I Tested Samsung’s New Antioxidant Feature with a Cheez-It – Here’s What Happened!

If the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 could speak, it might tell me I need to eat more fruits and veggies. This smartwatch has a unique feature called the Antioxidant Index. Using special light sensors, it measures carotenoid levels in your skin. Carotenoids are the antioxidants that give fruits and vegetables their bright colors. You press your thumb on the sensor, and after a quick wait, it estimates if you’re reaching the daily recommended intake of 400 grams.

When I tried it, I was surprised by the results. After a big vegetarian meal filled with colorful veggies, I got a low score. “Very low,” in fact, even after my usual fruit and green smoothie breakfast. At first, I thought the watch was off. But I decided to test it with various colorful foods.

I started with a tangerine peel. The score was perfect—100. A slice of peach and some strawberries followed suit, both scoring high. However, when I tested a blackberry, which is known for its high carotenoid content, my score plummeted to 37. That made me question the watch’s accuracy.

In a surprising turn, I colored my thumb with a yellow-orange marker. The score shot up to 100. But when I used a blue marker, it hit zero. Even roasted broccoli earned a perfect score. It seems color influences the results, but there’s more to it than just pigments.

Even a Cheez-It cracker, which is cheese-flavored and orange, scored an impressive 99. I was taken aback by this—a cheese cracker as a healthy item? A quick search revealed cheddar cheese actually contains carotenoids, explaining the high score.

I reached out to Samsung to clarify how the sensor works—whether it relies strictly on colors or other factors. And while I waited for a response, I realized that it doesn’t matter if I hit Samsung’s specific goal for fruit and vegetable intake. What counts is striving for a colorful plate filled with different fruits and veggies.

Features like the Antioxidant Index shouldn’t cause stress over meeting arbitrary figures. Even with advanced tech, errors and misunderstandings can occur. If monitoring this metric makes you feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to step back.

Ultimately, I learned to embrace my love for peaches in waffles and the joy of snacking on tangerines. And yes, even Cheez-Its are now a part of my “healthy” snacks!

In recent surveys, 70% of people reported feeling pressured by health technology to meet certain standards. It’s important to remember that health is about balance, not perfection. Enjoy your food, and let color guide your plate without the stress of numbers.

For more insights on dietary recommendations and health tech, check out the World Health Organization.

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