What Happens When the Sun Hits Your Body? What You Don’t Remember Being Taught

What if I told you that there was a source of food that is free to everyone at any time of day and that does not require you to forage, harvest, cook, shop or hunt for?

What if I told you that, just like plants, you too could be able to make your own food without ever needing to go buy food, hunt or gather, or cook raw food you find? (You never see plants do any of this, but they thrive!)

What if I told you that even as you're reading this, as long as there is some sunlight outside, you could go to it and give your body what is probably the second most important source of food and nutrition you can give it?

What if I told you that that source of food was the sun?

To help you navigate this valuable blog:

• The Skin's Relationship With the Sun

• So, How Important Is This Sun-made Vitamin?

• 🛡 1. It is the foundation of your immune system

• 🦷 2. It strengthens your bones and teeth

• 😞 3. It supports your mental health, yes, you read that right

• 💪 4. It helps with strength, posture and premature ageing

• Can You Get This Vitamin from Food?

• Takeaway

The Skin's Relationship With the Sun

Many of us go through life never really caring about what the skin is; as long as our face doesn't have acne, isn't too dry or oily, looking like a child going to school in the morning cold, as long as our skin isn't any of that, we are okay.

For those who skipped or didn't study biology, or those who did but couldn't bring themselves to understand the details about the skin for this or that reason, I want you to understand that your skin is an organ. Yeah. Just like your heart, your lungs, your brain, and many others.

Not only has your skin been carefully designed to protect you and make you look "glowing" but it also contains several layers:

• (Epidermis) The one that you see that shows your skin colour (contains melanin), that also protects you from basic harm, germs, dirt, excessive sunlight and prevents the internal 'things' from getting dehydrated. This one doesn't hurt when you get bruised. This layer is also the one that uses sunlight to synthesise the nutrient that is the topic of this blog.

• (Dermis) The one that starts slightly bleeding when you get bruised or get a paper cut. It contains blood vessels, sweat glands that collect sweat, which is effectively toxic excrement the body carries out from the blood, the roots of your hair, nerve endings which help you feel pain, temperature, and touch, collagen and elastin which help keep your skin firm, smooth, and stretchy (yes, the lesser collagen and or elastin you have, the weaker, looser and more wrinklier the skin starts to appear — and yes, frowning all the time will draw out those folds more when you age.)

• (Subscutaneous/Hypodermis) The one that contains the body fat that you hate (except upper belly fat, that's something else) and connective tissue. It keeps you warm, protects the internal organs and even blood vessels and stores excess energy in the form of fat, which again, we know you hate, hehe. If you've ever been unfortunate enough, as a kid, when you'd scrape your knees when you fall, before the blood comes over it, you saw this layer as the white layer.

Yes, all that is going on just on your skin, hehe.

So as you can see, your skin is an entire functional and very important organ.

In fact, it is the largest organ of your body.

So when the sun hits your skin, it just doesn't make you "sun kissed", but one of the most amazing processes in the human body starts.

That first layer that gives you that "melanin so fine" when sunlight hits it, a natural compound in this layer reacts and starts the process that leads to the production of one of the most important vitamins for the body.

Vitamin D.

So, How Important Is This Sun-made Vitamin?

Let’s break it down:

🛡 1. It is the foundation of your immune system

Look, I first learned about Vitamin D way back in primary school, and just like most of us, we forgot about it quickly after, like we did most other nutrients, except for Vitamin C, which is insignificant compared to our topic of this blog.

Later on into my studies while working for a health and wellness company, while I was doing my research as I always do ensure my clients get a complete and holistic cover and support on their health and wellness, I came across an interesting article that made me become really curious to learn more about Vitamin D. Especially that which your body produces.

The article suggested that studies have been made that have determined that it is impossible for the body's immune system to get overwhelmed or compromised if there is enough Vitamin D in the body. The more I read, the more my curiosity grew—and so did my need to learn, explore, and connect the dots for myself. I did my due diligence over several years, and I believe this holds true.

In simple terms, this means that when you get sick, to the point of getting bedridden, symptoms are overwhelming or even to the point of death from disease, all this can only happen when your body no longer has Vitamin D for your immune system to use to regulate, instruct and strengthen itself.

It does this by helping modulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses, influencing the activity of immune cells and their ability to fight off infections. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased susceptibility to infections and autoimmune diseases. 

I don't know whether this information excites you and opens your eyes as much as it does me, but I want to help break this down for you because if you've come this far, you deserve to understand what this all means.

In biology, modulation refers to the process of adjusting or altering a biological system's function or activity in response to a stimulus or change in the environment.

You've probably understood the role it plays in fighting and or preventing sickness and disease, but the fact that it is responsible for modulating your body's immune response means that conditions such as:

• eczema,

• astha,

• lupus,

• anaemia,

• alopecia,

• celiac disease (can't eat wheat),

• ulcers,

• food allergies and similar kinds of autoimmune diseases, and even further to;

• fungal infections and

• what you may call "food poisoning", where you always find yourself with a constant running stomach and pain after eating almost anything (IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Are only possible when Vitamin D is running low or has been depleted in your body.

This is a big deal, and even if I were to stop the blog here, I would feel that you have gotten more than enough information.

This is seen where kids who grow up in places where they can play outside in the sun hardly get sick, are very resilient to common sicknesses and almost never have serious health problems or disorders.

Versus those who grow up in closed-up apartments, school in small private schools that have no compound and almost never get the sun and when they do, are shielded. These are the ones with almost every sickness, disease or disorder you can think of and as harsh as this may sound, I only say this to awaken you and therefore empower you with this transformational discovery.

In fact, I want that to sink in, my friend, because just with this, you call for help that neighbour of yours who has a sick child and medical bills that are piling up every day when God has given them a free cure.

