Imagine waking up every day feeling drained, not knowing why your energy levels are plummeting—and realizing it’s all tied to the invisible battle inside your body against aging’s relentless march. That’s the stark reality for many of us, but what if a simple device could change that? Welcome to the exciting world of healthy aging, where science meets everyday choices to help you take control. In this first installment of our series, we’re diving deep into how antioxidants are your secret weapon against oxidative stress, and how the new Galaxy Watch8 series is revolutionizing the way we track them. Stick around—this journey might just inspire you to rethink your daily habits in ways you never imagined. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some praise wearable tech as a game-changer for personal health, others argue it could oversimplify complex biology, potentially leading people to trust gadgets over holistic lifestyle changes. What do you think—does this innovation empower us, or does it risk distracting from the bigger picture? Let’s explore together.
The Era of Healthy Aging ①: Monitoring and Optimizing Antioxidant Levels with Professor Hyojee Joung from Seoul National University
Growing older doesn’t have to be a one-way ticket to decline—it’s actually something we can influence through smart food choices and daily routines. That’s the empowering message behind the rising interest in healthy aging, a trend that’s gaining momentum as people seek ways to live longer, stronger lives.
At the heart of this movement are antioxidants, those unsung heroes that combat free radicals—unstable molecules produced naturally as our bodies convert food into energy. These radicals can accumulate from poor habits, leading to oxidative stress that damages cells and speeds up aging. Enter the Galaxy Watch8 series, which introduces the Antioxidant Index, the very first smartwatch feature designed to gauge your body’s antioxidant defenses and empower you with real-time health insights. It’s a leap forward in wearable technology, making proactive health management more accessible than ever.
To unpack this breakthrough, Samsung Newsroom chatted with Hyojee Joung, the esteemed President of the Korean Nutrition Society and a professor at Seoul National University (SNU). She played a pivotal role in developing and verifying this innovative tool. Let’s hear what she has to say about why caring for your antioxidants is so crucial.
▲ Hyojee Joung
Why Prioritizing Antioxidants Is a Game-Changer for Your Well-Being
Ever find yourself asking, “Why am I always so exhausted?” It’s a common complaint, but the answer might lie in those pesky free radicals. They’re a normal part of how our bodies generate energy, but when unhealthy behaviors pile on—think smoking, drinking too much, eating poorly, basking in excessive sunlight, or dealing with constant stress—they multiply, sparking oxidative stress that accelerates the aging clock.
As Professor Joung explains, that nagging fatigue could be a red flag for an overload of free radicals. “They can compromise your immune system, leave you feeling wiped out, and even hasten visible aging signs like wrinkles or uneven skin tone,” she notes. “Over time, this buildup raises the stakes for serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes or certain cancers, underscoring why managing antioxidants isn’t just nice—it’s essential.”
▲ An unhealthy lifestyle generating too many free radicals can heighten the chances of developing chronic illnesses.
And this is the part most people miss: antioxidant strength isn’t just for the young or the athletes; it’s a lifelong commitment that demands ongoing attention. Joung stresses that starting with something as straightforward as enjoying more fruits and veggies every day is the simplest, most impactful strategy. These foods are loaded with antioxidants like carotenoids, plus vitamins C and E, which fortify your body’s defenses. As we age, our natural production of protective enzymes dwindles, so relying on diet becomes even more vital for maintaining robust health.
Yet, here’s where many stumble—how do you know if your meals are truly providing enough? For the average person, it’s tough to get an objective read on whether your diet strikes the right balance. That’s exactly the gap the Galaxy Watch8 series’ Antioxidant Index aims to fill, offering a user-friendly way to check in on your antioxidant status.
Monitoring Antioxidants with the Galaxy Watch8 Series
Wondering if your eating habits are truly supporting your health? Samsung Health has you covered with instant clarity. The Galaxy Watch8 series employs sensors on the back to calculate an Antioxidant Index, drawing from carotenoid levels in your skin, all in about five seconds flat. This gives you a snapshot of how well you’re meeting your fruit and vegetable goals.
“Carotenoids are those vibrant red, yellow, and green compounds found in produce,” Joung explains. “Since our bodies can’t make them ourselves, the amounts we have directly mirror what we consume from our diets.”
The watch uses advanced reflection spectroscopy: it sends light onto your skin, and carotenoids absorb part of it while reflecting the rest. By decoding those reflections, it estimates your levels accurately. Gone are the days of needing blood tests in a lab—this is as easy as resting your thumb on the sensor for a brief moment.
