If your immune system could talk, it might be begging you for one thing: more sun. A prominent medical expert explains that sunlight is the fuel for a crucial component of your body’s defense network.
The key is Vitamin D, which the expert describes as a “light-activated” hormone for your immune cells. When your skin produces Vitamin D from sun exposure, it travels through the body and essentially “wakes up” your T-cells, the soldiers that fight off viruses and bacteria.
When you don’t get enough sun, your immune system is essentially in a low-power mode. Your T-cells remain dormant and are less effective at identifying and attacking invaders. This is why a deficiency makes you more susceptible to getting sick.
You can’t answer your immune system’s plea with food alone. The doctor emphasizes that the amount of Vitamin D in your diet is like a whisper when your body needs a loud command to activate its defenses.
To give your immune system what it’s begging for, heed the expert’s advice: get 10 to 30 minutes of midday sun on your arms and legs. This provides the powerful signal your body needs to switch its defenses to high alert.