Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 can measure your fruit and veggie intake: why, how, and is it worth the price

While experts remind us to stay cautious with the data it shows, users are already keen to try the new feature.

After Samsung unpacked its latest foldable smartphones and smartwatches during the company’s latest event, one of the most eye-catching features of its new wearables is the Antioxidant Index.

The feature measures carotenoid levels in the body. According to Samsung, this feature makes it easier for users to track their “aging-related health” by providing insights into diet and other lifestyle habits.

How does Samsung’s Antioxidant Index work?

The feature doesn’t track carotenoid levels the same way as, for example, sleep. To measure carotenoid levels, users have to take their watch off and then place their finger (best if that’s a thumb) on a BioActive Sensor on the back of the device. After keeping the finger down for five seconds, users can see the results on their smartphone.

The results include a numerical score and color-coded results that reveal their antioxidant status.

Once they open the Samsung Health app on their smartphone, they see the results, which can vary from “very low” to “adequate” levels.

Some Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra users shared online that they’ve had the opportunity to try the feature in beta, even though it officially comes out with the company’s latest watches.

Antioxidant Index testing works on my galaxy watch ultra!
byu/vGraphsAlt inGalaxyWatch

The provided screenshot reveals not only that but also what seems to be a personalized recommendation: “Your usual intake of fruit and vegetables is very low. Try adding one tomato (70g), ¼ of an onion (30g), or one persimmon (100g) to your diet today.”

While many users expressed their wish to try the feature, a few Redditors were interested in how it works. “I wonder what metrics Samsung used to determine this data,” one of the users asked.

Wearing a smartwatch can’t replace a regular medical check-up, can it? It most certainly is not a diagnostic tool, but it can still function as a motivational tool to maintain healthy habits. Cybernews asked experts how the technology works and whether it can be trusted.

The science behind Samsung Antioxidant Index

Dr. Mahsa Sheikh, Head of Research at REVIV Global, explained that carotenoids are plant-derived pigments that include antioxidant properties. Since they gather in the skin, they are “considered reliable biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake.”

The expert also emphasized that carotenoids represent only a part of what’s behind antioxidants, as it also includes “other compounds like vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and enzymatic defences. So, while the watch can estimate skin carotenoids, it does not measure your overall antioxidant capacity or oxidative stress.”

Dr. Sheikh also explained why this feature is measured once in a while instead of being tracked continuously.

“Carotenoids in the skin are relatively stable over days to weeks and reflect long-term dietary intake, not moment-to-moment changes,” said the expert.

However, as notes Dr. Nicholas Dragolea, a London-based GP and founder of Longevity Centre, the results shown by the Antioxidant Index can also be affected by “short-term variants such as the food you’ve just eaten, your hydration status, room temperature, skin colour, moisture, any hand cream you’ve used, and so on.”

For more accurate results, Dr. Dragolea suggests that continuous monitoring, similar to continuous glucose monitoring, would be much more accurate in representing trends related to a person’s diet.

Samsung Antioxidant Index is not a medical tracker

While the feature is intended to motivate users to make better decisions when it comes to their diets, both experts remind us that it’s a “wellness feature, not a diagnostic tool.”

“The important point here is that it doesn’t have FDA or CE clearance as a medical device. It could help with healthier eating, but it’s not yet a substitute for a balanced diet, a dietitian, or medical advice,” says Dr. Dragolea.

Dr. Sheikh also explains that the feature could help users better understand their diet, especially their fruit and vegetable intake.

“But users shouldn’t overinterpret the number or assume it represents their full antioxidant or aging status,” concluded the expert.

According to Dr. Dragolea, the data should be presented to a lifestyle medicine specialist who could consider it along with other information about the patient, such as their medical history, symptoms, general lifestyle, and other metrics. This would use the feature to its full potential and help create “a much more personalized care plan.”