Thanks for this, I’m doing Zoe at the moment and was literally trying to explain to a colleague why I like it when your article popped up. I think it is the sense of control I like and the fact I know I have a re-test booked so am motivated to actually do what I already knew I should be doing. I also love the move away from calorie counting. It was time!
Thank you for that! Now I'll stop feeling I'm missing out because I can't afford Zoe. I do think it comes down to understanding that the basics are critical for all of us - well or otherwise - sleep, deep relaxation, exercise of various kinds, real food (mostly plants). Still, I can see where specifics like 'mole monitoring' might supplement the NHS in a positive way.
You're so right. With much of this stuff it's less about knowing what we need to do (let's face it, we know by this point!), and more about working out HOW to relax when work is stressful, or move more in a world designed for people to be sedentary, or eat more plants when the easiest/cheapest thing is ultra-processed convenience food, etc etc.
Accountability can help with that (which is where these tests come in, and also health professionals like PTs etc), but there's so much pressure on the individual. I'd personally like to see structural changes to make it easier for us all to make healthy choices.
Agreed! Accountability and community do help. We’re social creatures, and it’s easier to have healthier habits when our friends and family are practising them too. For structural changes we need cultural paradigm shifts. Consider the way the four-day work week is often discussed. In response to talking about the studies that show it’s effective, there’s a lot of irrelevant discussion about the workplaces where it won’t be practical - as if it can’t be rolled out for all, it shouldn’t be rolled out at all. Maybe if we can demonstrate the cost savings to the NHS over time, the argument for structural change might land a bit better.
This is a fascinating subject. I’d like to try Zoe, but it’s expensive for me. I imagine I would receive similar advice, ie eat more veg, less UPF. My husband knows me well and said “but would you do it? (ie follow the advice)”. He’s probably right there, but don’t tell him.
I listened to an episode of Dr Chatterjee’s podcast yesterday, where he was talking to a dentist. You can now test your oral microbiome. Something that I’m quite interested in following a recent horrid dental infection after having a wisdom tooth removed. Naturally, as this is relatively new, it’s several hundred pounds.
I think it feels more “official” to have a medical professional tell you to do or not do something (ie addressing your diet), rather than you deciding for yourself.
Through my work, I get a free blood test with Aviva which tells you diabetes risk, cholesterol levels, etc. that was quite good.
Re moles, I use an app called Miiskin. You log photos of your moles which are date stamped, so you can compare them. I put a ruler next to the moles, so it should be easier to see if they have changed.
This is so interesting - and such a good point that it feels more "official" to get that advice specific to you, from a medical professional.
In terms of the oral microbiome, I did one of those tests (for another Sunday Times feature), and they did identify some bad bacteria, but the treatment was... eat more veg, drink less alcohol, manage stress and - obviously - brush and floss really well at least twice a day.
You can also buy oral probiotics, but they're more of a "nice to have" than really necessary.
Hopefully that will reassure you that you don't actually have to do the test if you know what the advice would be - and I have a feeling that would have been the advice, regardless of the outcome of the test!
Thanks for this post. It has encouraged me to look into the mole mapping which, having had a very close friend die from a Melanoma in his early 60’s, is something I know needs to be checked.
Thank you , your evaluation certainly helps put things into perspective. Really helpful at a time when trying to choose preventative or monitoring.
Thanks for this, I’m doing Zoe at the moment and was literally trying to explain to a colleague why I like it when your article popped up. I think it is the sense of control I like and the fact I know I have a re-test booked so am motivated to actually do what I already knew I should be doing. I also love the move away from calorie counting. It was time!
Yes exactly - it's the motivation and accountability for me, because imagine how great it will feel to see your scores improve!
Yes, and it did make me try a dragon fruit. Not something I would have been likely to do without numeric validation!
Thank you for that! Now I'll stop feeling I'm missing out because I can't afford Zoe. I do think it comes down to understanding that the basics are critical for all of us - well or otherwise - sleep, deep relaxation, exercise of various kinds, real food (mostly plants). Still, I can see where specifics like 'mole monitoring' might supplement the NHS in a positive way.
You're so right. With much of this stuff it's less about knowing what we need to do (let's face it, we know by this point!), and more about working out HOW to relax when work is stressful, or move more in a world designed for people to be sedentary, or eat more plants when the easiest/cheapest thing is ultra-processed convenience food, etc etc.
Accountability can help with that (which is where these tests come in, and also health professionals like PTs etc), but there's so much pressure on the individual. I'd personally like to see structural changes to make it easier for us all to make healthy choices.
Agreed! Accountability and community do help. We’re social creatures, and it’s easier to have healthier habits when our friends and family are practising them too. For structural changes we need cultural paradigm shifts. Consider the way the four-day work week is often discussed. In response to talking about the studies that show it’s effective, there’s a lot of irrelevant discussion about the workplaces where it won’t be practical - as if it can’t be rolled out for all, it shouldn’t be rolled out at all. Maybe if we can demonstrate the cost savings to the NHS over time, the argument for structural change might land a bit better.
This is a fascinating subject. I’d like to try Zoe, but it’s expensive for me. I imagine I would receive similar advice, ie eat more veg, less UPF. My husband knows me well and said “but would you do it? (ie follow the advice)”. He’s probably right there, but don’t tell him.
I listened to an episode of Dr Chatterjee’s podcast yesterday, where he was talking to a dentist. You can now test your oral microbiome. Something that I’m quite interested in following a recent horrid dental infection after having a wisdom tooth removed. Naturally, as this is relatively new, it’s several hundred pounds.
I think it feels more “official” to have a medical professional tell you to do or not do something (ie addressing your diet), rather than you deciding for yourself.
Through my work, I get a free blood test with Aviva which tells you diabetes risk, cholesterol levels, etc. that was quite good.
Re moles, I use an app called Miiskin. You log photos of your moles which are date stamped, so you can compare them. I put a ruler next to the moles, so it should be easier to see if they have changed.
This is so interesting - and such a good point that it feels more "official" to get that advice specific to you, from a medical professional.
In terms of the oral microbiome, I did one of those tests (for another Sunday Times feature), and they did identify some bad bacteria, but the treatment was... eat more veg, drink less alcohol, manage stress and - obviously - brush and floss really well at least twice a day.
You can also buy oral probiotics, but they're more of a "nice to have" than really necessary.
Hopefully that will reassure you that you don't actually have to do the test if you know what the advice would be - and I have a feeling that would have been the advice, regardless of the outcome of the test!
Thanks for this post. It has encouraged me to look into the mole mapping which, having had a very close friend die from a Melanoma in his early 60’s, is something I know needs to be checked.
So sorry to hear that. The test is certainly reassuring.