediately cancelled my subscription.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Shelby37]

Thanks.. it's good to know you can get your results and then cancel one you have the knowledge you need.

[helixhelix in reply to Dobcross1]

My sister is on her 3 months now and has cancelled as has the knowledge she needs.

[HappykindaGal]

Just as an aside. Most of the costs will be lab costs. We send people on behalf of our doctor clients tests for bloods etc. And the cost is the lab processing fee. Slimming World you pay for an unqualified person to look at a set of scales 😃

[cyberbarn]

My GP did it and rated it highly. He posted photos of what he was eating and how it was spiking his glucose levels. When I looked at what he was eating I thought wow, that would spike mine too!

I think it would be good for people who aren't in touch with their bodies because it might help people learn to sense the blood sugar spikes and to read their body better. Could also be good for people that eat a lot of processed food.

A far cheaper alternative would be to buy a glucose test kit, they aren't that expensive, and do your own finger pricks and track your glucose levels and what you eat in a spreadsheet. And to start cooking from scratch. And not eat muffins for breakfast! (when you cook from scratch you know exactly how much sugar is in a muffin, even if it is a bran muffin and supposed to be good for you!)

[HallidayBottle]

I’m two weeks into Zoe which means I’ve just taken the glucose sensor off but have yet to receive my personal results and guidance.

My impression so far is that it is very well organised (it should be for the money) but the main insights (eat a greater variety of veg; avoid simple carbs etc. are fairly generic)

The glucose monitor is very useful for giving you a sense of how your body immediately reacts to food and how you can control the reactions through water/exercise/food combining). I’m yet to get a sense of how this works with inflammation but will report back when I do. Still very much in the beginner slopes.

The one positive thing I’d note is that seeing the real times effects of glucose has made me much more cautious about beer and biscuits - so it’s a useful kick start for self control. Will let you know how it goes.

[Dobcross1 in reply to HallidayBottle]

Thanks, yes please let us know. I am persuaded to give this a go!

[Deeb1764]

after just being diagnosed as a diabetic maybe just get a glucose reader and you will quickly see what spikes your bloods ie. Carbs and free sugars! Dr Mosley book re diabetes is good and I too have a sweet tooth but natural yogurt and stewed fruits have become my new sweet moment.

I think what I have learnt is how quickly the carbs ‘bad’ ones add up and affect your body so maybe more research before finding an expensive food plan that you could do yourself.

I stripped the cupboards of “bad foods”ie we used everything up set a date and from that point on I changed. We don’t eat badly anyway but it was all about the carbs and free sugars controls. You can still have the odd treat but you think about what that treat is, that’s the way I look at it! 🥰

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Deeb1764]

I agree, but a glucose meter, record what you are eating and you will see the spikes in your blood sugar. I suppose it doesn’t show the inner workings of your biome but if you eat a good well balanced diet with lots of good good quality fresh foods with plenty of veggies and minus junk and processed foods with nasty additives in them then I think your biome will thank you.

I can see the attraction having watched programmes with him and his friend Michael Moseley but I honestly think people are paying a lot of money to be one of his ‘lab rats’ and I think the waiting list makes it all seem more desirable.

I was watching or reading something recently saying that we should be eating 30 different plants a week and it explained how to do it and with the quantities of each food which was very interesting and looked fairly easy to do.

But it’s up to everyone to make their own choices.

theguthealthdoctor.com/how-....

[oldtimer2]

I'm supportive of the research they are doing, and, of course this depends on people doing the tests and attempting to follow the guidance.

The main thing that I really think is great is the challenging of so many myths about food - and you can listen to their podcasts etc without having to shell out large sums of money.

But I couldn't be bothered personally with all the faff of doing the food programme myself - or with paying for it when I didn't really think that I have any intention of changing my dietary habits refined over many years. And these days I really do very little cooking - too old and too disabled. I eat a vegetarian mediterranean diet which seems to suit my joints best.

And now they are the only organisation capable of giving any information about what Covid-19 is doing as it mutates and spreads throughout the population - although I read yesterday that Public Health England have re-started their programme to try and track its progress, but the article did not go into any detail about what means they would use.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’ve been taking part in Virus Watch Team - it’s organised by UCL ucl.ac.uk/health-informatic... and every Monday I get an email asking about symptoms etc so people are still recording what’s going on.

ucl-virus-watch.net

[Brushwork]

Really interesting, I follow Tim Spectre and Zoe, watch most of the podcasts which are very informative. I would do the trial but it is expensive and agree with others that you would propbably get enough insight doing the tests and 3 months.

However, my brother did the blood test to discover what foods he was sensitive/intolerant of. It gave quick results and enabled him to change his daily eating, this lowered his considerably high blood pressure, he lost weight and has more energy and doesn’t bloat.

I am convinced that what we eat has a massive impact on our well being, whether we have ailments or chronic conditions or not, out mental health too.

[Blackberrywine]

I had a look at this. Very expensive! But also heavily biased towards a vegetarian diet which is fine if you can cope with it. I'm grain, bean and legume free due to gut issues so not suitable.