31/01/2021
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Sunlight absorbed through the skin is boosting your immune system a number of critical ways.
All light on earth, plants, bacteria, and mammals primarily depend on the sun for its life force.
In humans, as our skin absorbs middle of the day sun, it produces vitamin D. As stored light in the body, vitamin D allows the organism to create a skeletal system, a fundamental of their physiology.
Vitamin D also plays an important role in helping immune systems function. Low levels can lead to autoimmunity β when the immune system attacks healthy cells β and increase the chance of infection.
Today, many people experience excess inflammation. I see it everyday in bleeding gums. Your body should not spontaneously bleed, If your immune system is TOO reactive, it's not as effective as it can be.
The immune system is like an army that prevents invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, from taking over the homeland β your body. It is composed of the innate and adaptive immune systems.
This can happen in the lungs, the gut, or any organ in the body.
The first line of defense is the innate immune system:
These are the soldiers shooting indiscriminately at the enemies camp.
Vitamin D boosts this first response, but it also boosts the bodies second more specialized defences.
Next the SWAT teams are brought in with specific abilities to target and eliminate bacteria or viruses.
They have powerful weapons and the body is designed to turn them off and quickly turn them off. The issue is that when there is chronic inflammation, the weapons donβt turn off and create friendly fire.
Vitamin D actually calms this adaptive immune system. It keeps these specialized attack weapons ready to perform, but never acting out inappropriately.
As you absorb sunlight, you are boosting both of these defences.
There is some evidence that gum disease (chronic inflammation) is related to vitamin D deficiency, which are heavily dependent on sunlight. You can also eat vitamin D through cod-liver oil, fatty fish, organ meats, grass raised dairy or egg yolks.
How does sunlight affect your mood?