Sunlight is more than something that makes a day bright and warm. Our bodies were designed to live with natural light each day. Sunlight helps the body make vitamin D, a nutrient that is important for strong bones, healthy muscles, and normal immune function. Vitamin D deficiency is common around the world, even in places with plenty of sunshine. A large worldwide analysis of more than 7.9 million people found that low vitamin D levels are common across many regions and populations.¹ This can happen when people spend little time outdoors, cover most of their skin, have darker skin, are older, or have other factors that reduce vitamin D production.

Sunlight also helps control the body's daily clock. Morning light tells the brain that it is daytime and helps set the rhythm for sleep, hormones, energy, and other body functions. Spending time outdoors during the day can therefore support healthy sleep and a healthy daily routine. Sunlight also affects the body in ways that do not depend only on vitamin D. Research has found that light exposure can influence blood vessels, mood, and other body systems. Scientists are still learning how many of these effects work and how much sunlight is needed for different people.

Sunlight may also have an important connection with oral health. Vitamin D helps the body use calcium and phosphorus and supports healthy bones, including the bone that holds the teeth in place. Research has found that people with periodontitis often have lower vitamin D levels than people without the disease.²,³ Some studies also suggest that correcting vitamin D deficiency may help support periodontal treatment and the body's natural healing and repair processes. However, the evidence is not strong enough to say that vitamin D causes or prevents gum disease. Vitamin D and sunlight should never replace brushing, cleaning between the teeth, professional dental care, or other proven treatments.⁴ Instead, adequate sunlight and vitamin D can be viewed as part of creating the healthy conditions the body needs to repair tissues, support bone, regulate inflammation, and heal.

The goal is balance. Too little sunlight may contribute to low vitamin D levels and poor daily light exposure, while too much ultraviolet radiation can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Healthy sunlight habits mean spending regular time outdoors, getting natural daylight, avoiding sunburn, and using appropriate protection during prolonged or intense exposure. Very few plant foods naturally contain vitamin D. Some mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light can provide vitamin D₂. Many plant-based foods, including some plant milks and cereals, are fortified with vitamin D. When adequate vitamin D cannot be obtained through sunlight and food, supplementation may be appropriate.

Sunlight is one part of a larger picture: when we combine God's gifts of sunlight, nutritious food, movement, rest, self-control, faith, and good oral care, we create daily habits that support health and longevity.

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Footnotes

1. Cui, A., Zhang, T., Xiao, P., Fan, Z., Wang, H., & Zhuang, Y. (2023). Global and regional prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in population-based studies from 2000 to 2022: A pooled analysis of 7.9 million participants. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1070808. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1070808
2. Machado, V., Lobo, S., Proença, L., Mendes, J. J., & Botelho, J. (2020). Vitamin D and periodontitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 12(8), 2177. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082177
3. Shah, M., Poojari, M., Nadig, P., Kakkad, D., Banerjee Dutta, S., Sinha, S., Chowdhury, K., Dagli, N., Haque, M., & Kumar, S. (2023). Vitamin D and periodontal health: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(10), e4777 https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47773
4. Malik, N. A., Yatim, S. M., Mokhtar, K. N., Ramli, S. N. R. M., Dissanayaka, W. L., Pelekos, G., & McGrath, C. (2023). Oral health and vitamin D in adult: A systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 26(2), 218–230. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114522000964