Vitamin D strikes again - this time against lung cancer

New evidence continues to prove that you actually belong in the great outdoors, exposed to the sun's rays and unimpeded by a high SPF sun block. Contrary to popular belief, the sun actually promotes many beneficial effects in your body, including of the creation of vitamin D. Read on to find out why vitamin is significant in the fight against lung cancer...

You probably know the many benefits of vitamin Das research has been pouring in about its ability to tackle all sorts of serious health threats, from heart attacks to Parkinson’s Disease.

Now you can add lung cancer to that list.

The link between vitamin D and lung cancer

Researchers at Harvard University studied 456 consecutive patients with early stage lung cancer at three hospitals.

They found that patients with high vitamin D levels and summer surgeries fared the best, with a five-year survival rate of 72%. Meanwhile, those with the lowest levels of vitamin D and winter surgeries had a five-year survival rate of only 29%.

“Obviously, when it comes to survival rates, 72% vs. 29% is a very significant difference. Perhaps superstitious, sun-fearing dermatologists will venture out of their caves and into the light of our planet’s sun. Perhaps they’ll start to recommend whole, unrefined foods with plenty of folate, vitamin A and vitamin C to reduce or even eliminate most skin cancer risk,” says Dr Jonathan Wright of Nutrition & Healing.

So how much vitamin D should you be getting?

To maximise the benefits of vitamin D, adults should use 2,000 to 3,000 IU of vitamin D daily, older children and teenagers should use 2,000 IU daily and young children and toddlers should use at least1,000 IU daily.

Dr Wright suggests you use less vitamin D in the summer months if you live in a very sunny climate and are outdoors a lot.

Although the Harvard research project focused on lung cancer survival, there’s been a lot of research into vitamin D over the past decade and the benefits of higher levels of vitamin D.

“So why not go out in the sun just as all of your ancestors (who had much less skin cancer) did! Turn off the TV and send your children to play outdoors when-ever the sun shines. Of course, be sure to avoid sunburn and take rational precautions,” advises Dr Wright.

Tags: vitamin d, vitamin d and lung cancer, link between lung cancer survival and vitamin d, lung cancer, lung cancer prevention, cancer