Vitamin D is called a wonder nutrient due to its capability of lowering the risk of various forms of cancer in human body. Hundreds of researches have been conducted on how this wonder vitamin, if found more in blood, reduces the chances of a person succumbing to cancer.
Vitamin D offers a lot of benefits that help keep the body healthy. Some of these benefits are:
- Good bone health
- Proper functioning of the immune and nervous system
- Strong muscles
- Support lung function
- Regulate 8insulin levels
- Maintain teeth health
The amazing thing about Vitamin D is that there are many ways you can get it. One of the major sources of Vitamin D is the sunlight. Other sources from where you can get Vitamin D in small amounts are eggs, fatty fish and fortified milk.
According to research, women who have low levels of this nutrient in their body are more vulnerable to developing breast cancer. The compounds in Vitamin D control breast cell growth, which stops cancer cells from developing.
PLOS ONE Study
A study was published in the journal of PLOS ONE that talked about how the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), which is the form of Vitamin D in blood helped lower the risk cancer. The study began in 2002 and ended in 2107, during which time the level of Vitamin D in the blood was measured. At the time of the admissions in the study, all the participants were cancer-free.
The average age of women enrolled in the study was 63 and there were 1,713 participants. During the course of the study, 77 women with breast cancer were added to the participant’s list. After much research and trials, researchers were able to identify the exact amount of Vitamin D the body required, which was 60 nanograms per milliliter. This was 3 times higher than what was recommended by the National Academy of Medicine in 2010.
The study concluded that the women having 60 nanograms per milliliter of 25(OH)D in their blood were at 1/5 the risk of developing breast cancer. The results showed that the higher the level of 25(OH)D in the blood, the greater the chances women have of preventing breast cancer.
Steps You Need To Take
Two ways to increase the level of Vitamin D in your body is by taking Vitamin D supplements and getting direct sunlight exposure.
To get the daily recommended amount of Vitamin D, spend approximately 15 minutes, three times a week in the sun. Since sun exposure is also a direct cause of cancer, make sure to wear a high SPF sunscreen.
As for supplements, before taking any, get a full work up done and consult a nutritionist. Depending on how low the level of Vitamin D is in your body, the supplement dosage should be around from 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter.
Following is a list of food items that should include in your diet every now and then:
- Milk
- Salmon
- Yogurt
- Herring
- Soy milk
- Catfish
- Orange juice
- Oysters
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Steelhead trout
It’s time you changed your diet and made healthier choices in life. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, so better keep up with your daily intake of Vitamin D and adopt a healthy routine with exercise.
