←back to thread

Show HN: I built a daily sunlight tracker

(www.lumehealth.io)
45 points vickipow | 2 comments | 26 Jun 25 23:28 UTC | HN request time: 0.422s | source

I kept trying to explain how important outdoor light is and how most people aren’t getting enough. Eventually I figured that showing is more effective than telling.

So we built a free app that uses your Apple Watch or iPhone to automatically track your light exposure throughout the day.

It tells you if you’re getting enough, shows you how consistent you are, and rewards habits that support hormone balance.

It's in beta on TestFlight, let me know what you think!

Show context
Fraaaank ◴[30 Jun 25 13:04 UTC] No.44422805[source]▶
>how most people aren’t getting enough

What are you basing this on? What counts as 'enough'? And how are you tracking light exposure?

replies(3): >>44422907 #>>44423101 #>>44423837 #
snarf21 ◴[30 Jun 25 13:15 UTC] No.44422907[source]▶
There are countless studies that billions of people are Vitamin D deficient. Our bodies are designed to get most of that from the sun. Lots of people never even leave their house on a given day.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3068797/

replies(3): >>44423182 #>>44425782 #>>44427987 #
Fraaaank ◴[30 Jun 25 13:43 UTC] No.44423182[source]▶
I should've been more specific. The study you link states that 'To prevent vitamin D deficiency, one should spend 15 to 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of the skin surface exposed.'. The screenshot on lume health shows a goal of 120 minutes.

Moreover, sun exposure is not by definition 'healthy'. Spending two hours in the sun at noon in the middle of summer does more harm than good.

replies(3): >>44423741 #>>44425232 #>>44425923 #
1. porridgeraisin ◴[30 Jun 25 16:37 UTC] No.44425232[source]▶
Yes, you get your sun in the morning and/or in the evening. This is standard.
replies(1): >>44427940 #
2. agensaequivocum ◴[30 Jun 25 21:13 UTC] No.44427940[source]▶
Morning and evening sun are excellent due to the high levels of Near-IR and IR. However, it is devoid of UVB needed for vitamin D synthesis. You need morning, evening, and midday sun.