Support Your Score
How to Support a Healthy Antioxidant Score
Key Facts
- Primary lever
- Consistent intake of carotenoid-rich foods
- Timeframe
- Gradual — weeks of sustained habits
- Supplements
- Complement diet, don't replace it
- How to check progress
- Track trends across repeated scans
Fruit and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are the primary dietary source of carotenoids. Deeply colored produce — orange, red, yellow, and dark leafy greens — tends to be richest in these compounds. See Skin Carotenoids for specific examples.
Dietary Variety
Different fruits and vegetables contain different carotenoids — lycopene in tomatoes, lutein in leafy greens, beta-carotene in carrots and sweet potato, for example. Eating a variety, rather than relying on one food, provides broader antioxidant coverage.
Consistency Over Time
Because skin carotenoid levels accumulate gradually, consistent daily or weekly habits matter more than occasional large quantities. A pattern sustained over weeks is what tends to move a score, not a single "big" meal.
Relevant Lifestyle Factors
Carotenoids are fat-soluble, so absorption can be affected by the presence of dietary fat in a meal. General lifestyle factors that support overall nutrition — adequate sleep, limiting excessive alcohol, and a balanced diet — can indirectly support consistent intake and absorption.
Supplementation, Where Appropriate
Some people use supplements to help fill dietary gaps. Supplements do not replace a healthy diet — whole foods provide fiber, a wider range of nutrients, and food-matrix effects that isolated supplements don't fully replicate. Consider supplementation as a complement to, not a substitute for, eating carotenoid-rich foods.
Prysm Certified Products
Within this framework, Prysm Certified products are one option some people use alongside dietary changes. Specific approved product claims and certification criteria[VERIFY] are covered on the Prysm Certified page — no product on this site is claimed to guarantee a score increase.
Tracking Trends Over Time
The clearest way to know whether your habits are working is to re-scan periodically and look at the trend, not a single result. See Understanding Your Prysm Score for guidance on responsible interpretation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to raise my score?
There isn't a fast way. Skin carotenoid levels build up gradually with consistent intake of carotenoid-rich foods over weeks, not days.
Can supplements replace a healthy diet?
No. Supplements are intended to complement a varied diet, not replace whole fruits and vegetables, which provide a broader range of nutrients beyond any single carotenoid.
Do Prysm Certified products guarantee a higher score?
No. Prysm Certified products meet certain product criteria within the Prysm ecosystem, but no product can guarantee an individual score outcome.
How do I know if my habits are working?
Track trends over multiple scans rather than judging from a single reading — see Understanding Your Prysm Score for more detail.