Evidence that supports vitamin D's profound health benefits continues
to mount: Unprotected sun exposure helps the body produce the vitamin
D it needs to keep bones healthy and ward off cancers and other
ailments. For example:
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According
to one study, researchers found that men with high exposure
to the sun had half the risk of prostate cancer than those with
low sun exposure.
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Another
study found that high levels of vitamin D and calcium appeared
to reduce women's risk of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.
Dr. Giovannucci's Earlier Vitamin D Statements
The above studies' findings should come as no surprise to Harvard
Medical School professor Dr. Edward Giovannucci who, in an April
speech to the American Association for Cancer Research, spoke out
about the proven link between sun exposure and vitamin D production.
While acknowledging the dangers of the sun-related skin cancer
melanoma that killed some 8,000 Americans last year, Giovannucci
convincingly argued staying away from the sun--and preventing the
body from making enough vitamin D on its own--may add as much as
70 more cancer deaths per 100,000 people each year.
Further, during his speech Giovannucci challenged anyone to find
an area or nutrient or any other factor that held such consistent
anticancer benefits as vitamin D.
Considering the evidence, it's doubtful anyone took that challenge.
Los
Angeles Times June 20, 2005 (Registration Required)
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