It’s easy to understand how something like your diet can affect your gut. But what about exterior factors, like sunshine? As it turns out, sunlight might be another tool to improving your gut health.

“Researchers in Canada have shown how exposure to sunlight/UVB light can change the human gut microbiome, particularly in people who are vitamin D-deficient. Findings from the study in healthy human volunteers could help to explain the protective effect of UVB against inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They indicate that vitamin D mediates UVB-modulated changes in gut microbiota, uncovering the existence of a skin-gut axis that could provide new insights into approaches to managing and improving intestinal health.”

The study focused on two groups of people, one that was taking vitamin D supplements, and another group that was not. The group that was not taking supplements had a lower microbial diversity, but when exposed to three one-minute sessions of full-body UVB exposure over the course of a week, the study revealed that their microbiome diversity had increased to the same levels as the group who was taking the vitamin D supplements.

Although more studies need to be conducted to explore the skin-gut connection, this one helps demonstrate how external factors such as sunlight can influence your gut health. Whether you are capturing enough vitamin D through diet, or by safely going outside, be sure to rain a little sunshine on your “gut-buddies”