A 50 percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer can be expected if women keep their vitamin D intake at a certain blood level, according to a study released recently by the Department of Family and Preventative Medicine at the University of California at San Diego.

"There are no unreasonable risks from the intake of 2000 IU per day of vitamin D(3),'' according to the study by Cedric Garland Ph.D. and other prominent researchers, who recommend vitamin D blood levels of about 52 ng/ml. "The time has arrived for nationally coordinated action to substantially increase intake of vitamin D and calcium.''
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to turn the spotlight on the potential for vitamin D to help in the fight against the disease. An estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year, according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone.

But the news is bleak for African American women. Blacks have a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer before reaching 40 than their white counterparts, according to the American Cancer Society. And they are more likely to die from the disease at every age than their white counterparts, which accounts for the push for mammogram screening before the age of 40 by certain health care professionals. The death rate can be attributed to a number of factors, including lack of affordable health care, environment, diet, exercise and genetics, which is why health care experts urge preventative care.

But adding vitamin D to the frontal assault against breast cancer is an important step. It's natural and easy. Sun is a good way to get the essential vitamin D hormone, which the body produces naturally when it's exposed to sunlight. Yet, surprisingly, 36 percent of the population is vitamin D deficient for a variety of reasons, including problems absorbing the vitamin, lack of sunlight or exercise and improper diets.http://www.naturalnews.com/027233_cancer_brst_health.html. Dark-skinned people need up to 30 minutes of sun a day. During the winter, vitamin D supplements, fish oil and mushrooms can boost the hormone.

Since research shows vitamin D can do more good than harm, it should be added to the list of things your mother advised you to do to stay healthy.