Sunshine and Immunity
Finding the right balance
The right amount of sunshine is essential to life. We rely on it for the air we breathe and the food we eat. It affects our moods and our lifestyles too. But did you know that sunshine provides a nutrient that is essential for your immune health?
Immune Balance
Your immune system is responsible for keeping you healthy and protecting you from the millions of bacteria, viruses and toxins that threaten your health. Your body, including your immune system, relies on the right foods and a healthy lifestyle to stay well.
Without the right nutrients there is a chance the immune system will become confused, it can actually attack the body itself; this is known as autoimmunity.
Autoimmunity is a complex process however there are key nutrients that can protect your immune system from getting confused in this way.
One of these is Vitamin D as it seems to have a direct link with the development of various autoimmune conditions including multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. When Vitamin D levels are restored, immune cell production and activity is rebalanced and autoimmunity may be reduced or avoided.
What does this all have to do with sunshine?
The most basic way for you to get your Vitamin D is through sunshine. Skin that is exposed to direct sunlight stimulates your body to produce Vitamin D which is then used within your body for various important functions, one of the main ones being to keep your immune function balanced. It is surprising to learn that even in sun-rich countries, such as Australia, Vitamin D deficiency is common, increasing the risk of autoimmune conditions.
This may have come about due to the success of sun protection programs, which have effectively reduced the incidence of skin cancer in younger populations.
So how much sun is enough?
Up to 30% of Australians are Vitamin D deficient. In order to produce enough Vitamin D, a person with light coloured skin would need to have their arms and legs exposed to full sunlight for 20 minutes every day (avoiding the hottest part of the day).
For a person with dark skin, this exposure would need to be closer to 2 hours a day. The use of sunscreens will block this production of Vitamin D and the exposure needs to be direct (not through glass).
The elderly, people with dark skin and veiled people are at particularly high risk of deficiency. Finding the right balance of sunlight exposure for optimal skin and immune health can be more difficult than it first sounds.
Other sources of Vitamin D
It is possible to stay “Sun Smart” and have immune health too. Vitamin D is present in a variety of organic foods including cod liver oil, herring, egg yolk and milk. It is also possible to obtain Vitamin D in supplement form, but it is important that you use a supplement with a dose that is right for you and your state of health.
For treating certain autoimmune conditions, it may be best to use a Vitamin D that is combined with a herb called Polypodium leucotomas, making it really specific for rebalancing your immune system. This herb has been successfully used for the management of stubborn autoimmune conditions including psoriasis, vitiligo and alopecia and is available from our practice in a convenient and easy to take capsule.
If you have concerns about your immune health or want help managing an autoimmune condition, please make an appointment to plan a course of action that is best for you.
