Oct. 12, 2023 – Although people need sunlight for optimal health, lower than 20% of individuals go outside every day for recreational activities or leisure, in keeping with 2021 General social survey.
Now the identical smartwatch that tracks your steps and sleep may track your time within the sun.
“Apple’s Time in Daylight feature uses the watch’s ambient light sensor, as well as its GPS and motion sensors, to detect whether a person is outside. Clouds, shadows and even a long-sleeved shirt can affect the results.” The Washington Post reported. “The feature is available on Apple Watch Series 6 or later models.”
Sunshine improves your body's production of vitamin D, which helps strengthen your bones, regulate circadian rhythms, reduce eyestrain, and improve alertness and mood by increasing serotonin levels, in keeping with The Washington Post.
“We are finding more and more data that sunlight has significant systemic health benefits,” said Richard Weller, professor of dermatology on the University of Edinburgh.
From an evolutionary perspective, humans are “used” to spending most of their time outside. Things have only modified because the Industrial Revolution.
JoAnn Manson, MD, a professor at Harvard Medical School, says that just quarter-hour a day, two or thrice every week, is sufficient to boost vitamin D production as beneficial.
The amount of sun needed varies from individual to individual. Factors that affect sun exposure and absorption include skin color, clothing, location and more. People with fair skin may only need quarter-hour a day, while those with darker skin tone may have far more.
Apple says it added Time in Daylight to make people aware of how much time they spend indoors doing nearsighted activities, resembling taking a look at their devices. The Washington Post reported that studies have shown that children who spend more time outside are less more likely to develop nearsightedness.