Growing older will not be fastened — it could velocity up or decelerate relying on food plan and way of life. That’s why wholesome getting older has turn into a rising focus in recent times.
Antioxidants play a key function on this course of, serving to neutralize free radicals and shield the physique from oxidative stress. The Galaxy Watch8 collection debuts Antioxidant Index — the primary smartwatch function to measure the physique’s antioxidant standing and help simpler well being monitoring.
Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hyojee Joung — President of the Korean Vitamin Society and professor at Seoul Nationwide College (SNU), who participated in growing and validating the brand new function — about this breakthrough and the significance of antioxidant care.
▲ Hyojee Joung
Why Antioxidant Care Issues
“Why do I really feel drained so simply?”
Free radicals are pure byproducts of power manufacturing within the physique, however unhealthy habits may cause them to construct up. “Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor food plan, UV publicity and stress drive overproduction — triggering oxidative stress and accelerating getting older,” stated Joung.
Persistent exhaustion might sign extra free radicals within the physique. “They will weaken immunity, trigger fatigue and velocity up seen indicators of getting older reminiscent of wrinkles or pigmentation,” Joung defined. “As oxidative stress accumulates, the danger of persistent ailments reminiscent of sort 2 diabetes and sure cancers will increase — making antioxidant administration important.”
▲ Extreme free radicals from an unhealthy way of life can increase the danger of persistent illness.
“Antioxidant capability isn’t a matter of youth or health — it requires constant care all through life,” Joung emphasised, noting that day by day fruit and vegetable consumption is the best and simplest place to start out.
Vegatables and fruits are wealthy in antioxidants reminiscent of carotenoids and nutritional vitamins C and E. As a result of the physique’s pure manufacturing of antioxidant enzymes declines with age, ample dietary antioxidant consumption gives the inspiration for sustainable well being.
Nonetheless, for most individuals, it’s not simple to objectively assess whether or not their on a regular basis food plan is actually balanced. The Galaxy Watch8 collection’ Antioxidant Index was developed to deal with this problem.
Monitoring Antioxidant Ranges With Galaxy Watch8 Collection
“Is my food plan wholesome sufficient?”
For anybody questioning how wholesome their food plan is, Samsung Well being now presents a fast reply. Utilizing rear sensors, the Galaxy Watch8 collection measures an Antioxidant Index — primarily based on carotenoid ranges within the pores and skin — to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption inside seconds.
“Carotenoids are the purple, yellow and inexperienced pigments in fruit and veggies,” stated Joung. “As a result of the human physique can’t produce them, carotenoid ranges mirror dietary consumption.”
The Galaxy Watch8 collection makes use of a mirrored image spectroscopy sensor. When gentle of a particular wavelength shines on the pores and skin, carotenoids take up some and mirror the remaining. By analyzing the mirrored gentle, the system estimates carotenoid ranges.
Beforehand, measuring antioxidant ranges required blood samples and complicated laboratory procedures. Now, customers can merely place a thumb on the again sensor for 5 seconds to see immediate outcomes. Based mostly on the World Well being Group’s (WHO) day by day advice of 400 grams of fruit and veggies, outcomes seem as:
- Very low – Lower than 50% of the really useful consumption
- Low – 50% to lower than 100% of the really useful consumption
- Sufficient – 100% or extra of the really useful consumption
▲ Joung measures her Antioxidant Index with Galaxy Watch8 Traditional.
Joung defined that though Antioxidant Index doesn’t signify the physique’s full antioxidant capability, it serves as a sensible and significant indicator of day by day antioxidant standing by reflecting carotenoid consumption from fruit and veggies — main sources that assist strengthen the physique’s antioxidant system.
Antioxidant Index: A Dependable and Validated Well being Indicator
“How ought to I reply to my Antioxidant Index studying?”
The Galaxy Watch8 collection is the primary smartwatch to measure antioxidant ranges — a breakthrough constructed on years of analysis. Samsung started collaborating with Joung and her staff in 2018 to discover how this functionality may very well be utilized to wearables.
A dietary intervention research performed by the Graduate College of Public Well being at SNU confirmed that pores and skin carotenoid ranges reliably point out fruit and vegetable consumption. “Over six weeks, we offered meals with various carotenoid content material to 80 individuals and noticed their pores and skin carotenoid ranges elevated inside one to 2 weeks,” Joung stated.
▲ Outcomes from a dietary intervention research with 80 individuals at SNU
When customers measure their Antioxidant Index, the Samsung Well being app gives suggestions reminiscent of “Have another tomato at this time” or “Strive 50 grams of pumpkin.” These suggestions are primarily based on proposals from Joung’s staff. “It’s necessary to offer dietary steerage in language customers can simply perceive,” she defined. “We created the foundational information that skilled an algorithm to adapt ideas to particular person preferences.”
The analysis staff plans to maintain refining the function to ship extra correct insights and help simpler antioxidant administration.
Suggestions for Utilizing Antioxidant Index
Joung shared 4 ideas for profiting from the Galaxy Watch8 collection’ Antioxidant Index.
① Consistency is essential — don’t fear about day by day fluctuations.
Not like blood glucose, Antioxidant Index doesn’t change instantly. A day or two of consuming extra fruit won’t increase the rating straight away. With regular habits, enhancements normally seem after one to 2 weeks. Alcohol, extreme train and stress might trigger non permanent dips, however ranges usually recuperate — so give attention to small, sustainable adjustments.
② Measure on the identical time, with the identical finger.
For accuracy, measure at a constant time every day — reminiscent of after waking, earlier than mattress or after lunch — and at all times with the identical finger, like the proper or left thumb.
③ Test outcomes alongside different Samsung Well being indicators.
Antioxidant ranges are linked not solely to food plan but additionally to sleep and stress. Checking Antioxidant Index with sleep high quality and stress information gives a extra holistic view of well being.
④ Eat a wide range of fruit and veggies.
To succeed in the WHO’s really useful 400 grams per day, add colourful fruit and veggies reminiscent of tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers. A broader combine of colours can ship better antioxidant advantages, even at an identical quantity.
Small Steps, Massive Modifications
“Every time I meet somebody, I’ve them attempt Antioxidant Index. It’s enjoyable to see their shock at how rapidly the outcomes seem,” stated Joung, an lively Galaxy Watch8 Traditional person. “Having the ability to examine immediately is a big benefit.”
“Many individuals attempt to handle antioxidants for illness prevention and wholesome getting older, however there hasn’t been a transparent strategy to observe progress,” she continued. “Antioxidant Index not solely reveals whether or not fruit and vegetable consumption is ample but additionally raises consciousness of the significance of antioxidants — and that alone is significant.”
“What issues is consistency, not perfection. Even small steps, like including one serving of fruits or greens to your meal, can create significant change over time,” Joung emphasised. “I’m actually completely satisfied to see such an revolutionary function come to life earlier than my retirement.”
Antioxidant Index delivers leads to simply 5 seconds — a easy step towards higher well being. Within the second a part of this collection, Samsung Newsroom will hear from one of many Galaxy Watch8 collection’ builders who helped make this groundbreaking function potential.