Results are presented based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline of 400 grams of fruits and veggies daily:
- Very low – Under 50% of the suggested amount
- Low – Between 50% and just under 100%
- Adequate – At or above 100%
▲ Professor Joung testing her Antioxidant Index on a Galaxy Watch8 Classic.
While Joung points out that this index doesn’t capture every aspect of your body’s antioxidant power, it acts as a practical barometer for daily intake, spotlighting carotenoids from fruits and vegetables as key players in bolstering your overall defenses. And this is where it gets intriguing—could this tool revolutionize how we approach nutrition, or might it unintentionally encourage a reliance on quick fixes over varied diets? The debate is on.
The Antioxidant Index: A Trusted, Research-Backed Health Metric
So, what do you do once you see your reading? The Galaxy Watch8 series pioneers this in smartwatches, thanks to extensive research. Samsung teamed up with Joung and her colleagues back in 2018 to adapt this technology for wearables.
A study from SNU’s Graduate School of Public Health validated it through a dietary experiment: over six weeks, 80 volunteers received meals with different carotenoid contents, and their skin levels rose noticeably within one or two weeks. “This proves skin carotenoids are a solid proxy for fruit and vegetable consumption,” Joung shares.
▲ Findings from the SNU dietary intervention study involving 80 participants
When you check your Antioxidant Index via the Samsung Health app, you’ll get personalized nudges like “Add another tomato to your plate today” or “Incorporate 50 grams of pumpkin.” These are crafted by Joung’s team for clarity. “We focused on making advice relatable and actionable,” she says, “and we built the data that powers an algorithm to tailor recommendations to your tastes.”
The team is committed to ongoing improvements, ensuring the feature grows more precise and supportive for long-term antioxidant care.
Practical Tips for Maximizing the Antioxidant Index
To get the best out of your Galaxy Watch8 series, Joung offers these four handy tips:
① Stay consistent—ignore minor ups and downs. Unlike blood sugar that fluctuates instantly, your Antioxidant Index evolves gradually. Loading up on produce for a day or two won’t spike it right away; lasting shifts show up in one to two weeks. Factors like alcohol, intense workouts, or stress might temporarily lower it, but it rebounds—so emphasize steady, achievable tweaks.
② Measure at the same time, using the same finger. For reliable data, pick a fixed spot in your day—maybe right after waking up, before sleep, or post-lunch—and stick to one finger, such as your right thumb, every time.
③ Review alongside other Samsung Health metrics. Antioxidants aren’t isolated; they’re connected to sleep and stress levels. Pairing your index with these gives a fuller health picture, helping you spot patterns and adjust holistically.
④ Incorporate diverse produce. Aim for the WHO’s 400-gram daily target by including colorful options like tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. Mixing hues isn’t just visually appealing—it boosts antioxidant variety, potentially amplifying benefits even if portions stay the same. Think of it as building a rainbow on your plate!
Incremental Actions Leading to Major Transformations
“I often have friends and colleagues try the Antioxidant Index—it’s delightful to watch their amazement at how swiftly results pop up,” says Joung, who uses the Galaxy Watch8 Classic herself. “The immediacy is a real perk.”
She adds, “Folks are keen on antioxidants for warding off diseases and promoting graceful aging, but tracking progress was murky until now. The Antioxidant Index not only confirms if your produce intake hits the mark but also heightens awareness of antioxidants’ value—and that’s powerful in itself.”
“Remember, it’s about persistence, not flawlessness. Tiny additions, such as tossing an extra fruit or veggie into your meals, accumulate into real progress,” Joung urges. “I’m thrilled to witness this cutting-edge tool launch just before I retire—it’s a fitting capstone to my career.”
With results in mere seconds, the Antioxidant Index is your effortless gateway to enhanced well-being. In our series’ next chapter, we’ll speak with a Galaxy Watch8 series developer to uncover the behind-the-scenes magic that brought this feature to fruition.
Ready to upgrade your health routine? Grab the Galaxy Watch8 series today:
- Galaxy Watch8: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch8-44mm-silver-bluetooth-sm-l330nzsaxme/
- Galaxy Watch8 Classic: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch8-classic-46mm-black-bluetooth-sm-l500nzkaxme/
- Galaxy Watch Ultra: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch-ultra-2025-47mm-titanium-blue-lte-sm-l705fzb1xme/
Now, let’s chat: Do you believe wearable tech like this truly empowers healthier living, or could it inadvertently downplay the need for professional medical advice? And what about the counterpoint—some say over-relying on gadgets might make us less attuned to our bodies’ natural signals. Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!