From the anti-aging side, I knew that maximizing our intake of antioxidant rich foods- fruits and vegetables, like blueberries and carrots, could reduce oxidative stress and decrease inflammation but it’s very hard to eat enough of these foods every day to keep our antioxidant tanks full.

Then I learned about Pharmanex, a nutraceutical division of NuSkin, an established Health, Beauty and Wellness company distributing products in 54 markets worldwide through a network of independent distributors (NYSE NUS). They have a tabletop scanner called the S3 scanner that reads skin carotenoids (SCS= skin carotenoid score), a group of over 100 antioxidants, using light spectroscopy. Light waves tuned to the frequency that resonate with carotenoids molecular structure reflect and give a quick, easy measurement, more reliable than a blood test. The device has been validated by Yale University. Now we have a biomarker for antioxidant intake. Life Pak and Life Pak Nano are products full of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that have a money back guarantee to raise your skin carotenoid score which reflects your total body antioxidant reserves.

A famous quote by Lord Kelvin states “if you cannot measure it, you can not improve it”. Cholesterol measurements ushered in the treatment and prevention with statins; blood sugar measurements improved diabetes control. These tests required visits to the doctor’s office or lab draws. Nowadays we have Fitbits and smart watches that help us measure heart rate, heart rhythms, oxygen saturation and, in the near future, blood sugar levels in real time through our skin.

Pharmanex and Nuskin are leading the way in personalized health monitoring. The S3 scanner technology has been miniaturized into a revolutionary new product called PRYSM- a hockey puck sized device that provides your skin carotenoid score, just like the S3 scanner. PRYSM will be available for purchase by consumers in the next 12 months! Once purchased, PRYSM can be used to measure antioxidants for friends and family and help drive healthy eating habits and the scanner certified products from Pharmanex and NuSkin. This technology has many potential future uses to measure other biomarkers of health.