My local paper, the Daily Herald, published a lengthy article about vitamin D and its importance to wellness. Separate studies concluded:

• Premenopausal women with the highest vitamin D intake had 35% less breast cancer than those getting the least amount of the vitamin
• Women who took 1,100 international units of vitamin D lowered their risk of any cancer by 77%
• Caucasian men and women with the highest levels of vitamin had a 62% lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis
• Other researchers have found a correlation between vitamin D intake and a reduced risk of several diseases

Researchers don’t know what the proper amount of vitamin D is and studies about the vitamins impact on health are still ongoing. However, a large proportion of Americans are vitamin D deficient – and most don’t realize it. My doctor claims that half of the people he tests are vitamin D deficient.

One of the primary causes of vitamin D deficiency is a lack of exposure to the sun. Sunlight naturally creates vitamin D in the bloodstream, but too much exposure to sunlight can lead to skin cancer. Therefore, most doctors and especially dermatologists recommend taking a vitamin D supplement instead of getting more sunlight.

Before taking any new vitamin or supplement, it is prudent to talk to your doctor – and your pharmacist, first.

-Charles
Publisher, NetSweat.com