Our immune systems are exquisitely designed to protect us from pathogens, but we have to do our part by supplying our bodies with all the nutrients they need, by protecting them from toxins, and by exercising appropriately, getting enough sleep, and minimizing stress so our immune systems can work the way nature intended.

We need essential vitamins and minerals to build a healthy immune system, particularly vitamins A, C, E, and many of the B vitamins, and the minerals zinc and selenium. With a virulent pathogen like the Coronavirus, it’s advisable to add herbals like Oregano Oil and Olive Leaf Extract. But one vitamin is especially critical to immune function: vitamin D.

The immune system’s Natural Killer cells, which attack and kill bacteria, viruses and cancer cells, can’t be activated unless sufficient vitamin D is present. Vitamin D is also necessary for manufacturing the immune system’s own antivirals and antibiotics. When confronted by a virus almost all immune cells can put up little antennae called vitamin D receptors (VDRs) attracting vitamin D. Vitamin D then rushes to their aid and is a necessary factor in helping them make potent antivirals.

Vitamin D experts have hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency may be the root cause of winter colds and flu. They point out that we get far less sunlight in the winter (our skin makes vitamin D from UV rays from the sun), and although vitamin D can be stored in the body for long periods of time, most people don’t make enough during the summer months to last through the winter. The result is that low blood levels of vitamin D are almost universal during the winter months, coinciding with the flu season.

Given the profound importance of vitamin D to immunity, it is troubling that according to a 2009 investigation, vitamin D deficiency in the US has become notably worse over the last few decades. Unless you’ve been supplementing, it’s almost guaranteed you’re deficient. 

Vitamin D levels can be tracked with the 25(OH)D blood test. Leading vitamin D researchers recommend levels between 50 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml. Roughly speaking, when levels drop below 30 ng/ml, many body functions don’t work correctly. At about 50 ng/ml, the body will use all that it has; at levels above 50 ng/ml the body will begin to store excess vitamin D in fat and muscle for future use.  Since vitamin D is used up in times of greater need, it’s advisable to have some in storage.

It’s impossible to get levels like these following government recommendations.  Most people need to take 5,000 IU per day or more to get their levels up and maintain them. During the summer months, if you can get 10-15 minutes of daily bright midday sun on your face and arms, you can make do with less.

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