Posted on 03/09/2008 6:15:58 AM PDT by decimon
The claims have been sensational. Martin Mittelstaedt checks up on the research behind the hype
In the summer of 1974, brothers Frank and Cedric Garland had a heretical brainwave.
The young epidemiologists were watching a presentation on death rates from cancer county by county across the United States. As they sat in a lecture hall at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore looking at the colour-coded cancer maps, they noticed a striking pattern, with the map for colon cancer the most pronounced.
Counties with high death rates were red; those with low rates were blue. Oddly, the nation was almost neatly divided in half, red in the north and blue in the south. Why, they wondered, was the risk of dying from cancer greater in bucolic Maine than in highly polluted Southern California?
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
Of course exposure to the sun is bad and causes skin cancer. And then there’s studies that claim many suppliments are not being digested properly and flush right through the system. People can’t catch a break.
It may taste fowl, but crushing the vitamins solves this.
Chicken flavored is ok by me.
Yeah, the conflicting reports you can read about these things can be offputting. I take some supplements and hope they are helping.
PING
I take some supplements and hope they are helping.
Does that have a pheasant taste?
That's a better sign than her nagging you to increase the life insurance.
Nothing to grouse about.
Incidence of cancer and death rate are 2 different things.
You can look at these charts from the CDC and compare. You’ll notice that there are some not-so-sunny states toward the bottom half of the list and sunnier states toward the top 1/2. You’ll also notice that Massachusetts is close to the top in incidence and in the bottom 1/2 in death rate; same for Alaska.
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=4fb&Year=2004&Display=n
Good point but tangential as avoiding the cancer is here the issue. Once you have the cancer, how you fare becomes a matter of treatment.
Thanks for posting it, decimon.
Their study referred to death rates.
If you look at the charts male and female colon cancer by state W. Virginia & Kentucky are # 1 & 2, followed by Ill. & Maine. Louisiana is in the top 10. I think of Louisiana as being a lot sunnier than Maine. Also, S. Carolina is in the top 15 and N. Carolina is in the bottom 10. I don’t think the sun comes into play there.
As for death rates, N. Carolina is in the top 1/2 and S. Carolina is in the bottom 1/2, just below Maine.
The point being, I don’t think sun exposure and therefore Vit.D is a logical conclusion.
I’ve been taking cod liver oil for that reason. Vile, disgusting stuff, but loaded with Vitamin D.
I **2nd and 3rd** the recommendations for increased Vit D3 supplementation ... especially in the sun-deprived northern winter climes.
I’m knocking wood, but this is the FIRST winter I’ve not even had a bad cold, never mind horrible bronchial infection . And my winter has been brutal: temperature-wise, snow-wise and sick-people-everywhere wise.
My son is an anti-aging physician, and he’s been getting tons of new research on the benefits of Vit D3 (which it HAS to be, as it’s the most absorbent and effective variety) for over a year.
I started upping my daily dose about 5 months ago to 1-2,000 IUs/day, and then to 4-6000 IUs/day when hard winter started.
The research is showing high benefits for immune system building, colds, flus, but also for all types of cancer, MS, heart disease and it’s growing.
If you’re in sunny locations, getting 10-20 mins./day of sun on your skin (without sunscreen) would be ample.
~~~~
More references:
Vitamins: D for disease-free
http://www.worldhealth.net/p/vitamins-d-for-disease-free.html
*
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php
*
Vitamin D Council
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
*
Vitamin D - How Much Is Enough? Most Americans Are Deficient, Studies Show
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/review/spring07/spr07vitaminD.html
*
An Oldie Vies for Nutrient of the Decade
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/health/19brod.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
*
Sun’s benefits make comeback
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2afe61fa-d92f-426d-a401-5611c495e418&p=1
*
Do you know your Vitamin D level and why should you?
http://www.doctorraisen.com/vitamin-d.html
*
Effects of Vitamin D and Skin’s Physiology Examined
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220161707.htm
~~~
I urge all, especially those in the gloomy winter locations, to read the research and seriously consider taking Vit D3 supplements daily, and pass it on. I’m now a believer.
BTTT
Bump for later read.
Thanks SW- excellent links too:)
I'm solar powered and proud of it.
This is so logical, it's scary they would even HAVE to do studies to prove it.
---Just grow up in MN winters and you'll understand the value of warm sunshine in a heart beat.
You're happier, more productive, and in a better general mood when the sun's out....GO FIGURE! 
Thanks for posting STARWISE!
~~PING!
Years ago, when my oldest was just a baby, we lived in Wisconsin and she developed an odd rash in the middle of winter.
The doctor said to take her out and expose her entire little self to the sun for short periods of time as much as possible. It worked.
I always thought it was beneficial, but not sanctioned as such
I took 400 I.U. for quite some time until my heart Dr. told me it would interfere with cardiac medicine. It always seemed to work well to help prevent scaring when applied topically, but now there is “evidence” that it is linked to lung cancer when taken internally.
Thanks for the info on vitamin D, you are indeed a Wise Star
I will do that .. I recently saw that
article, too, and I’ve been taking 400
IUs/day for years. Will let you know
his take.
I believe it .. the sun has
miraculous powers.
You absolutely can. The good doctor, who was mighty cute, by the way, realized she had a Vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun and short periods of exposure could remedy that.
Think about it. The livable space in these states lies mainly in the shady hollers between the mountains; "where the sun comes up, about 10 in the mornin' and the sun goes down about 3 in the day." (You'll Never Leave Harlen Alive, Patty Lovelace).
