←back to thread

45 points vickipow | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | 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 ◴[] 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 ◴[] 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 ◴[] 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 #
agensaequivocum ◴[] No.44423741[source]
> Nonsmokers who avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy similar to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26992108/

replies(1): >>44424533 #
brokegrammer ◴[] No.44424533{3}[source]
The study seems to be incredibly flawed.

> Women with active sun exposure habits were mainly at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and noncancer/non-CVD death

Not surprised there because people who spend more time outdoors will typically be participating in physical activity at the same time, while people who avoid sun exposure will typically be seated while participating in sedentary activities.

If we want to see if sun exposure is the sole reason for longevity, we will have to force the subjects to sit on a couch outside.

Claiming that not getting sunlight is the same as smoking is pure garbage.

replies(1): >>44426871 #
1. tvier ◴[] No.44426871{4}[source]
> Claiming that not getting sunlight is the same as smoking is pure garbage.

So you're throwing out a whole study because it didn't cover a specific confounding variable you thought of, than stating a claim with no evidence backing it up?

That's pure garbage.

They specifically call this out in the abstract.

> We obtained detailed information at baseline on their sun exposure habits and potential confounders.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24697969/