Sunny Anti-Cancer Vitamin D - Really?

Did you know this? I didn't!

According to an article in the August 2007 issue of Elle magazine (I know, I'm such a girl), if you're a night-owl-computer-fan-sun-avoiding-vampire like I am, happily doing your part to avoid skin cancer and proud of the results you're getting avoiding premature skin aging as you hide from the sun, here's a wake-up call - apparently lack of sun exposure can deplete your levels of Vitamin D.

So what, you say? So what if Elle quotes over 90% of the population being Vitamin D deficient?

Apparently low levels of Vitamin D can lead to all sorts of significant health issues like osteoporosis, gum disease, muscle weakness, autoimmune disorders, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, whereas sufficient levels of Vitamin D helps prevent many cancers, like breast, lung, colon, prostate, and stomach cancer.

The recommendation? Getting regular doses of sunlight can increase your body's Vitamin D production. But wait, being in the sun can help prevent cancer? What?

Well if you're like me and you want to have your cake and eat it too (no sun and healthy Vitamin D levels), it appears that taking Vitamin D as a supplement (specifically in the form of cholecalciferol) benefits the body equally as well as sun exposure. The RDA says 400 IU are sufficient; the article debates this, naming a daily 1000 IU and noting that we can take up to 10K IU daily, safely.

See this? This is me going to the supplement store to pick up some cholecalciferol. What's the fun of life-increase and fulfillment if I don't extend the years I have to enjoy it?

Here's the article you can read for yourself.

Here's to your health and longevity!
Gail