This gadget tells you exactly how many calories your food has

SCiO tells you the nutritional value of your meal by scanning its chemical makeup

For all those whose New Year resolution is to lose weight, a new food gadget reveals exactly how many carbs and calories are in the food on your plate.

French startup DietSensor has launched a pocket-sized, Bluetooth-connected molecular sensor called SCiO which tells you the nutritional value of your meal by scanning its chemical makeup.



The tool, which was launched at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show, uses near-infrared spectroscopy (the analysis of how molecules interact with light) to determine the chemical makeup of food and drink. SCiO can analyse substances based on how their molecules interact with light.

Although, people who like to watch their weight may be over the moon about this tool, it is primarily meant to help those with conditions, such as, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.

In a demo for Mashable, the SCiO scanner revealed the fat content, carbs and related tips when held over a piece of cheese. The corresponding app noted that you should not exceed more than 54 grams of this type of product in a given time period. That data was added to health profile which showed a progress chart of your daily food intake.



PHOTO: MASHABLE

Founders Remy and Astrid Bonnasse came up with the concept in 2014 when their nine-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which required her to monitor the carbohydrate intake of each meal and measure insulin.

The couple eventually developed a nutrition coaching app and worked with Israeli company Consumer Physics for the gadget that uses science to automate the process.

It is to be noted, however, that the scanner would not be able to pick up all the ingredients in a sandwich, though the app allows you to input more complex meals manually.

The SCiO scanner is available for $249, while the app is free to download but requires a monthly $10 fee.

This article originally appeared on Mashable.