You know fasting works. It’s simple, it’s effective, and it has the science to back it up. But when it comes to the fueling part of the equation, that’s where things start to feel complicated.

We’ve heard this feedback for years: “I’m nailing fasting. It’s the eating part I’m struggling with.” In response, we’ve built a suite of powerful new features that will give you confidence as you make the familiar decision: “What should I eat?”

Our goal isn’t to turn you into a macro-counting expert or overwhelm you with nutritional minutiae. Instead, we want to make your routine simple, sustainable, and, most importantly, effective.

That’s why we’ve tailored these tools to help you focus on one transformative nutrient: protein.

The Protein Paradox

When most people think about protein, they picture bodybuilders chugging protein shakes and obsessing over chicken breasts. But protein isn’t just about building muscle; it’s an essential component of every single cell in your body. From circulating oxygen in your blood to supporting immune function, growing your hair, or even producing hormones, protein is involved in virtually every biological process that keeps you alive and thriving.

Despite its importance, most people aren’t getting nearly enough protein. The current U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight per day. But here’s the catch: That number represents the minimum amount needed to prevent a deficiency — not the amount needed to support muscle preservation, metabolic health, or sustainable weight loss.

Leading experts, including Zero’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Naomi Parrella, now recommend at least 0.7–0.8 grams per pound of body weight per day for most adults. For those who are active, aging, or working to improve body composition, the evidence supports 0.8–1.0 grams per pound. That’s more than double the outdated RDA.

Of course, it’s one thing to have the right goal. It’s another thing entirely to meet it.

Most people have no idea they’re falling short of what they need to achieve their health goals. Peter Attia, Andrew Huberman, Stacy Sims, and many other medical experts recognize that it’s surprisingly easy to undershoot your protein needs. That’s why we’ve created the tools to make it easier, simpler, and honestly more fun.

Meet Zero’s Protein-Powered Tools

The Protein Score

Think of this as your daily North Star — a single, personalized metric that tells you exactly how you’re doing with protein consumption.

Your Protein Score resets every day and is calculated based on your unique body data and what you’re eating. Unlike simple protein counters, however, it doesn’t just track how much protein you’re getting. It tracks how efficiently you’re getting it.

Why does efficiency matter as much as quantity? Because you can technically hit your protein target by eating thousands of excess calories, but that defeats the purpose if your goal is improved body composition, weight loss, or maintenance. The Protein Score ensures you’re getting adequate protein while staying within a healthy calorie range.

The score considers three key factors:

• Target proximity: How close are you to your personalized daily protein goal?
• Calorie efficiency: How many calories did it take you to get there?
• Meal protein density: How protein-rich were your individual meals?

As you log meals, your Protein Score updates in real time. Zero then provides straightforward, personalized coaching to help you make better choices for your next meal. Maybe that means adding a protein source to your dinner. Maybe it means swapping a carb-heavy snack for something more balanced. The guidance is simple, specific, and designed to keep you on track without stress.

Intelligent Meal Tracking

Your Protein Score is powered by Zero’s new meal-tracking feature. No searching or scrolling necessary; simply snap a photo of your meal, and Zero will analyze it to deliver a breakdown of its protein content, calories, and other key nutrients. No photo? No problem. You can also type a quick description, and Zero handles the rest. (If anything looks off, just tap to edit and save your changes.)

Every meal you log feeds directly into your Protein Score, which updates in real time. You’ll see your progress throughout the day, along with personalized guidance on how to adjust your remaining meals to stay on target.

Over time, Zero Plus members report that this combination of tracking and coaching leads them to naturally gravitate toward higher-protein options. The app makes it that easy. And because your daily targets are displayed right below your Timer, you’ll always have visibility into both sides of your metabolic health: when you’re fasting and how you’re fueling.

Hydration Tracking

While protein takes center stage among the new Zero Plus features, we haven’t forgotten about another foundational habit: drinking enough water.

Proper hydration supports both fasting and fueling success. It helps regulate appetite (thirst is often mistaken for hunger), supports digestion and nutrient absorption, maintains energy levels, and even aids in fat metabolism. Staying hydrated during your fasting window can make the experience smoother and more effortless, while staying hydrated during your fueling window can lead to better choices.

Zero’s new hydration tracking feature gives you a personalized daily water goal based on your body (but can be customized according to whatever hydration goals you want to set!). Logging is as simple as a single tap. Over time, you’ll build a hydration habit that supports everything else you’re working toward.

Fasters Need To Be Intentional

If you practice intermittent fasting, you’ve likely heard how much more important intentional hydration is for you. The same is true of consuming protein. Maybe you fast for 16 hours and eat for 8. Maybe you follow 18:6 or even OMAD. Regardless of your protocol, you’re fitting all of your daily nutrition into fewer meals than the conventional three-meals-plus-snacks approach.

This requires focusing on hitting adequate protein targets. 

When calories are restricted — whether through fasting, intentional portion control, or GLP-1 medications — your body requires adequate protein to preserve lean muscle mass. Without enough protein, it’s easy to lose too much muscle, which can slow your metabolism, reduce your strength, and ultimately make it harder to maintain your progress over time.

In fact, consuming sufficient protein is essential for losing fat while maintaining the lean muscle you want to keep.  Here’s why:

Protein requires more energy to digest. Of all the macronutrients, protein has the highest thermic effect of food, meaning your body burns more calories simply processing it. Research shows that up to 30% of the calories in protein are used during digestion, compared to just 5–10% for carbohydrates and 0–3% for fats.

Protein keeps you satisfied longer. High-protein meals increase satiety hormones and reduce hunger signals, helping you feel fuller between meals and reducing the likelihood of overeating. (For fasters, this translates to easier adherence to your eating window and fewer struggles with cravings.)

Protein supports metabolic flexibility. Adequate protein intake helps preserve lean muscle mass, which maintains insulin sensitivity (so it’s easier for you to burn fat for fuel). The result? Better energy, reduced cravings, and more sustainable progress toward your health goals.

Fuel Your Fasting Success

You know fasting is powerful. It lowers insulin, activates fat burning, and reduces inflammation. These, along with a host of other metabolic benefits, are why you use Zero. But fasting is only half the equation.

Your non-fasting hours — the meals you eat, the nutrients you consume, the choices you make during your eating window — matter just as much. They determine how well you maintain muscle, how efficiently your metabolism runs, and whether your progress is sustainable over the long term.

That’s why we’ve evolved Zero from a fasting tracker into a complete metabolic health tool. Helping you fast with confidence and consistency will always be at the core of what we do. And now, we’re also here to help you fuel with intention and clarity.

Zero’s new protein-forward features make better choices simpler. No measuring cups, no confusing macro math, no second-guessing whether you “did it right.” Just clear guidance, real-time feedback, and the same easy-to-use interface you already trust.

All of these features are available now, exclusively for Zero Plus members. If you’re ready to take control of both sides of your metabolic health, fasting and fueling, we’re here to support you every step of the way.