What Are The Benefits Of Being In The Sun For The Immune System?
Sunlight is one of the most complex sources of radiation including UVA and UVB radiation. And this is why we are often told to protect our skin and body against excessive sun exposure. However, the impact of UV radiation or sun exposure can also be beneficial for our body depending on the specific pathways it activates. Research studies have revealed that being in the sun can create a favorable effect on the immune system. It also offers several other benefits.
If you think that sun exposure is only harmful to your health, keep reading to clear this myth. We will have a look at how being in the sun can actually help to improve your health by producing a specific effect on your immune system.
Benefits Of Being In The Sun For The Immune System
1. Produces Vitamin D
The efficiency of the production of vitamin D is dependent on the number of UVB photons penetrating the skin. The lack of adequate exposure to the sun can inhibit these processes from occurring due to which you may develop a deficiency of vitamin D.
The UV rays in the sun help the body produce vitamin D, which is important for your bones, immune system, and blood cells.
Unlike most other essential vitamins that can be obtained from the diet, vitamin D is synthesized in our skin through a reaction triggered by exposure to UVB radiation in the sun’s rays.
The efficiency of the production of vitamin D is dependent on the number of UVB photons penetrating the skin. The lack of adequate exposure to the sun can inhibit these processes from occurring due to which you may develop a deficiency of vitamin D.
The primary physiologic functions of vitamin D include maintaining healthy levels of calcium and phosphorous in the body, and supporting immunological functions, bone mineralization, and neuromuscular transmission.
Research studies have reported that vitamin D deficiency linked to a lack of sun exposure could increase the risk of autoimmune diseases and even cancers. This indicates that being in the sun is essential for regulating the functions of the immune system and preventing the development of autoimmune diseases. Moreover, it would also enable the body to fight cancerous changes.
2. Immunosuppressive UV radiation
These natural benefits of being in the sun can not just inhibit or slow down the progression of autoimmune disorders but also allow patients to avoid the serious side effects that can occur due to the long-term use of immunosuppressive and steroidal drugs.
Research studies have revealed that UV-induced immunosuppression can serve as a natural defence mechanism that can protect us against the risk of allergies and autoimmune disorders. UV-induced immunosuppression occurs following chronic exposure to UV radiation at least 3 times a week for 3 months.
There are a number of protocols for irradiation aimed at inducing immunosuppression in patients with autoimmune diseases. Some of the doses of UV radiation, termed the minimal erythema dose, can create a healthy biological effect on the body and support the functions of the immune system.
Sun exposure can create natural immunosuppressive effects enabling patients with autoimmune diseases to lower the doses of immunosuppressive drugs or steroids they have to use to prevent the symptoms and progress of their illness. These natural benefits of being in the sun can not just inhibit or slow down the progression of autoimmune disorders but also allow patients to avoid the serious side effects that can occur due to the long-term use of immunosuppressive and steroidal drugs.
3. Relieves allergies
Being in the sun can provide multiple benefits in terms of relief from allergic diseases, inhibition of autoimmune disorders, and reduced severity of inflammatory diseases.
Patients who suffer from recurrent symptoms of allergies can benefit from being in the sun. Sun exposure could suppress immunity and prevent or limit the severity and extent of immunity-driven diseases.
Research studies have shown that being in the sun and exposure to UV radiation could trigger certain activities in the body, which can inhibit the development of allergic diseases like asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
It can also help to relieve the symptoms of inflammatory and immunological diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. There are multiple pathways through which UV radiation can suppress or regulate immunity, by acting via cellular networks and multiple mediators, locally as well as systemically.
Being in the sun can provide multiple benefits in terms of relief from allergic diseases, inhibition of autoimmune disorders, and reduced severity of inflammatory diseases. The results you can achieve by being in the sun can be improved further by using immunity-balancing supplements like BioPro-Plus.
BioPro-Plus can help to regulate the functions of the immune system and control the activities of immune cells. It can also aid in easing inflammation, create an inhibitive environment to cancerous changes, and reduce allergy symptoms thus allowing you to stay healthy and strong.
Read More Before Being in the Sun:
Smart Sun Safety: The Benefits (And Drawbacks) of the Sunny Season