Being exposed to sunlight also enables your body to make vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin cells. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D has many perks, including the ability to regulate your immune system. A regulated immune system helps your body fight off infections. Vitamin D also helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. These nutrients are important for healthy bones and teeth, so it’s no wonder that many experts believe that osteoporosis (a disease in which bones become brittle or fragile) could be prevented with adequate vitamin D levels.

` Exposing your skin to sunlight also helps you produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanin protects your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays in sunlight, which can cause cancer and wrinkles.

The type of skin you have also plays an important role in your health. People with lighter-colored skin are more likely to develop sunburns than people with darker skin. Lighter-skinned people are also at greater risk for developing skin cancer, which is why it’s important for everyone—regardless of race or color—to use sunscreen on a regular basis when outdoors.

Vitamin D is found in very few foods, so most of us need to take a vitamin supplement to get enough. The best sources of vitamin D are fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. Other good sources include egg yolks and liver, which are high in cholesterol.