Health Benefits of Vitamin D Include a Dramatic Drop in Your Cancer Risk

What is Vitamin D?rates of cancer. Why would this be so?
The compound that is commonly known asVitamin D Regulates Cell Growth.
vitamin D is technically not a vitamin at all, but aOne of the primary health benefits of vitamin D is
natural hormone. Since it's something that isto help regulate cell growth, a primary factor in
manufactured in your body, it couldn't becancer formation. Not getting enough vitamin D
considered a true vitamin, but rather, a hormone.inhibits your body's ability to keep cell growth in
A hormone is something that's made in one ofcheck, and, therefore, would allow cancer cells to
your organs, enters the bloodstream and has angrow more readily. That would explain the
effect on another organ. Since vitamin D startscorrelation between cancer and vitamin D levels.
on your skin, goes into your bloodstream andIn fact, studies done in the United States and
then to your liver and kidneys to get activated,Europe show than adequate vitamin D intake can
then goes to your intestines and bones to do itsdecrease your risk of getting cancer by more
biological work, by definition, vitamin D is athan 50%! That's the most dramatic anti-cancer
hormone.statistic that you'll ever come across.
Primary Health Benefits of Vitamin Do HelpsIn addition, studies have shown that children who
prevent many chronic diseases, including type-2received 2000IU of vitamin D starting at age one
diabetes, heart disease, hypertension,also had an 80% reduced risk of developing
osteoporosis, breast cancer, colon and ovariantype-1 diabetes.
cancero Helps keep your bones and teeth strongPublic Health Recommendations are Woefully
and healthyo Regulates the growth and activity ofInadequate.
your cellso Reduces inflammationA review study (one that summarizes the results
Other health benefits of vitamin D include its abilityfrom a number of other studies) published in the
to regulate immune system activity. Your immuneJuly 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical
cells have specific receptors for vitamin D, whichNutrition found that the recommended daily
they need for the prevention of autoimmuneintakes of between 200 and 600 IU of vitamin D
diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes,were insufficient to provide the health benefits of
rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel diseases,vitamin D such as good bone mineral density,
such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.dental health, fractures and cancer prevention.
Vitamin D's anti-inflammatory effects are alsoHow Much Vitamin D Do You Need?
beneficial for a wide spectrum of health conditionsIf you have regularly avoid direct sun exposure
including hypertension, type-1 diabetes, and(and don't take any supplementation), you almost
psoriasis.certainly have low vitamin D levels. The only way
Vitamin D Health Benefits Include Cancerto determine this for sure is to get your vitamin
ProtectionD levels tested. You can get a test kit that will
Worldwide Cancer Rates Directly Connected Withallow you to do this at home.
Sunshine. People who live in higher latitudes, awayFortunately, supplementing with vitamin D is easy
from the equator, are more prone to developing-- just spend a few hours each week sunbathing!
common cancers, such as cancer of the colon,Your skin produces almost 20,000 IU vitamin D
prostate, breast and ovaries. If you were to plotwith just 30 minutes summer sun exposure in a
a map of the entire planet and the cancer ratesbathing suit (without sunscreen). In the winter
by country, you would see that the farther awaymonths, take natural vitamin D supplements in the
from the equator you get, the higher the rate ofform of D-3 (cholocalcerifol). Nutritionists are now
cancer is. This is consistent even across differentrecommending a minimum of 1,000 to 2,000IU a
cultures and economic levels. Bottom line:day for general preventive health.
populations that get less sun have higher overall