Funny you should bring up that song.....
Anyways, look at the charts. The amount of sunlight makes no sense as an explanation.
My doctor prescribed large doses of vitamin D because it helps calcium to protect from osteoporosis. I didn’t know that, and I need to continue this. I have always taken it (maybe that’s why I don’t catch many colds) but evidentally not enough to help strong bones.
Good info, Starwise.
MUCH APPRECIATED
My pleasure. I AM a believer, big time.
There was a thread about the DANGERS of Vitamin D.
How does that jive with the other—how does one sort it all out?
Don't forget Alaska has those 6 long months of sunshine - that may give people enough reserve to balance out the dark months.
I have written about this stuff for decades - after my bout with "precancerous" sun-poisoning on my face.
I had never had any incidence of breakouts until the 'sun blockers' first came out, back in the late 70's. I used them and then had the breakouts every summer - almost immediately after being in the sun any length of time. However, I made no association for some years until it dawned on me that when I forgot to use the sun screen, I didn't have a breakout. Or if I used the old baby oil, I didn't break out.
So I started testing. Every time I used any sun screen - breakout time.
Eventually, one spot reached the alarm stage and my doctor sent me to dermatologist who burned it off and gave me prescription doze one of the same sun screens I had been taking!
I told him about my experiment but he brushed it off. I applied the sun-screen and broke out by the next day. I tossed it and only use the baby oil (with a few drops of Iodine shaken in it) or natural oils like olive or almond, sometimes nothing at all. I even spent 3 weeks visiting kids in Florida last summer in JULY AND AUG! We spent beaucoup time at my favorite beach, Cocoa Beach and went up to St. Augustine and cavorted on Daytona Beach. Nada. I used ole timey coconut tanning oil without sun screen.
My personal, non-professional, theory is: What with my own experience and the increase of skin cancer rising on the charts right along with the introduction and increase in use of sun screens and all the admonitions to STAY OUT OF THE SUN = my theory is that there may be an adverse chemical reaction between all those unnameable chemicals in the sun screens and the sun.
Now that's just MY theory. I am not 'prescribing' anything and am not recommending anyone believe or follow my 'theory' We need fresh air, pure water and sunshine - it's nature's way.
In addition, I'm poor as a church mouse, so it would do no good to sue me....
Another thought to ponder. Osteoporosis had become the new "Disease D'jour" - brittle bones from loss of bone density. What builds strong bones? ahhh, you guessed. Vit. D.
What exactly is sun poisoning? I’ve been told I got it, but not by a doctor. I sometimes turn bright pink and swell up when exposed to the sun. ONe time my feet and ankles and calves actually swelled up and and turned black and blue from a sun burn. Probably should’ve seen a doc for that, but I was in mexico and blew it off.
Amen.
I put signs, Burma Shave style, down my long driveway that say, progressively: "TOOT" "OR" "CON-SEE" "QUENCES".
Because I get my solar recharge all over, lying in my hammock.
Now that I am retired, except for some writing, I spend every minute I can in the sun during the warm months, storing up to get through the ME winters... looooonnng one this year!
Years ago, the doctors knew the value of the sun.
My 3rd son, now in his late 40's, was born early - and at just 7 weeks old, contracted virus meningitis. He was one of the lucky ones, having a doctor that diagnosed in time for treatment to work.
When he came home from the hospital, he had a terrible rash over his entire diaper area - this was pre-disposables.
Same as your baby - bottoms up in the sun! did the trick.
:)
Great story and great outcome.
There's another variable that isn't on the chart.
Most people are trapped in sunless offices most of their waking hours and then busy catching up on chores and errands the rest of the time.
To be viable, there needs to be a chart on "How much total time does one spend in the sun?"
That said: statistics show that people who live in areas of high sunshine, like Arizona - wall to wall sunshine all year - live an ave of up to 10 years longer.
We are a creature of earth. God arranged it so's the things we most need for life are here to sustain us. Maybe He knew/knows what He is doing?
AND! Tah dah! Clocks ahead! An extra hour of sunshine this afternoon!
You should maybe also research taking magnesium with calcium for adequate absorption of the calcium -
Also, magnesium gives us a 'happy' boost...
and zinc is super good in prevention of colds as well as being great for teeth, bones, hair and nails...
also, someone wanted my chicken broth recipe - and I posted it, with WHY home made broth is vital for bones...in my post no. 30. It's all tied in...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1982495/posts?page=30#30
Thank you so much for the info on homemade broth.
There’s research that VitD is harmful to folks with autoimmune disease because the L-form bacteria in their bodies actually increases and gets worse when VitD is taken.
Here’s the thread, posted by Blam a while ago:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1960227/posts
Post #51 on that thread is of particular interest.
C'mon, everyone knows that blam is living in the past. ;-)
Thanks for those links.
It snowed here Friday (4 in)for the first time in a couple of years. I thought about everyone who lives in the north and how I couldn’t take it everyday. I thought it was pretty (for the day) but I don’t know how anyone lives in that for months at a time.
bttt
Me neither. Had to leave as soon as I found out there WAS other options. See...that’s how they “get” you when you’re a small child...you don’t KNOW there’s anything different out there. Then, we went to Hawaii to meet my brother on his R&R from Vietnam service in the late 60s in November, and I looked around and said to myself...it IS warm other places in the winter. I was on a quest to live with palm trees swaying ever after. I love the people of Minnesota, but I’ll NEVER freeze again!
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