Ever told a little white lie when the doctor asks you about your eating and drinking habits? Soon there may be no hiding from the truth as a new test could tell your GP exactly what you’ve been eating.
The test, which could be introduced to the UK within five years, tells doctors what patients have been eating over the past week.
Researchers believe this could be a powerful weapon in the fight against obesity and could potentially help scientists establish important links between diet and diseases. Those suffering from unidentifiable allergies could also benefit.
The test identifies chemical fingerprints of substances found in urine that have been created by different foods as they pass through the body.
With funding from the Food Standards Agency, a prototype has been developed by research teams at Aberystwyth and Newcastle Universities.
Chemical signatures for raspberries, broccoli, orange juice and salmon have been successfully profiled and researchers are confident every ingredient will eventually be identifiable, it was reported in The Independent.
Professor John Draper, leading the research team at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) at Aberystwyth University believes the first commercial dipsticks could be available within five years.
He said: "It should mean that for the first time researchers will be able to say for certain which items of food help protect against specific diseases, and those that can seriously increase the chance of getting a particular disease."
If you're not convinced you'd pass the test, see our ideas below for alternative ways to get your five-a-day.
