{"id":171470,"date":"2025-09-21T08:56:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T08:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/171470\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T08:56:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T08:56:18","slug":"can-the-new-zoe-app-change-how-we-eat-i-tried-it-to-find-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/171470\/","title":{"rendered":"Can The New Zoe App Change How We Eat? I Tried It To Find Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

As it becomes increasingly clear that there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nutrition, we\u2019ve seen a flurry of personalised programmes entering the health market. But arguably the most famous is Zoe, Tim Spector<\/a>\u2019s testing kit and app which offers advice on what users should eat using bespoke data on gut health<\/a> and blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When it landed in the UK in April 2022, there was a waiting list of 220k people hungry to get their hands on that famous yellow arm patch \u2013 a blood sugar sensor \u2013 which had already taken off in the US.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to wait around to try out the company\u2019s latest drop, though. Launching today is Zoe 2.0: the brand-new app which promises to transform the way you eat using science and AI. At \u00a39.99 per month, it\u2019s Zoe\u2019s most affordable offering ever, and requires no testing, but can an app alone really change food and lifestyle habits? C&TH\u2019s Ellie Smith gave it a go to find out.<\/p>\n

Review: Zoe 2.0<\/p>\n

My trial of the new Zoe app came at the perfect time. After a summer filled with weddings<\/a>, festivals and holidays, nutrition had slipped down rather low on the priority list, and when September rolled round I was ready to knuckle down and start eating some vegetables again. Zoe 2.0 is all about becoming more mindful of your eating habits: just what I needed after one too many weekends fuelled by Aperol Spritzes and chips in pub gardens.<\/p>\n

However, I was a little sceptical about how personalised an app could really be. There are endless nutrition platforms out there, was this just going to be another funnel for generic advice in an already oversaturated market?<\/p>\n

I was pleasantly surprised. The personal element is clear right from the get-go \u2013 upon signing up, you\u2019re asked to fill in a series of questions about your personal goals, whether you\u2019re keen to prioritise longevity, improve your gut health, boost sleep or lose weight. You also fill in personal data, such as your height, weight and family health history. All this is then analysed and used to offer bespoke advice surrounding nutrition.<\/p>\n

But how does this work in practice? \u2018Our models are trained on data from over 300,000 people in the world\u2019s largest nutrition and microbiome study, so the predictions are remarkably accurate even without taking any at-home tests,\u2019 explains Zoe\u2019s chief scientist Professor Sarah Berry. Users can also connect the app to their wearable fitness tracker, and over time it will then be able to draw information on how your diet, movement and sleep interact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/p>\n

AI Photo Logging<\/p>\n

A key part of the app is the AI photo function, where you can take a picture of your meal, which is then swiftly analysed by Zoe for its nutritional content. I began by setting myself a challenge, pledging to log all my meals and snacks for a seven-day period. Everything you input is given a score out of 100 to help indicate how often you should be eating it, along with a breakdown of the nutritional information of all the macronutrients. The following day, you\u2019re then given a Recharge Score which \u2018looks at things like the quality of fats you\u2019re eating, your intake of different types of processed foods, fibre<\/a>, and how diverse your plant-based foods are,\u2019 Berry explains.<\/p>\n

I smugly kicked things off with a chicken salad (which I found myself arranging more neatly than usual in a bid to impress my personal AI assistant, a gut microbe called Ziggie). Within seconds, I was given a full breakdown of the meal, with Ziggie praising the mix of protein (chicken), avocado and olive oil (healthy fats), cherry tomatoes and cucumber (vitamins and antioxidants) and sesame seeds (fibre). I was awarded 88, a score which means you can enjoy the dish regularly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I was impressed by how accurately the app was able to identify the ingredients. And there\u2019s science to back up this accuracy: Zoe tested its photologging function<\/a> in a study, analysing 10,000 meals from 2,124 participants, finding it performs \u2018extremely well\u2019 when it comes to identifying foods.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Portion size is a little trickier, admits Berry. But, she adds, by \u2018combining smart visual recognition with what we know about typical portion sizes and your own logging history, the app gives much more accurate estimates than the usual self-reporting. Plus, since it learns from every new photo you upload, it just keeps getting more and more accurate over time.\u2019<\/p>\n

On day four, I didn\u2019t feel so smug when sheepishly snapping a generous slice of red velvet cake at a friend\u2019s birthday dinner, anticipating a telling off. Unsurprisingly, I received a low score of 18, meaning it\u2019s one to \u2018enjoy once in a while\u2019. Ziggie explained: \u2018This cake may be tempting, but it\u2019s digested quickly, and with very little fibre, the energy it provides doesn\u2019t last long.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, I was pleased to see the app doesn\u2019t outright ban any foods. Dieticians have long warned that nutrition apps can exacerbate negative relationships with food through their heavy focus on numbers. But Berry argues that Zoe\u2019s scores and streaks are \u2018designed to encourage positive, sustainable behaviours, like boosting your plant diversity, choosing fewer high-risk processed foods, and learning how your body responds to what you eat. It\u2019s not about labelling foods as strictly \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad\u201d \u2013 we\u2019re all about adding foods to your plate, not taking them away.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Carton<\/p>\n

