Stories tagged vitamins

The big D: Research continues to shed light on the role vitamin D plays in our bodies.
Courtesy Leo Reynolds

We've talked beforeon Science Buzz about the link between sunlight, vitamin D and cancer. Well, the story just won't go away...

Here's more evidence that sunlight = vitamin D = a healthier life.

And research that shows vitamin D can reduce the risk of diabetes.

And also reduce risk of a heart attack.

But, just to keep things balanced, here's a report that vitamin D doesn’t do everything – some of the health benefits claimed for the vitamin don’t stand up to research

And here’s a summary of the pros and cons of vitamin D and sun exposure.

Tags : vitamin D, health, cancer, sunlight, diabetes, heart attack, vitamins, sun

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Today’s article is brought to you by the letter D
Courtesy Leo Reynolds
Hard to do this time of year. And lots of people shun the sun to avoid skin cancer. But science now says sun avoidance is bad for you. It can lead to vitamin D deficiency.

Your skin produced vitamin D naturally when it is struck by sunlight. Too little vitamin D can lead to some nasty diseases, such as rickets, a softening or weakening of the bones.

Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately. Canadian researchers have found that non-whites are especially prone to vitamin D deficiency. (Dark skin evolved in sunny areas as a way to keep the body from producing too much vitamin D, which also causes problems. When dark-skinned people move to less sunny areas, their anti-sun defense actually starts to work against them.)

A doctor in Buffalo, NY has linked low levels of vitamin D to high incidence of cancer.

Doctors at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington note that a lack of milk and sunshine is leading to is preventing children from developing strong, healthy bones.

A study at King's College in London suggests that vitamin D may slow aging.

Tags : sun, cancer, health, skin cancer, vitamins, vitamin D, rickets, sun tan

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Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which seems to prevent some cancers: Photo by sooz from flickr.com.

For years, doctors have advised people to limit their time in the sun. Prolonged exposure to sunlight – specifically, the UV rays in sunlight – damages skin and can lead to premature aging and skin cancer.

But now, a new report claims that lack of sunlight can lead to cancer, too. A study found that people with low levels of vitamin D have higher rates of cancer. And the body produces vitamin D naturally when skin is exposed to sunlight.

So, going out and getting some sun may actually prevent more cases of cancer than it causes.

Tags : sun, sunlight, cancer, health, vitamins

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