We live in the age of smartphones, smart homes and artificial intelligence. We’ve reached a point where nothing can surprise us as humanity. New technologies are constantly making our lives easier. For this reason, it probably won’t surprise anyone that scientists have come up with the invention of a sticker that can measure the vitamin levels in your body. After all, when we can monitor our sleep rhythm with a watch or pay with a ring, it’s really not that surprising. How does it actually work? And why keep an eye on your vitamin C levels?

What is vitamin C?

It’s a substance that the human body needs for a lot of things. Vitamin C is needed for the formation of collagen in bones, muscles and cartilage. It helps protect cells from damage and aids healing. It protects the body from dangers lurking outside. Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. People usually take this vitamin from their diet or supplement it in the form of tablets or other dietary supplements.

The recommended daily dose is 90 milligrams for adult men and 75 milligrams for adult women. Vitamin C deficiency is usually suffered by smokers, passive smokers or those with digestive tract diseases. People who have certain types of cancer are also deficient in this vitamin.

━━ ( Source: Apostolos Vamvouras /  Unsplash+ )

Blood tests a thing of the past

The sufficiency of various vitamins and minerals in the body can be determined with the help of blood tests. However, some people are terrified of needles. And although it’s usually a small moment of light pain, taking blood can be something really scary for them. Now they can avoid them if they want to find out the level of vitamin C in their body. All they have to do is use a special sticker on the cup. It’s not the first time scientists have tried to create something similar.

But in the past, sensors that read sweat were usually stuck to the skin. For some, even that could be stressful. They couldn’t forget the sticker stuck to their body, for example, and it bothered them. Now, a team of engineers from the University of California, San Diego, has developed a new innovation. A kind of laboratory built into the sticker. It doesn’t stick to the body, it sticks to the cup. It’s battery-free, small and cheap.

How it works

It’s really simple to use and can be done by anyone without special knowledge. Just attach the sticker to the cup or drinking cup. When the sticker is touched with the fingertips, it starts doing its job. It starts to pick up microscopic traces of sweat and in just a few minutes it can analyse vitamin C levels. And how do you know the result? By wirelessly transmitting the data to the laptop.

The really big advantage is not only the fact that anyone can use the sticker, but also its affordability. For many, it’s more affordable than blood draws, which can get expensive for self-payers. What else do experts see as an advantage? Most people get a blood test no more than once a year. But that only tells you about their health at the moment. That changes throughout the year. The sticker is so simple that it’s no problem to use it more often. Plus, you just buy it and you don’t have to go anywhere for tests. There’s no need to worry about white coats, for example. Simple, effective, efficient.