Unsplash<\/p>\n

The Processed Food Risk Scale<\/p>\n

Ultra-processed foods<\/a> have dominated health headlines in recent years, yet there\u2019s still widespread confusion surrounding the topic. While it\u2019s pretty obvious glazed pink doughnuts and sugary sweets fall into the UPF bracket, the line is hazier when it comes to things like protein bars, plant milks and sauces, which are often marketed as healthy options, but secretly packed with additives. That\u2019s where Zoe 2.0\u2019s Processed Food Risk Scale comes in: simply scan a barcode and it will immediately pull up facts on the processing risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Instead of just labelling foods as \u201cbad\u201d because they\u2019re processed, it digs into how they\u2019re made and what that means for your health,\u2019 Berry explains. \u2018Foods are scored on a five-point scale, from Unprocessed to High Risk, based on things like the type and number of additives (they\u2019re not all bad, despite what you might have heard), hyper-palatability (this takes into account the ratios of sugar, fat and salt) and how fast you\u2019re likely to eat the food (energy intake rate).\u2019<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been on a personal mission to cut my intake of UPFs this year, so I found this element particularly helpful. Sadly, it confirmed the news I\u2019ve been refusing to accept for a while: Oatly\u2019s Oat Drink Barista Edition was officially deemed \u2018highly processed\u2019. However, there\u2019s still some nuance needed here. \u2018The ingredients are simply water, oats, rapeseed oil (one of the best oils available), very small amounts of salt, added vitamins and minerals, and dipotassium phosphate \u2013 a safe and approved additive that balances the pH level of coffee (which is quite acidic) and prevents oat drinks from curdling when added to it,\u2019 explains Kate Overy, Nutrition Science and Communications Lead at Oatly. \u2018We don\u2019t use emulsifiers, stabilisers, colours, or flavours in our unflavoured drinks.\u2019<\/p>\n

Many nut milks, including Oatly, fortify their products with nutrients like calcium and vitamins B12 and D. \u2018It\u2019s for this reason that Barista Edition may be noted as highly processed, because we carefully add ingredients to improve performance and nutrition. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s unhealthy or bad for you,\u2019 argues Overy. Nonetheless, I was inspired me to research alternatives \u2013 competitor brand Plenish, for instance, is made of just oats, water and salt, as is Oatly\u2019s Organic edition. Ultimately, the Zoe app is good for transparency, and then people can make personal decisions based on their own needs and preferences.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

(c) Sara Dubler, Unsplash<\/p>\n

Plant Counter<\/p>\n

While getting your five-a-day used to be the gold standard in health, in recent years the focus has shifted towards a more gut-focused approach to eating. The latest research, led by Spector, suggests we should be aiming for 30 different plants a week, with science showing this can protect against certain illnesses and promote healthy ageing. \u2018We now know that our gut microbiome plays a key role in our overall health,\u2019 says Berry. \u2018A gut microbiome that contains a diverse range of good gut bacteria is associated with better energy levels throughout the day, more stable blood sugar, and a lower risk of heart disease.\u2019<\/p>\n

The new Zoe app includes a plant counter, using the data pulled from your food snaps. I liked this aspect too \u2013 seeing the number climb up is surprisingly satisfying, though I didn\u2019t manage to hit 30. It made me realise that while I eat a pretty plant-heavy diet, I\u2019m prone to eating similar meals on rotation. I vowed to mix things up more and be braver with recipes and supermarket choices. The app also made me more aware of what counts as a plant: not only vegetables, but also legumes, nuts, herbs and spices. Happily, even some dark chocolate counts.<\/p>\n

The Verdict<\/p>\n

As a food and health writer and personal trainer, I would say I\u2019m pretty clued up when it comes to nutrition. But I found Zoe 2.0 a reliable, effective and user-friendly method of re-establishing healthy habits surrounding eating. Pretty much straight away, I found myself thinking more carefully about creating a gut-friendly, balanced plate, and I enjoyed the accountability the app encouraged.<\/p>\n

Going forwards, I don\u2019t envisage myself using the app to track everything I eat. However, it was a great tool for a reset, and I\u2019ll definitely continue dipping in and out to learn about the nutritional content of my meals and identify UPFs. And others might find it helpful in other ways \u2013 as Berry puts it: \u2018the key is using the tools in a way that supports long-term behaviour change, and can easily fit into your everyday routine to truly make it stick.\u2019<\/p>\n

Understandably, you\u2019re going to get more personalised advice if you go the whole hog and do the Gut Health Test (\u00a3149). And AI only goes so far \u2013 those looking to dramatically change their diet would likely benefit more from seeing an in-person nutritionist. But for many people, this app alone will be enough to inspire positive change.<\/p>\n

\u00a374.97 for a three-month subscription or \u00a3119.88 for a 12-month subscription, available now from zoe.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As it becomes increasingly clear that there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nutrition, we\u2019ve seen a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":171471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[165,74,3447],"class_list":{"0":"post-171470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-what"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}