Food For Life

Good size book with beautiful pictures and easy to follow recipes using ingredients that most of us have or get easily: very helpful advice explaining the often complex world of chemical additives.

Really interesting read for Tim Spector fans. It will revolutionise what you want to eat. Ultra processed food is a hot topic at the moment and this book clearly explains why we should be thinking of eating more natural, fresh foods.

UK government website of as recent as 2021 has published recommendations that everyone in the UK should be taking 400 international units of Vitamin D daily as we simply can't make enough of this vital substance (ie are Vitamin D deficient) between Oct and March in this part of the world. Unless, of course you can afford to sun yourself in warmer climates during Winter holidays, which most of us can't... Everyone I know who takes Vitamin D in the Winter has noticed a reduction in common infections. Anecdotal data, I know, but consistent nonetheless. Not sure why Tim is so against this vital supplement, in spite of his earlier disappointments. Seasonal Vitamin D supplementation is not an optional indulgence in the northern hemisphere and not everyone can afford the sunkissed mushrooms only sold in luxury supermarkets... Also not convinced in the reliability of the self-selected Zoe app participants data. Sounds inclusive and democratic on the surface, but lots of variables seem tricky to control for, such as the socioeconomic background, availability of time and technology. I tried filling it in during the first COVID months but simply didn't have the time to carry on. That's telling me that a busy clinician like me might be self-selected out... Otherwise, lots of useful info as expected, really worth a read. I particularly value the stance on ultra processed foods and not pushing any extreme diets.

Life changing book, the science behind what you are eating.

I was lucky enough to see Dr Tim Spector presenting to a scientific audience many years ago. That talk opened my eyes to the significance and complexity of the human microbiome and permanently changed my perspective on food. There is a lot of snake oil being sold in the food industry. As a scientist and epidemiologist dedicated to the objective study of nutrition and the microbiome, Tim Spector is well-placed to debunk many of the myths and fantasies we are all spoon-fed by commercially interested parties. In ‘Food for Life’ he aims to think about the science behind food not only in relation to our own individual health, but also societal and environmental health (Henry Dimbleby’s outstanding ‘Ravenous’ provides a complimentary read in this same area). I found ‘Food for Life’ a hugely compelling read. It comes across as a bit of a heavyweight tome at first, but most chapters have an easily digestible short summary of bulleted key points at the end. On Audible it comes in over 16 and a half hours and heavy hardback at over 500 pages ... I know because I loved it so much I bought it twice! This is going to have a permanent place as a reference point in my kitchen. Essential reading for anyone at all interested in evidence-based decision-making when it comes to making choices about their food choices. Brilliant.

Bought the paperback so our relative could stay light when flying home but this is not the cookbook so no recipes. Very similar cover. Still a good read but not what we wanted really.

Amazing; everyone should eat the zoe way; try the nutritional challenge and stay healthy!

Improve the "good" bacteria in your digestive system with oodles of ideas from Tim Spector and he tells you why you should try to change your diet - even just a few meals a week.

Book arrived absolutely filthy, second hand looking and actual bogies all over it!!! Disgusting.

I was looking forward having this book as I am a fan of the author. But not happy with the book I got. It came in a waited package from India ( wrapped very heavily with duct tape no bubble wrap or any sort of protection). There were lots of dust inside and book covers were dirty and damaged. I am keeping it because of the content and the fact that it cannot be replaced immediately as there is no one available in local market at this moment. Shame of the seller to handle book in this way!

Love the book

Livro super informativo sobre alimentos e como se alimentar de forma a aumentar a qualidade de vida

Very interesting and well written. A lot of research and valuable informstion for life style changes