Antioxidant Index feature explained in Samsung Health app

Samsung hasn’t launched its Antioxidant Index feature yet, but we now have a much better sense of what’s coming. Version 6.30.0.109 of the Samsung Health app includes new guidance pages that show how the system works, and what kind of data users can expect to see. This comes on top of the info already known, which we reported on earlier.

This is an active measurement, not passive tracking

Let’s start with the process. Unfortunately, this won’t be something your Galaxy Watch tracks in the background. You’ll have to take it off, press your thumb on the sensor, and keep an eye on your phone to track the progress. The watch display faces away during the scan, so everything is handled through the phone app.

Samsung even recommends spacing out readings by at least 10 seconds, measuring at the same time of day, and always using the same thumb. It’s a bit of a routine, but that’s probably a good sign. It suggests the readings are sensitive to small changes, and the company wants to reduce noise in the data.

As originally revealed by Android Authority, this level of detail is now fully shown inside Samsung Health v6.30.0.109. The update includes a step-by-step measurement guide, explanations of what the index tracks, and context on how to interpret your score. It confirms much of what was previously discovered in firmware teardowns, but now it’s all laid out clearly for users.

Here are some screenshots of the explanations in the app.

What the Antioxidant Index is actually measuring

Samsung’s implementation focuses on carotenoids, specifically beta carotene, which your body stores in the skin after you consume certain fruits and vegetables. The Galaxy Watch uses an optical sensor to estimate carotenoid levels, assigning you a score between 0 and 100. That score is then broken into three zones:

The feature is designed to show whether you’re hitting the World Health Organization’s recommendation of at least 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per day. A higher score suggests you’re getting enough carotenoid-rich produce like tomatoes, carrots, leafy greens, and citrus fruits.

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The app also warns that the score can be influenced by things like stress, smoking, alcohol, or even the surface texture of your skin. This isn’t a medical tool, and Samsung makes that clear. It’s more of a dietary feedback loop than a diagnostic feature.

The science behind the feature

There’s quite a bit of health context baked in. Oxidative stress, which comes from free radicals in the body, is a well-known contributor to aging and chronic illness. Smoking, overeating, and exposure to pollution can all increase free radical activity.

Antioxidants counteract this, and Samsung positions the Antioxidant Index as a way to monitor how well your diet supports that balance. The feature isn’t trying to give you a full read on oxidative stress, but it does offer a real-world signal tied to a specific group of nutrients.

That signal can be gamed, though. Supplements like beta carotene or vitamins C and E can increase your score, but Samsung flags the risks. High doses of beta carotene in supplement form have been linked to serious health concerns, so they’re clear in recommending real food as the preferred source.

Still unreleased, but now much more tangible

We still don’t know which Galaxy Watch models will support the feature. Some of the imagery in Samsung Health uses renders that look like the Watch 7. Others hint at Watch 8. The assumption is that One UI 8 Watch will be required, and that may limit support to newer hardware.

As for timing, Samsung has only said the Antioxidant Index will arrive in the second half of 2025. That puts it right in line with the expected Galaxy Watch 8 launch window, and it seems likely this will be one of the flagship additions.

The feature hasn’t gone live yet, but with the updated Samsung Health app laying everything out in full, it looks like we’re getting close.

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