A nutritional scientist has launched a new healthy supplement which has more than 30 ingredients – and which he says will reduce inflammation and help gut heath. Tim Spector who is professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and founder of the Zoe health app says the £2.25 a day addition will help people to hit the goal of eating 30 different plants.
Prof Spector said in a 50-person trial, one control group was given dried croutons while another group was given Daily 30+. After six weeks 51 per cent of supplement takers reported an improvement in energy and saw a significant improvement in the composition of their gut bacteria: an average five-point increase on Zoe’s microbiome score.
He told the Times that many people take supplements all the time, and then proceed to have a poor diet. He described most as a ‘complete waste of money’ and claimed there was little scientific evidence to back up usage. The 30 plant a day recommendation from Tim Spector is because variety is incredibly important – and the focus is on the gut bacteria health which effects inflammation, helps fight disease and infection and prevent diabetes and dementia.
Prof Spector said: “Half the population takes supplements regularly, but 99 per cent have no evidence they work People pop a multivitamin and carry on eating rubbish.”
According to Prof Spector, there are 7,000 polyphenols contained in the plants and fungi in the supplement, which protect us from inflammation. He said: “They shift the ratio of good and bad bugs so we get a healthier microbiome, which we know leads to a better immune system.”
Supplement users also experienced a 21 per cent reduction in hunger. “Ultra-processed food makes you hungrier because it’s so easy to eat you don’t notice it. This is crunchy, textured ‒ you feel it on your tongue ‒ and that has quite a big effect on hunger.”
Other notable results included a 55 per cent reduction in indigestion and a 35 per cent decrease in constipation ‒ the latter thanks to the 5g of fibre in each scoop. While the recommended daily amount of fibre is 30g, the average intake is 15g a day and nine out of ten people in the UK are deficient.
Prof Spector said the Daily 30+ is designed to be sprinkled on top of food – for example yoghurt, salad or anything else. He said: “The majority of ingredients are simply freeze-dried. The cell structure and fibre are the same, which is important. A few we’ve had to pulp or squeeze, some of those cells might be damaged and not in their original state, that’s why we call it minimally processed.”
The supplement costs £39 for a monthly pack (500g), or £133 for four from the Zoe website (with further reductions for members). It will also be for sale from a leading supermarket from July 17 for £13.50 for a weekly pack or £2.25 for a single 15g sachet.
On the issue of health in the UK, he said: “We have the highest [consumption] of ultra-processed food in Europe, the highest number of people of working age who are sick and can’t work. We know 80 per cent of common illnesses, including mental illness, could be prevented if people were on the optimum diet.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
