[The Era of Healthy Aging ①] Measuring and Managing Antioxidant Ranges With Professor Hyojee Joung of Seoul Nationwide College

Ageing isn’t mounted — it will probably pace up or decelerate relying on weight loss plan and life-style. That’s why wholesome ageing has grow to be a rising focus in recent times.

Antioxidants play a key position on this course of, serving to neutralize free radicals and shield the physique from oxidative stress. The Galaxy Watch8 sequence debuts Antioxidant Index — the primary smartwatch characteristic to measure the physique’s antioxidant standing and help more practical well being monitoring.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hyojee Joung — President of the Korean Diet Society and professor at Seoul Nationwide College (SNU), who participated in growing and validating the brand new characteristic — 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 vitality manufacturing within the physique, however unhealthy habits may cause them to construct up. “Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor weight loss plan, UV publicity and stress drive overproduction — triggering oxidative stress and accelerating ageing,” mentioned Joung.

Persistent exhaustion could sign extra free radicals within the physique. “They will weaken immunity, trigger fatigue and pace up seen indicators of ageing similar to wrinkles or pigmentation,” Joung defined. “As oxidative stress accumulates, the danger of persistent illnesses similar to sort 2 diabetes and sure cancers will increase — making antioxidant administration important.”

▲ Extreme free radicals from an unhealthy life-style can elevate 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 begin.

Fruit and veggies are wealthy in antioxidants similar to carotenoids and nutritional vitamins C and E. As a result of the physique’s pure manufacturing of antioxidant enzymes declines with age, adequate dietary antioxidant consumption offers the muse for sustainable well being.

Nonetheless, for most individuals, it’s not straightforward to objectively assess whether or not their on a regular basis weight loss plan is actually balanced. The Galaxy Watch8 sequence’ Antioxidant Index was developed to handle this problem.

Monitoring Antioxidant Ranges With Galaxy Watch8 Collection

“Is my weight loss plan wholesome sufficient?”

For anybody questioning how wholesome their weight loss plan is, Samsung Well being now presents a fast reply. Utilizing rear sensors, the Galaxy Watch8 sequence measures an Antioxidant Index — based mostly on carotenoid ranges within the pores and skin — to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption inside seconds.

“Carotenoids are the crimson, yellow and inexperienced pigments in vegatables and fruits,” mentioned Joung. “As a result of the human physique can’t produce them, carotenoid ranges mirror dietary consumption.”

The Galaxy Watch8 sequence makes use of a mirrored image spectroscopy sensor. When mild of a selected wavelength shines on the pores and skin, carotenoids take in some and mirror the remainder. By analyzing the mirrored mild, the gadget estimates carotenoid ranges.

Beforehand, measuring antioxidant ranges required blood samples and sophisticated laboratory procedures. Now, customers can merely place a thumb on the again sensor for 5 seconds to see on the spot outcomes. Based mostly on the World Well being Group’s (WHO) day by day suggestion of 400 grams of vegatables and fruits, outcomes seem as:

• Very low – Lower than 50% of the advisable consumption
• Low – 50% to lower than 100% of the advisable consumption
• Enough – 100% or extra of the advisable consumption

▲ Joung measures her Antioxidant Index with Galaxy Watch8 Traditional.

Joung defined that though Antioxidant Index doesn’t symbolize 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 vegatables and fruits — 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 sequence is the primary smartwatch to measure antioxidant ranges — a breakthrough constructed on years of analysis. Samsung started collaborating with Joung and her group in 2018 to discover how this functionality could possibly 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 mentioned.

▲ Outcomes from a dietary intervention research with 80 individuals at SNU

When customers measure their Antioxidant Index, the Samsung Well being app offers suggestions similar to “Have another tomato at this time” or “Attempt 50 grams of pumpkin.” These suggestions are based mostly on proposals from Joung’s group. “It’s necessary to present dietary steering in language customers can simply perceive,” she defined. “We created the foundational knowledge that skilled an algorithm to adapt strategies to particular person preferences.”

The analysis group plans to maintain refining the characteristic to ship extra correct insights and help more practical antioxidant administration.

Ideas for Utilizing Antioxidant Index

Joung shared 4 suggestions for profiting from the Galaxy Watch8 sequence’ 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 elevate the rating straight away. With regular habits, enhancements normally seem after one to 2 weeks. Alcohol, extreme train and stress could trigger short-term dips, however ranges usually get better — so deal with small, sustainable adjustments.

② Measure on the similar time, with the identical finger.

For accuracy, measure at a constant time every day — similar to after waking, earlier than mattress or after lunch — and at all times with the identical finger, like the correct or left thumb.

③ Verify outcomes alongside different Samsung Well being indicators.

Antioxidant ranges are linked not solely to weight loss plan but in addition to sleep and stress. Checking Antioxidant Index with sleep high quality and stress knowledge offers a extra holistic view of well being.

④ Eat a wide range of vegatables and fruits.

To succeed in the WHO’s advisable 400 grams per day, add colourful vegatables and fruits similar to tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers. A broader combine of colours can ship larger antioxidant advantages, even at the same amount.

Small Steps, Large Modifications

“Every time I meet somebody, I’ve them strive Antioxidant Index. It’s enjoyable to see their shock at how shortly the outcomes seem,” mentioned Joung, an lively Galaxy Watch8 Traditional person. “Having the ability to test immediately is a big benefit.”

“Many individuals attempt to handle antioxidants for illness prevention and wholesome ageing, 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 adequate but in addition 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 comfortable to see such an modern characteristic come to life earlier than my retirement.”

Antioxidant Index delivers ends in simply 5 seconds — a easy step towards higher well being. Within the second a part of this sequence, Samsung Newsroom will hear from one of many Galaxy Watch8 sequence’ builders who helped make this groundbreaking characteristic doable.