Super vitamin putting kibosh on cancer

By Bruce Naherniak

Jan. 1, 2009

For those of you who don’t know, Superman is solar-powered. His super strength and super-duper abilities come from the rays of our yellow sun.

Perhaps you don’t feel super about anything, but you are like Superman in at least one way. You get some super powers from the sun in the form of vitamin D.

Vitamin D can come naturally from foods such as oily fish, margarine and meat. However, this super vitamin is normally produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight.

I call it super because after reviewing 63 old studies, researchers concluded that vitamin D could reduce the chances of developing breast, ovarian, prostate, colon and other cancers.

Another more recent study found that women who took calcium and a large dose of vitamin D had a 60% lower incidence of cancer than those women not taking the vitamin.

That’s superific!

I can see the cartoon bubble above your head as you think, ‘Vitamin D comes from the sun and prevents cancer, but doesn’t too much sunlight cause cancer?’ Fear not, true believer, no one is saying to sun bathe in the nude from sunup to sundown.

Sunscreen is still a good idea when you are out and about. However, in light of the research, some scientists advise getting 10-15 minutes of sunshine per day without sunscreen so our bodies can build enough vitamin D on their own.

For us Canucks who live closer to Santa than most, we receive a weaker dose of sunlight during the winter months. Vitamin D is so important that the Canadian Cancer Society recommends that we consider using supplements during the chilly time of year.

That wraps up this week’s cancer-fighting caper. At the very least, having something in common with Superman, I hope you won’t be shy about changing in phone booths anymore.

Until next time, up, up and away!

Dr. Bruce Naherniak and his brother, Dr. Scott Naherniak, are chiropractors in Winnipeg. They operate Cornerstone Chiropractic Wellness Centre, #55 - 11 Reenders Dr., and can be reached at 777-5433 or drbou812@gmail.com.