Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
The symptoms of bladder cancer can be an absolute nightmare.
Writhing in pain while you try to go to the bathroom… or seeing blood in your urine… can be experiences you’ll never forget.
Bladder cancer is the fifth-most common cancer in America, and it can lead to months of chemo and radiation – or even a urine bag.
We all want to avoid these cringe-worthy treatments, and British scientists may have just found a way to do it.
The best part? It involves a simple vitamin you can get for free.
Emerging research from the U.K. shows that folks who have low vitamin D levels are at a higher risk for developing bladder cancer.
Researchers proved this by analyzing seven separate studies.
Five of those studies showed a definite link between vitamin D deficiency and bladder cancer.
And really, that shouldn’t be too surprising.
Previous research shows that the cells that line the bladder respond to vitamin D, which can stimulate the immune system.
According to the researchers, this is vital because the immune system could play a role in fighting cancer since it’s able to find abnormal cells and destroy them before they become cancerous.
Experts agree that further research is needed to solidify these findings. In the meantime, though, they suggest that vitamin D is a cheap, safe way to potentially prevent cancer.
Vitamin D is produced naturally in your body through sun exposure, which means you can get some of what you need free. It can also be obtained by eating food like fatty fish or egg yolks.
The only problem is you may not get enough sunlight or eat enough of these foods to keep your vitamin D levels up — especially since the short, dark days of winter are upon us.
The best way to ensure you’re getting is through supplementation. Be sure to choose a supplement that contains vitamin D in its natural form — D3. D3 had many advantages over D2, including stability and effectiveness, and the best part –it’s the same price.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risk of bladder cancer
[2] Bladder cancer
