More and more research is demonstrating the myriad health benefits of vitamin D. From its ability to improve bone health, raise testosterone, ward off colds, and reduce the risk of developing diabetes, vitamin D is often touted almost as a wonder drug. And now new research indicates that regular supplementation with vitamin D could help reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Vitamin D is often known as the sunshine vitamin due to the body’s ability to create vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But many people fail to get enough vitamin D through exposure to sunlight and thus remain chronically deficient in vitamin D. Those most at risk include those who spend large amounts of time indoors, those with dark skin, and those who live at northern latitudes during wintertime.
Those who are deficient in vitamin D put themselves at risk of developing a wide range of illnesses, including various forms of cancer. In fact, those deficient in vitamin D are twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer, one of the most virulent forms of cancer and one which is quickly becoming more prevalent.
Recent research has indicated that those who supplement daily with vitamin D have a 13 percent less chance of developing any form of cancer than those who don’t get enough vitamin D. And for some specific forms of cancer such as prostate cancer, the risk of developing those cancers can be cut even more significantly.
If you’re not already supplementing with vitamin D then you should give it a try. Consult with your doctor first to make sure that supplementation won’t interfere with any pre-existing health conditions you may have. But especially for those in the US, vitamin D supplements can be critical to getting enough vitamin D during wintertime. You’ll decrease the likelihood of falling ill in the short-term, and could very well reduce your risk of developing cancer in the long term.
This article was originally posted on Red Tea News.
