Can Vitamin D Prevent Cancer?

We know that vitamin D keeps us healthy, but can vitamin D prevent cancer?  The answer appears to be yes.

Scientists have been studying vitamin D more and more and the more they look the more important it appears.

One surprising finding is that most Americans are deficient in vitamin D.

Some studies have found as many as 85% of people in the north are deficient.  This is because much of the vitamin D in our body is produced in the skin as a result of  sun exposure.  If we live where there isn’t much sun, our vitamin D levels will be low.

If a deficiency of vitamin really does causes cancer, this is a huge problem.

Many of the studies showing an increased risk of cancer examined how much people got in their diet and then looked at the rate of cancer.

Multiple studies have shown the highest rates of many different types of cancer in those with the lowest levels of vitamin D.

Now, these studies don’t prove that taking vitamin D will reduce your risk of cancer, but such studies could take twenty years or longer to complete.  If we need vitamin D that’s too long to wait for an answer.

That’s why many physicians suggest taking 1000 or so units of vitamin D every day, especially during the shorter days of winter if you live in the north.

Another idea is to wait fifteen or twenty minutes before you put your sun screen on.  That little bit of sun gives your skin time to make your own vitamin D but isn’t long enough to do damage.

And cancer isn’t the only thing vitamin D affects.

If you want to find out about vitamin D and heart attacks you can follow that link.

But vitamins and supplements are only one part of health and wellness.  I’ve found a lot of good information at http://www.jfmccaffreymd.com.  You may want to check it out.