Professor Tim Spector blasts 'super unhealthy diet' food and 'marketing con' protein advice

Professor Tim Spector has blasted some food myths including a ‘marketing con’ over protein ‘super unhealthy diet drinks’ and when you should have a snack. The professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and founder of the Zoe health app was speaking to GQ about some key health and diet issues.

One of the biggest fads currently is around protein with many health supplements being sold to build muscle, with claims being made that people aren't getting enough. Prof Spector was dismissive of the craze and said: “We don’t need extra protein. 90% of us are far enough. And the more protein you have, you’re not eating the plants that make you healthy. So it’s a huge marketing con. You don’t need extra protein.”

He was also asked about intermittent fasting - this means only eating in a ‘window’ of the day with one method which some experts have suggested a 16:8 - ie fasting for 16 hours. He said: “Fasting until noon works for some people. It works for me. Often gives me more energy, but I know a lot of people hate it. So try it. See if it works for you.”

Asked about some of the diet drinks which are on the market Prof Spector said: “Diet Fizzy drinks are terrible. No reason to have them. Nothing wrong with mineral water or kombucha or water kafir. You know, if you’re going to have something, have something healthy rather than that’s super unhealthy.”

Some people might like to have something to eat before going to bed but for Prof Spector this is a bad idea: “Bit of a ‘no no’, I’m afraid. If you are going to snack, tag it on to the end of your evening meal so that you know you have your bit of dark chocolate at the end of that meal rather than leaving it a couple of hours, because that just cuts into your gut