Or that relative of yours who is on constant medication, fighting blood infections and all this and that that every medical test keeps uncovering, can find a free and you'd-be-surprised-just-how-quick treatment.

But just for good measure, here are some other good-to-know benefits of exposing yourself to the sun:

🦷 2. It strengthens your bones and teeth

Vitamin D3, the active form of Vitamin D your body produces through sunlight, regulates calcium and phosphorus by helping the body absorb and use them effectively. Those two minerals keep your bones and teeth strong, effectively preventing rickets in children (bow legs in children - it's more common than you'd think) and help protect adults from osteoporosis and brittle bone disease.

So yes, no, it’s not just a “menopause” thing like they’d have you believe.

😞 3. It supports your mental health, yes, you read that right

It is a little-known fact that some forms of depression, bad moods and or low moods are a sign of malnutrition. SOME.

So fixing your nutrition overall can help with this except for cases of trauma, stress, abuse and or mistreatment. Basically, if you can't put your finger on what exactly is making you feel terrible and low all the time, it COULD be a sign of malnutrition as your brain struggles to process basic everyday stimuli, thoughts and emotions.

While stress and trauma could bypass good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle and cause your body to show the internal pain physically, proper nutrition, regardless, helps you not 'lose it' completely.

Extreme and constant conditions of stress and trauma can suppress your immune system even when you are doing everything right, causing your body to react with severe inflammation, weight flactuations and autoimmune diseases such as ulcers, IBS and even growths!

💪 4. It helps with strength, posture and premature ageing

Vitamin D3 supports muscle performance and neuromuscular function, especially in older adults. It helps reduce the risk of falls, frailty, and yes, even wrinkles.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining strength, posture, and potentially slowing down premature ageing. It supports bone health by aiding calcium absorption, which is essential for strength and hardness. Adequate vitamin D also promotes muscle function and may improve balance and coordination, positively impacting posture. Furthermore, vitamin D's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help protect against cellular damage associated with ageing, potentially reducing the visible signs of premature ageing. 

A strong body means a firm, youthful appearance. Not just on the outside, but beneath the skin too.

All that…and more, just from the sun hitting your skin.

Let that sink in.

Can You Get Vitamin D from Food?

Yes, you can, and in fact you should, not just for the vitamin D, but because of the fact that natural sources of food have been packaged perfectly by nature in relevant amounts for your body to utilise along with the nutrients it comes with.

But, when it comes to Vitamin D, the vitamin D your body makes from sunlight, D3, is actually more effective than the kind you get from food or even supplements.

Why?

Because it’s in the exact form your body is designed to use, and your body controls how much to make, based on what it needs.

Unlike food or pills, whose Vitamin D might fail to be absorbed properly or utilised effectively, for example, because of how different people's digestive systems are.

The one your body produces is also more stable and stays in your system longer, making it easy for your body to use whenever it is needed, and just from the information above, you can imagine how many uses those are!

So while supplements and fortified foods can help, especially when there’s little sun (if you're in Africa, c'mon!), your skin’s own production is usually more powerful, efficient, and reliable—if you’re getting enough sun exposure.

While it is a good thing to know about vitamins and nutrients, I never recommend to stress over whether you're getting each and overy one but basically focusing on understand nature's nutrition secrets that are open for all to learn and as you apply those basics, you will be all set. If you wish dive more into nutrition, food and your body's relationship with food, feel free to expore my ebooks or even better yetter, my self-guided "Every Bite Counts Nutrition Program".

Takeaway

When was the last time you truly enjoyed the sun?

Intentionally?

When’s the last time you stepped outside just to bask in it—no errands, no plans, no agenda?

If you’re like most people, your honest answer is probably something like, “I can’t remember,” or “Never.”

We live in a time where we're constantly told to avoid the sun at all costs. Especially for women, the message is loud and persistent: wear sunscreen every day, cover up, stay in the shade.

But here’s something worth remembering—Your African heritage (if you're black) gifted you melanin-rich skin. This isn’t just about beauty—it’s a built-in, God-given layer of protection. Your skin was designed for the sun.

Yet we’re told to avoid it. To hide from it. To fear it.

But the same way plants need sunlight to thrive, bloom, and nourish others…your body does too.

Because when the sun kisses your skin, something powerful happens:

Just a few hundred years ago, there was no sunscreen, yet our ancestors thrived. Today, we’re told that we can’t live without it. But as a Black woman, don’t be too quick to slather your skin with products full of unpronounceable chemicals in the name of "protection."

Start by protecting it from the inside out.

With proper nutrition.

With intentional sun exposure.

With an understanding of your body’s wisdom.

You’ll be amazed at how much healthier your skin will look and feels…

Like mine here 😉😏

And not just your skin—your mood, energy, gut health, and immunity too.

So go ahead—Embrace the sun. Embrace your melanin. And take care of your skin the same way you do your nails 😂—only now with the reverence an organ deserves.

To help you navigate this valuable blog:

• The Skin's Relationship With the Sun

• So, How Important Is This Sun-made Vitamin?

• 🛡 1. It is the foundation of your immune system

• 🦷 2. It strengthens your bones and teeth

• 😞 3. It supports your mental health, yes, you read that right

• 💪 4. It helps with strength, posture and premature ageing

• Can You Get This Vitamin from Food?

• Takeaway

Want to go even deeper on this topic?

If you've found value in this blog, imagine what else you can learn about your body, food, and nutrition. While sun exposure is powerful, it works best when paired with intentional nutrition:

• Explore my meal plans for an amazing transformation, weight loss, and health journey.

• Explore the Every Bite Counts Nutrition Program

• Check out my ebook collection to learn more about your relationship with food, body, and inner wellness.