MY zoe experience
by emme martin
Introduced to you in VIE’s April 2022 issue, ZOE is a program that analyzes your gut bacteria, blood fat, and blood sugar responses to determine the right meal plan for you. Through its PREDICT studies, ZOE found that everyone reacts differently to the same foods—even identical twins. As a result, ZOE combines artificial intelligence with expertise from the world’s best scientists to help users discover how to eat for their individual bodies. Intrigued by the cutting-edge nature of the program, VIE’s assistant editor, Emme Martin, decided to give ZOE a try. Here’s what she learned.
The Testing Experience
It began when I received the aesthetic packaging that met the prerequisites of an Instagram story post. The box included a continuous glucose monitor, a blood-fat test, a gut-health test, and the special muffins, which I was excited to try.
I applied the continuous glucose monitor the next day. I would be wearing it on my arm for the next two weeks, and it would tell me what my blood sugar levels were at any time I scanned via an app on my phone. The prick was less intense than I expected, as I genuinely did not feel anything when my coworker Kelly applied it. From there, downloading the accompanying app was equally as straightforward.
Through its PREDICT studies, ZOE found that everyone reacts differently to different foods—even identical twins. As a result, ZOE combines artificial intelligence with the world’s best scientists to help users discover how to eat for their individual bodies.
Over the next two weeks, I became used to scanning my monitor after every meal and analyzing how specific foods affected my blood sugar levels. It was insightful, as I realized a lethargic mood often correlated with consuming sugars or processed foods. Notably, consuming alcohol causes my blood sugar levels to drop very low—understandable but surprising. On the other hand, my blood sugar and energy levels were more stable when I ate healthy proteins and vegetables. I felt motivated to eat fewer processed foods because I saw the proof of their adverse effects via my blood sugar monitor. Swapping processed foods for healthy proteins and vegetables not only stabilized my blood sugar, but I was also noticing an increase in productivity and a general sense of well-being. This stability was a feeling that no fad diet had offered me in the past.
The gut health test involved taking a stool sample and sending it back to the lab—very glamorous. The stool would reveal the prevalence of thirty specific bacteria in my gut that ZOE’s science uses to present a list of foods to support the good bacteria and reduce the bad. It’s like a personality test for your gut!
The final test involved the special muffins, which would help determine my blood fat and sugar levels. I ate the muffins, fasted for a few hours, then pricked my finger—giving quite the rush— and sent my blood sample back to the lab. Then I just had to wait for the results. In the meantime, I continued to complete the lessons on the ZOE app, which taught me a lot about nutrition in general.
The Results
I got my results back six weeks later, and here’s what I learned.
First, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that my gut diversity was low, indicating I could use more “good bugs.” I was a little concerned about the seriousness of this, as I think about myself as a relatively healthy person, but my ZOE coach assured me that the scores are highly variable based on long- and short-term eating habits, so I shouldn’t worry about it. I did have a few of these good bugs, such as Felicia, Rumi, and Violet—these are code names ZOE gives for simplicity’s sake. According to the report, Felicia is found in 97 percent of the population and is associated with higher polyunsaturated fat and lower insulin levels.
I had more “bad bugs” present in my gut than desirable, but I was confident I could make some adjustments to improve by following my plan. I also noticed that the bad bugs I had present were prevalent in a large majority of the population—making me think this might be a more significant issue in our collective food sources.
My blood sugar response was based on my levels after eating the muffins. Again, it was not ideal, but this is just good information to have. A good blood sugar response links to low inflammation, sustainable energy, controlled hunger levels, and a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease. The ZOE app tells me which foods my blood sugar is likely to respond well to—such as sunflower seeds and cashews.
The blood fat control response suggests how well my body clears fats from my blood after consumption. Good levels are linked to low dietary inflammation and good long-term health. Unfortunately, my blood fat control score was just below good. My ego is aching at this point, but I have hope for improvement! The report explained how maintaining good blood fat levels is about the quality of food choices rather than calories. In addition, ZOE emphasizes the “no food is off-limits” mentality, outlining that mixing in high-scoring foods with lower ones can help maintain a balanced diet. ZOE also encourages food diversity to promote good gut health, meaning switching it up is good.
Also included in the app is a list of gut-boosting foods. These are mainly intuitive, with foods such as lentils, avocados, pecans, and broccoli considered beneficial for promoting good bugs in my gut. Unfortunately, I learned that bacon is less than ideal for my gut health, and cola was a hard pass. However, one of my favorite parts of the ZOE app is that it provides alternatives for me to make better choices. I can also see entire meal suggestions based on my biology. For example, my gut must love avocados because the app highly recommended guacamole and avocado toast.
I now log my meals in the ZOE app to see how my levels will respond and utilize the meal suggestions. I can also talk with one of the ZOE coaches on the app to discuss any questions or concerns I have.
Overall Thoughts
I love ZOE’s solution- and education-based approach. The insights into my gut bacteria, blood fat response, and blood sugar responses were fascinating and inspiring. While the testing process can be cumbersome at times, it’s worth the result of learning about your health. ZOE is excellent for individuals who like to see the complete picture of weight loss and want to learn how to maintain good health long-term, and I cannot recommend it enough for them. ZOE is not recommended for individuals who are underweight, pregnant, or have chronic gastrointestinal conditions.
I love ZOE’s solution- and education-based approach. The insights into my gut bacteria, blood fat response, and blood sugar responses were fascinating and inspiring.
In addition, ZOE recently launched a weekly podcast hosted by CEO Jonathan Wolf called ZOE Science & Nutrition, available on all podcast platforms. The podcast has already reached the top of the health and wellness category charts thanks to its inspiring conversations with top scientists to discuss health, nutrition, and gut research—check it out!
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Visit JoinZOE.com to get started or learn more about the program and the cutting-edge research behind it.
