Health & Nutrition

How do you know if your diet and supplements are actually working?

You try to eat healthy. You take supplements. You invest in your wellness. But here’s the real question: How do you know if your diet and supplements are actually working?

Because “I feel like it’s helping?” isn’t data.

The modern supplement dilemma

Let’s be honest—taking supplements often requires a leap of faith. You swallow the capsule. You hope for the best. 

 

And you’re not alone, many consumers say they’re not fully confident their supplements are effective. Even more say they prioritize proof that their supplements are working over ingredient transparency. When confidence disappears, so does consistency. And inconsistent habits don’t deliver results—no matter how good the product is.

Why it’s hard to tell if supplements are working 

If supplements worked like caffeine, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. (No one’s ever said, “I’m not sure that espresso did anything.”) But most nutrients don’t work that way. Here’s why:

 

  • They operate quietly at the cellular level
  • You often don’t feel lower levels of any particular nutrient
  • Improvements happen gradually—not overnight
  • Your expectations (and the placebo effect) can blur reality
So, it’s completely fair to wonder if your supplements are effective—or if you’re just wasting your money. The truth is we want evidence. And often, for supplements to work, we have to do our part. That involves taking a good hard look at our daily eating habits. 

The perception vs. plate problem

Most of us believe we eat pretty well. In fact, about 84% of Americans say they eat a somewhat healthy diet(1), but only around 10% meet basic dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake.(2)

 

So, something’s just not adding up.

 

Global dietary data consistently shows:

  • Most adults don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables
  • Antioxidant intake is often lower than recommended
  • Ultra-processed foods dominate modern diets (would you like fries with that?)

 

So even well-intentioned, label-reading, smoothie-making people can still have micronutrient gaps—and can be lacking in antioxidants. Which brings us to an unsung hero of nutrition: carotenoids. 

What are carotenoids—and why do they matter?

Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that reflect your intake of fruits and vegetables, protect cells from oxidative stress, and support healthy aging. 

You’ll find them in fruits and vegetables that are bright yellow, orange, and red, as well as leafy greens, like:

  • Carrots
  • Spinach & leafy greens
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Sweet potatoes

Here’s where it gets interesting: carotenoids accumulate in your skin. Which means you can actually measure them.

How to measure nutritional health without guesswork

If you’ve ever thought:

  • “How do I know if my supplements are working?”
  • “Is my diet actually improving?”
  • “Am I doing this right?”

You have a few options:

1. Blood testing

Yes, it’s highly accurate. But also invasive, time-consuming, and not something most people want to do regularly. Plus, blood carotenoid levels reflect what you’ve eaten in the past few days, so they fluctuate quickly and aren’t reliable for tracking long-term levels.

2. Food tracking apps

They’re helpful in theory. But let’s be real. Self-reported data is…optimistic at best. People consistently overestimate their consumption of fruits and vegetables—and if the input is inaccurate, the results will be, too.

3. Skin carotenoid scanning

A non-invasive way to measure antioxidant levels in your skin. Now we’re getting somewhere. But—and this is important—not all scanning devices are created equal.

 

So, before you trust any “health score,” ask:

 

  • Is it based on validated biomarker science?
  • Is it non-invasive and easy to use?
  • Can you use it consistently over time?
  • Is it backed by credible wellness expertise?

Because measurement should bring clarity—not confusion. That’s where Prysm comes in.

Introducing Prysm iO: Track your nutritional health easily and painlessly

 

With a quick, non-invasive finger scan, Prysm iO measures your skin carotenoid levels—giving you real insight into your antioxidant status with your Prysm Score. Think of it like your body’s nutrition report card. So, instead of guessing whether your habits are paying off, you can actually see if they are.

 

Prysm iO helps you:

 

  • Track changes in your antioxidant levels over time
  • Make informed decisions about your diet and supplements
  • Stay consistent (because results are motivating)
  • Optimize your nutrition strategy
  • Take a more preventative approach to health
  • Evaluate your diet quality and your supplement routine

Backed by Nu Skin’s 40+ years of expertise in nutrition science and innovation, Prysm iO was designed to provide meaningful, reliable insights—not just numbers.

The simple, actionable plan

If your goal is better nutrition (and actual results), keep it simple: 

 

1. Take supplements daily

Daily supplements can help fill antioxidant gaps when your diet alone can’t. But here’s the catch: not all supplements are created equal. Prysm Certified products feature powerful antioxidants shown to help protect your cells from everyday oxidative stress. Plus, they’re proven to support measurable improvements in your Prysm Score—or your money back.

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2. Eat the rainbow

If your plate often looks beige, consider taking a more colorful approach. The solution is right there in your local grocery store in the form of bright, carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables.

 

3. Scan regularly with Prysm iO

Scanning regularly and tracking your progress can give you the “You’ve got this!” push to stay the course on your wellness journey.

 

Stop guessing. Start measuring.

Wellness shouldn’t rely on hope, vibes, or “I think it’s working?” When you can see measurable proof in your nutritional health, you stay consistent, you make smarter choices and you get better results. Confidence doesn’t come from crossing your fingers. It comes from scanning one. Ready to get your nutritional score? Learn more at getprysmio.com.

 

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FAQs

What is a carotenoid score?
A carotenoid score reflects the level of antioxidant carotenoids stored in your skin—a biomarker linked to fruit and vegetable intake.

 

How can I measure my antioxidant levels at home?
Devices like Prysm iO offer a non-invasive way to assess skin carotenoid levels and track changes over time.

Sources: (1)Gallup.com (2)CDC.gov