Scan or Scam?

Can a new device measure antioxidant levels?

by Dave Harney

Can a hardware device tell you the level of antioxidants in your body? That’s the claim by neutraceutical manufacturer Pharmanex, who is marketing a fingertip scanner that claims to determine your antioxidant levels. Antioxidants are important because they are believed to be intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules containing oxygen that attack cells and can cause cancer and other diseases.

Dr. Mary Claire Wise of Brighton, a Yale trained MD and board-certified holistic practitioner, has used the scanner and believes it works. She says that although it doesn’t strictly measure antioxidants, it does measure carotenoid levels in the skin, which correspond to the amount of vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is an antioxidant. She further explains that this specific carotenoid measurement does correspond to levels of other disease-fighting antioxidants in the body. And she notes that more proof comes from blood test results that correlate with the scanner’s findings.

This is great news, because tools like this can be important aids in creating lifestyle change. When people see a test result, whether it’s a cholesterol count, blood pressure number, or antioxidant level, it can cause them to take actions leading to a healthier life. In the case of antioxidants, it can be an easy change, because it just means eating more of something, namely yellow/orange or dark green leafy fruits and vegetables. And since most Americans have antioxidant levels of only about 18,000 on these scanners, lifestyle changes are clearly needed, since the optimal number is closer to 50,000, according to Pharmanex.

So here are some tips from the USDA to work more fruits and vegetables into your diet:

* Buy fresh fruits or vegetables in season. They cost less and are likely to be at their peak flavor.
* Keep a bowl of whole fruit on the table, counter, or in the refrigerator.
* Stock up on frozen vegetables for quick and easy cooking in the microwave.
* Buy fruits and vegetables that are easy to prepare, such as pre-washed bags of salad greens, carrots, melon, or pineapple chunks. They make healthy snacks!
* Choose packaged fruits that do not have added sugars.
* Use a microwave to quickly “zap” vegetables.
* Try crunchy vegetables, raw or lightly steamed.
* Set a good example for children by eating vegetables with meals and as snacks.
* Let children decide on the dinner vegetables or what goes into salads.
* Refrigerate cut-up fruit to store for later.

If you would like to find out your “number” you can contact Dr. Wise’s office at (585) 256-1967 for an appointment. There is a charge for the scan. Or call Pharmanex at (800) 487-1000. There are at least 5 other representatives in the Rochester area who can do scans as well as sell their nutritional supplements.