Today is Tip #2 in the series from Today nutritionist Joy Bauer.

Tip #2: Get enough Vitamin D

Many experts consider the United States to be in the middle of an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. In previous generations, vitamin D deficiency wasn’t a problem because people took in large amounts of sunlight and our skin makes all the vitamin D we need when exposed to the sun. But nowadays, most of us responsibly use sunscreen regularly to protect our skin from wrinkles and ultraviolet radiation (that can potentially cause skin cancer). Unfortunately, sunscreen also keeps our skin from using sunlight to produce vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate. Scientists believe that vitamin D can help block the development of blood vessels that feed growing tumors, and help stop the proliferation of cancerous and precancerous cells. I recommend eating plenty of vitamin rich foods including fatty fish (like salmon and sardines) and vitamin D fortified skim milk, non-fat yogurt and reduced fat cheese. Because few foods provide vitamin D, you should consider a daily multivitamin that provides 100% DV of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, the most potent form). If you think you’re a candidate for even more, speak with your personal physician.

Ready for Tip #3? Coming soon!!

The five lifestyle tips I will share in this 5-part set of Fact’s of the Day (FOTD) come from an article written by Joy Bauer, the nutritionist for Today. I hope you find them as helpful and informative as I do!

Tip 1: Eat at least five servings of produce each day – but aim for nine!

All plant foods – especially fruits and vegetables – contain phytonutrients, naturally occurring chemical compounds that are important for maintaining health. There are thousands of known phytonutrients, many of which have demonstrated that they have the potential to protect us against cancer.
Different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of phytonutrients, so to ensure that you get as many different protective compounds as possible, I recommend and eat at least FIVE, but better yet NINE servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and go for variety. That’s about 3 cups raw or cooked vegetables plus 2-3 pieces of fruit.

Cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage), contain phytonutrients known as glucosinolates, which help inhibit the metabolism of some carcinogens, may stop the proliferation of cancer cells, and cause the body to produce detoxification enzymes.
Diets high in vitamin C rich produce (like citrus fruit, strawberries and peppers) have been linked to a reduced risk of cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, bladder, breast, and cervix.

Studies have shown that people who eat a diet high in beta carotene – found primarily in leafy green and orange-colored vegetables (like spinach and carrots) – have a reduced risk of cancer, particularly of the lung, colon, and stomach. (These results are for beta carotene from food sources only).

Lycopene, found in high amounts in tomatoes (as well pink grapefruit and watermelon), seems to be a powerful cancer preventive compound. In studies, eating tomatoes and tomato products reduced risk of most digestive tract cancers by between 30 and 60 percent. In addition, men who ate diets rich in tomato have been able to reduce their levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) – a marker for increased risk of prostate cancer.

Tip 2 is coming tomorrow!

The following is directly from the Organic Consumer’s Organization. rGBH hormones are linked to breast and colon cancer – please help keep rGBH labeling legal so you can choose to drink milk that does not contain these hormones!

MONSANTO WANTS TO MAKE rBGH LABELING ILLEGAL
This week, Monsanto declared war on dairy companies that have chosen to ban the injection of their cows with Monsanto’s genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Due to escalating consumer demand, an increasing number of large dairies around the U.S. have declared themselves rBGH-free in the last couple of years. Monsanto, the sole producer of the synthetic hormone, has seen substantial losses in sales as a result of this voluntary movement of the industry towards healthier milk. Although rBGH is banned in most industrialized nations, including Europe and Canada, due to its links to breast and colon cancer, the controversial drug remains legal in the U.S. This week, Monsanto filed a formal complaint with the FDA and Federal Trade Commission, demanding that labeling of rBGH-free diary products be made illegal. Learn more and get involved with OCA’s “Millions Against Monsanto” campaign by signing on to our petition.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4698.cfm

Visit this page to sign the petition.