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New Evidence, Sunshine DOES Slash Your Cancer Risk

The first large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled study on vitamin D and cancer has shown that vitamin D can cut cancer risks by as much as 60 percent.

In response, the Canadian Cancer Society is now recommending vitamin D for all adults, the first time a major public-health organization has endorsed the vitamin as a cancer-prevention therapy.

The study looked at almost 1,200 women, aged 55 and older, over the course of four years. Those in a group that was given supplemental calcium and vitamin D had a 60 percent lower risk for all cancers than those who received a placebo.



American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(6):1586-91 June 2007

GlobeAndMail.com June 8, 2007


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I received a lot of criticism three months ago for my video explaining how you can cut your cancer risk in half by spending time in the sun (although it was the Most Watched video on YouTube I've ever produced).

In fact, some considered me a total quack because of my stand on this issue. But I've stood by my beliefs and recommendations, and now science is providing additional strong and clear evidence that my assertions were true.

This latest, groundbreaking study is proof positive that that sufficient levels of vitamin D does indeed slash your cancer risk -- and by a whopping 60 percent!

Vitamin D is available in some food sources, but about 90 percent of the vitamin is produced within the body as a result of exposure to sunlight. I recently wrote about the decrease in sun exposure over the last decade, which is in large part due to the medical warnings about skin cancer, the over-use of sunscreens, and societal changes causing people to stay indoors rather than spend time outside.

Unfortunately this lack of sensible sun exposure has far-reaching health implications.

While you clearly need sensible sun exposure, what most people don't realize is that the amount of antioxidants that you have in your skin plays a major role in the development of sunburn. Additionally omega-3 deficiencies are a far more siginificant risk factor for deadly skin cancers than sun exposure is.

Researchers now agree that the rampant increase of a wide variety of cancers may be due to widespread vitamin D deficiency. Among the cancers linked to low levels of vitamin D are breast, colon, lung, rectum, ovary, pancreas, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

Next year, my forthcoming book Dark Deception will explore this topic in detail, and expose why the conventional wisdom on the subject, which encourages you to stay out of the sun, is dead wrong.

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Comment on This Article Community Comments (36)
 
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
Thanks Dr. Mercola.

I've never believed that sun was harmful!  I lived in an area that got only 6 hours of sunlight much of the winter and know first hand the effect of limited sun exposure!  I never could understand curtains on windows and drawn blinds.  Aside from Vit D, the light itself is necessary for good health.  And, just getting it through the windows wasn't even enough in those long cold winters. 

I've always tanned and enjoyed the heat of the sun on my body! Some say it is because of my deep French/Mediteranean pigment.  I've been warned of sun aging my skin, but in my middle age years, have yet to see the wrinkles and leather I was told I would have from sun exposure.  I even loved the sweating that  exposure to sun rays produced.

My Scandinavian/Irish husband's fare skin is protected much of the summer, but more and more, he is exposing his skin to the sun on a regular basis.  The fear of harmful sunburns and the joy of helpful sun need to be balanced, and it does make a difference.  His ND even recommended, and gave us plans for, an infra-red sauna 2 times a day to get the sweating!

Skin that gets sun exposure is so healthy looking compared to that which is hidden from the sun.  And, if the largest organ in your body is healthy, it has to say something about the rest of your health.


 
Zambini
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 5/2007
Zambini  
Replied

chirocheer
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 8/2006
chirocheer  
 
Posted On Jun 28, 2007
Anointing,

I get it, and I couldn't agree more.  The Lord is the one who created the sun -- just one look @ creation takes my breath away.  I live about 2 miles from the beach, and to watch the tide come only so far -- it's amazing.  Thanks for Scripture -- keep proclaiming truth.  If I could give you more than 3 pts. I would.


GregB777
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 5/2007
GregB777  
 
Posted On Sep 20, 2007
A great book is "The UV Advantage" my Michael Holick, a famous vitamin D researcher from Boston.  It goes over a lot of the science.   Check out Amazon.

 
 
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
Massive depression occurs in Scandinavian populations, as a direct result of lack of Vitamin D from sunshine, resulting directly in a disproportionate amount of alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide.

Doc Mercola is not a QUACK, he is absolutely correct on his PROVEN correlation and affirmation that sunshine is required for a healthy and happy long life.

 
Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Replied

TheHawk60
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
TheHawk60  
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
But don't Scandanavian countries also consume alot of cod liver oil which should provide them with vitamin D?


Zambini
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 5/2007
Zambini  
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
Hawk - Good point.  My husband added CLO to his diet especially for that purpose, his heritage.  He has to be more careful with sun exposure with his fair skin.  So, we decided that was a good supplement especially given his sitation.  Wish we had known about CLO when we were in the frozen North!


Cacao
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 3/2007
Cacao  
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
I’m a believer!


Slytherin Alumnus
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2007
Slytherin Alumnus  
 
Posted On Sep 05, 2007
Personally I'd avoid using words like "proven" in science and medicine.  Especially when presented in all-caps.  It makes it even less convincing that said proof exists.

 
 
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
Funny thing. Someone like Dr. Mercola can state that Vitamin D reduces your risk of cancer and a host of other ills, and the world just yawns. Put it on the national media, and within a few days, the drug stores are all out of Vitamin D supplements. Too bad the media didn't stress enough that everyone can get vitamin D for free!

 
Laserman
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Laserman  
 
 
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
Dr. Mercola,

I will never call you a quack.  You do extensive research to back up your beliefs, and I trust that. 

I would like to add, it took me about a year to unwind my beliefs about exposing myself and my family to sunlight.  I was so brainwashed, and so afraid of getting cancer it took listening to multiple sources to finally 'get it' into my head that it was ok.  It was probably one of the last things I added to my healthy lifestyle.  I think it has to be said over and over and over, to help others that have been actually brainwashed, and have a hard time accepting what is obviously the truth, so keep up the good work--even when it's not accepted!  Carolyn

 
sunshinehair11
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
sunshinehair11  
 
 
 
Posted On Jun 11, 2007
This is incredibly important news- a true medical "breakthrough"....not the hyped kind..

After my father was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, he always took his chair and sat out in the sun.   Not because he had read something, or for any particular reason.  His body just took him there.  He had never been a sun woshipper before. 

Isn't it interesting how a great intelligence has given us the tools to keep ourselves healthy through living more closely to mother nature--all we need are the keys (and sometimes common sense)  to unlock all of the potential.  Thanks Dr. Mercola for helping us find the keys and for enforcing some good old common sense.  People in leadership roles are always shunned- I'd take it as a compliment!   

 
Jane Akre
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 12/2006
Jane Akre  
 
 
 
 
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