What You Can Learn Without Investing in the Zoe App - From a Functional Nutritionist
Are you intrigued by the buzz surrounding Zoe and its distinctive yellow blood glucose monitors? Zoe is a personalised nutrition platform with a strong focus on metabolic health and blood sugar balance. As a Nutritional Therapist specialising in Functional Medicine, I see the value in functional testing and personalised guidance. However, after speaking with many individuals who've invested substantial sums in Zoe due to the hype, it's become clear that this data isn't always the most practical investment.
I'd like to share some tips with you to help support your blood sugar without the upfront cost of Zoe and guide you in tuning into the signals your body provides about the peaks and troughs throughout the day:
Mastering Plate Balance: Surprisingly, many of my adult clients are unfamiliar with how to create a well-balanced meal. This isn't anyone's fault, as our society has been inundated with advertisements for carbohydrate-rich, highly processed foods that inevitably lead to blood sugar spikes. The key to a balanced plate is to focus on including protein and healthy fats at every meal and snack. Yes, you read that correctly, protein and healthy fats at every meal and snack. These have a less dramatic impact on blood sugar, helping to moderate the spike caused by carbohydrates.
Embrace Fibre: Fibre is pivotal for digestive health and maintaining stable blood sugar levels. In addition to prioritizing protein and healthy fats, aim to incorporate a variety of fibrous vegetables such as broccoli, beans, nuts, apples, pears, carrots, and sweet potatoes into your diet.
Mindful Snacking: While snacks can be important for blood sugar control, it's essential to consider the reasons behind your snacking. Are you snacking out of hunger, boredom, fatigue, stress, or sadness? If it's genuine hunger, go for it, but always keep in mind tip number 1 - focus on Protein, Fat, and Fiber. Snacks like carrot and hummus, pear with nut butter, or yoghurt with mixed nuts are excellent choices.
Post-Meal Walks: Research has demonstrated that even a brief walk after meals can help reduce the spike in blood sugar, in addition to promoting overall movement and increasing your daily step count.
Reflect and Track: Zoe's app offers the benefit of tracking your food choices and their impact on blood sugar. The good news is that you can do this on your own with some time, honesty, and willingness to reflect on how you feel, for instance, an afternoon energy dip or a mid-morning burst of energy. While it may not provide the same level of data, do you truly need a machine to tell you if you consistently experience a 3 pm crash and find yourself reaching for coffee and biscuits?
I challenge you to stick to the above guidelines for two weeks and observe how your body responds. If you find this information helpful and would like to delve deeper, feel free to contact me for a FREE 30-minute health and energy review. Discover how personalized nutrition can further support your well-being.