New Study: Vitamin D Doubles Colon Cancer Survival Rates

One of the most deadly cancers in the United States is colon cancer. The Center for Disease Control has recently reported that in 2005 141,400 Americans received a diagnosis of colon cancer. The CDC also reported that 53,000 of those patients died the same year. It is believed that colon cancer can be completely prevented with various lifestyle adaptations. One of those crucial adaptations is increased amount of vitamin D.

A recent study shows that optimizing vitamin D has the ability to improve survival rates even of individuals that have already contracted the disease. That information has not been widely publicized, but the results of this study can be added to the volumes of studies that indicate that vitamin D produce incredible protection against a huge variety of cancers.

To date there are 800 plus studies that support the idea that vitamin D is very effective in preventing and treating cancer. One study that dates back all the way to 1989 was conducted on over 25,000 people for over eight years showed that people with vitamin D levels of  33 to 41 ng/ml lowered their risk of colon cancer by 80 percent. Vitamin D levels must be above 50 ng to crawl out of the sub-optimal category according to today’s standards. In fact, 65 to 90 ng/ml is the recommended level for cancer treatment.

Raising Your Vitamin D Levels

Since raising your vitamin D levels is very easy, inexpensive and can prevent countless chronic illnesses, this is something that everyone should consider. Contemplate whether these easy steps are worth avoiding the misery of colon cancer.

• Increase your appropriate exposure to sunshine regularly.
• Take a daily vitamin D supplement.
• Consume foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D.

Other Proven Methods of Preventing Colon Cancer

While increasing your intake of vitamin D is definitely high on the list of importance for preventing colon cancer, there are other methods that should be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. Some of these include:

• Eat plenty of raw vegetables
• Exercise on a regular basis
• Consume high quality fish oil or krill oil to rebalance your level of omega-3 fats
• Stay away from sugar
• Avoid processed meats
• Control your iron levels
• Get plenty of fiber, but use caution - water soluble fiber could actually increase your risk of colon cancer.
• Maintain your weight at a level that is appropriate for you.

Recent studies indicate that vitamin D successfully prevents and treats colon cancer. The massive numbers of studies that support this fact are staggering. This type of supplement can be added to a healthy lifestyle quite inexpensively and simply. By implementing a fundamentally healthy diet, exercising routinely, and increasing your vitamin D levels you will take great strides toward preventing colon cancer.

This information is definitely food for thought and very enlightening for those that have had a family history of colon cancer. Upon considering the scientific evidence and ease of implementing steps to increase vitamin D levels, the choice is yours.