Vitamin D is Vital to Health
Evidence continues to mount validating the critical nature of Vitamin D to human health. Actually a form of hormone, Vitamin D exerts a powerful influence on virtually every cell in the body as it’s been shown to activate the immune system's ability to identity and thwart pathogens and rogue cancer cells.
Medical science has been aware of the health benefits of Vitamin D for decades, noting that certain cancers are much more prevalent in colder northern climates than in the sun-saturated southern geographic zones. Research published in the journal Nature Immunology provides the scientific evidence behind this miraculous pro-hormone.
Vitamin D Activates the Immune Response
Our bodies are very sensitive to Vitamin D circulating in the blood, with insufficient levels leading to poor immune system response and disease. Man has evolved with much higher blood levels of Vitamin D than many people experience today, due to regular sun exposure experienced by our ancestors. Our genetic code has incorporated this hormone and uses it to perform many cellular functions.
Scientists have discovered that Vitamin D activates white blood cell components of our innate immune system known as T-cells, which are responsible for tagging an intruder pathogen for destruction. This study is important because it demonstrates that this is only possible when there’s enough Vitamin D circulating in the blood. When the vitamin is deficient, there’s no detection and the pathogens or rogue cancer cells are permitted to flourish and multiply.
Vitamin D Trains the Immune System for Future Assaults
Under the guidance of Vitamin D, the T-cells are able to store information which helps our immune systems recall prior invaders, and how to respond to them more quickly if a future attack should occur. Disease response memory is critical to providing natural defenses as we age, since the body can rapidly identify and conquer a host of pathogens as it continually adapts to its environment. Many researchers believe this is a key reason that man has been able to survive and evolve in a relatively hostile viral environment.
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