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Highlighting some of the best and most-read health and wellness innovations that we've spotted recently.
As the world continues to come to terms with the growing COVID-19 pandemic, the health and wellbeing of ourselves and those we care about is top of mind more so than ever before.
Springwise is always tracking the latest health innovations and will be reporting on the most-relevant breakthroughs related to combating the coronavirus, as well as how the business community is adapting, in the coming weeks and months.
For now, we are highlighting some of the best and most-read health and wellness innovations that we’ve spotted recently. From AI-driven apps that detect vitamin deficiencies to 3D-printed vitamins, there is no shortage of brilliant ideas being turned into practical solutions that aim to help you and your families maintain proper health, as well as inspire other innovators who are working on similar projects.
Please share with your colleagues, friends and families and stay well.
1. AI-DRIVEN APP DETECTS VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES
Students at UAE-based Ajman University have designed an app that uses photos to diagnose vitamin deficiencies. The students say the app, a national winner of the 2019 James Dyson Award, is a first for diagnosing vitamin deficiencies.
The app aims to make it easier to check if you have a vitamin deficiency. It uses AI to analyse photos of one’s eyes, tongue, lips and nails. These four features were selected because they can indicate, by texture, shape, colour or appearance, when there is a vitamin deficit. The app then recommends dietary changes to correct the deficiency.
2. ECG SMARTWATCH TO MEASURE COVID-19 INFECTION RATES
In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, ECG smartwatch manufacturer, Vagus, has developed a crowd-sourced data collection campaign, which they are carrying out with the use of Vagus ECG smartwatches.
The voluntary study consists of participants completing three 90-second “Vagus ECG tests” every day. Participants follow instructions displayed on the watch, such as sitting with your hands on a table and can include a health status note, with measurements such as body temperature.
Read more about the smartwatch campaign here.
3. DEVICE CAN TRACK METABOLISM FROM JUST ONE BREATH
Early diagnoses of disease offer greater opportunities for successful treatment. Such technology can quite literally mean the difference between life and death. Now, a start-up crowdfunding in the US claims to be able to analyse users’ metabolisms based on just one breath.
Lumen is a small device that claims to be able to track a user’s metabolism. The user breathes into the device a few times a day, with each breath giving Lumen more information, via carbon dioxide readings. This enables the device to provide daily personalised meal plans and optimised workouts. Lumen aims to help its users lose weight in a manner that is perfectly suited to them. Information is available to the user via Apple Health or Google Fit respectively.
4. APP PROMISES TO MAKE EACH AND EVERY DAY A GOOD DAY
An app called Moodrise is designed to brighten your day. Developed by AeBeZe Labs, the app promises to help you feel better by targeting six appealing states of mind, including happiness, confidence and focus.
You choose the mood and the app feeds you photos, videos and other online content, specially approved by mental health specialists to improve “your experience on planet earth.”
Read more about Moodrise here.
5. 3D-PRINTED VITAMINS CAN BE PERSONALISED
British startup, Nourished, is using 3D-printing technology to make bespoke “stacks” of vitamins designed for individual customer needs. The chewy vitamins are sweet and made of vegan gel.
Nourished offers its customers several ways to choose its supplements. They can take an online quiz, designed to determine what types of nutrients the customer is most in need of. They can also create their own stack by choosing any seven nutrients themselves from the selection of 28. Nourished will then 3D-print the nutrients in layers to create a personalised vitamin stack.
Read more about the Nourished app here.
6. APP ALERTS SHOPPERS TO UNHEALTHY PRODUCTS IN REAL-TIME
The French app Yuka decodes labels on food and beauty products, in order to make it easier and more transparent to shop for healthy goods. The app scans the barcode and rates products in real-time, alerting shoppers to unhealthy ingredients. For food products, Yuka ratings are based on three criteria: nutritional quality, additives and if the product is organic.
The app provides an easy-to-read score: green light for healthy, red for unhealthy. There are also yellow and orange scores for products that fall in between. If the product is deemed unhealthy, the app recommends a healthier alternative.
Read more about the Yuka app here.
7. A WEARABLE TRACKS KEY METRICS TO IMPROVE SLEEP
The startup Beddr has developed a wearable that promises to better measure your sleep, in order to improve its quality. The company has upgraded its tech to include further data and other services.
According to Beddr, around 45 per cent of people have chronic sleep issues. The SleepTuner uses a compact sensor, which sits on the forehead during sleep. The sensor measures metrics such as sleep duration, breathing, oxygen saturation, heart rate, position and more. Beddr also comes with a mobile app which provides data analytics, makes recommendations on how to improve your sleep, and includes a sleep coaching programme and targeted treatment options.
Read more about wearable sleep aid.
