Studies have shown that there is a link between the amount of Vitamin D3 in your blood and your risk for almost every major disease known to man, including various types of cancer, especially colon cancer.
If you have low levels of vitamin D3, you are MORE LIKELY to develop hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and the majority of the severe cancers, including colorectal cancer.
Why is vitamin D3 so powerful in preventing disease and colorectal Cancer?
Vitamin D3 receptors are found on the surface of a cell where they receive chemical signals. By attaching themselves to a receptor, these chemical signals direct a cell to do something, for example, to act in a certain way, or to divide or die.
There are vitamin D3 receptors in colon and rectal cells, and vitamin D3 can bind to these receptors. This can cause cells like oncogenes to die or stop growing, and can stop the cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.
A study from 2007, looked at people with colon cancer who live in one of three regions in Norway that get different levels of sun exposure. The researchers also looked at the season in which the people got diagnosed with colon cancer, and then followed them over 28 years. (1)
They found that:
1. People with colon cancer living in the area with the highest amount of sun exposure had a lower risk of death from cancer.
2. Colon cancer survival outcomes were better for people who were diagnosed in summer or autumn.
3. High levels of vitamin D3 in the body may improve the chances of survival from colorectal cancer.
*The researchers concluded that death from colon cancer may depend on the season of diagnosis. People with more exposure to sunlight, and therefore more vitamin D, had better colon cancer outcomes.
FUN FACT: In the winter, the angle at which the earth sits in reference to the sun prevents UVB rays from entering and being transmitted through the earths atmosphere. UVB is the specific wavelength of light that causes the human body to naturally produce vitamin D. Therefore, it’s essential that you supplement your vitamin D levels during that time (which is right now!)
How much is enough? Test – Don’t Guess. You really want to shoot for a D3 blood level between 80 – 100 ng/ml. Again referencing the above chart – at 80ng/ml or above you are literally preventing almost every major disease known to man.
How can you make sure you get enough Vitamin D?
You can supplement. It’s recommended by the FDA that we get a minimum of 1,000 units per day of Vitamin D, but that recommendation was a response to a rash of rickets in the U.S. and is only the minimum amount required to stave off the disease.
When supplementing, you need at least 8,000 units per day to get your body to a point where it’s not Vitamin D deficient. More is better to enjoy the full benefits of this wonder vitamin.
Also, don’t neglect Vitamin D-rich foods like red meat, liver, eggs, cheese and fatty fish like tuna, mackerel and salmon. Of course, to keep toxins that might interfere with the benefits of Vitamin D (and many other things!) to a minimum, eat organic, grass-fed meat, only wild-caught fish and stick to organic free-range eggs and raw cheese.
The most natural way to get Vitamin D is to absorb UVB rays. Of course, it’s next to impossible during the winter months, but during the other three seasons, get out in the sun! And while we know you might be worried about things like skin cancer, try to strike a balance with the sun protection. Being constantly slathered in sunscreen not only blocks anything problematic associated with being in the sun, it blocks the benefits as well.
Take care of yourself–it’s important. That involves getting enough Vitamin D. To learn more about how to live a better life and be the best YOU, join us at one of our events where we discuss everything from nutrition to exercise to preventing disease and everything in between.
References:
Colon cancer: Prognosis for different latitudes, age groups and seasons in Norway. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B Biology (Impact Factor: 2.96). 12/2007; 89(2-3):148-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2007.09.003