The Cancer Benefits Of Vitamin D

Some Sources of Vitamin D

Of course vitamin D is available in supplement form, but there are many dietary sources as well. The more you get your nutrients from actual food sources, the better they will work for your body’s needs, so plan your diet to include as many of these foods as possible.

* Mushrooms – shitake and chanterelle have tons of immune boosting properties

* Fish liver oils – mackerel, halibut, oysters, salmon, sardines, and tuna each offer anti-oxidant rich omega-3’s

* Foods – eggs, dandelion greens, liver, and sweet potatoes are excellent sources

* Greens – alfalfa, horsetail nettle, parsley are all healthy additions to salads and smoothies

* Supplements – look for Vitamin D3 and take up to 600IU per day

* Sun Exposure – to reap the benefits and reduce risks, limit time outside to 10-15 minutes per day, otherwise use sunscreen

Webmaster note: For healing from cancer and other diseases, some experts recommend much higher doses of vitamin D supplementation and much longer periods of sun exposure.

Other Points to Note

Even though something can have great benefits, there can be some potential outcomes that are undesirable. However, most contemporary cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy already have a level of risk, so it’s up to you to determine if the benefits are worth it. The role of vitamin D for cancer prevention may be more significant than once thought, but before you start a vitamin D regimen, there are a few things to consider:

* Have your serum level tested – You need to know what your level is now, and keep checking it every three months. Due to seasonal changes, you may be lower in the winter (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere) than summer. However, even a group of Hawaii residents tested low for vitamin D levels, so don’t assume that if you live in a sunny climate you’re fine.

* Weigh the risks – Serious side effects can accompany taking excessive amounts of vitamin D over a long time and build up of calcium in the blood can increase risk for pancreatic cancer. Conditions such as nausea, headaches, fatigue, kidney problems and bone loss are just a few examples of how too much of this supplement can cause problems down the road.

Treating cancer can be quite tricky you just don’t know how it will react to treatment, or what will trigger over-growth. Always remember that everyone is different, studies can sometimes be inconclusive or the evidence may be swayed, and certain factors do not always guarantee outcome. The same symptoms and diagnosis can turn out very differently for different people, so consult your health care professional before adding vitamin D supplements to your diet if you have been diagnosed with cancer, but don’t be afraid to consider alternative therapies, either.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Vicki Wiepking. Vicki is a 2008 graduate of The McKay Method School of Energy Healing in Bozeman, MT, and a certified Flower Essence Practitioner. She is the owner of Rasa Deva Wellness in Bozeman, where she offers a unique combination of energy healing, flower essences and essential oils to her clients. Vicki currently teaches energy healing classes at both the McKay Method and HealthWorks Institute.

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