I was reading this article in the New York Times about calcium and vitamin D, and if I was a woman I would definitely take a calcium and vitamin D supplement.
Breast Cancer
This is not the first time I read about the possible cancer protection effects of vitamin D or calcium. However, as more evidence is built, the more convincing the argument for supplementation becomes.
The article was inspired by a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. The study results suggest that vitamin D and calcium supplementation may reduce the risk of breast cancer by one-third. This should encourage all women to get an adequate amount of vitamin D and calcium through diet and supplementation.
Men
Men should also consider vitamin D and calcium supplementation if their diets are low in either nutrient. Men can and do get breast cancer. Calcium and vitamin D also have many other nutritional benefits for men and women.
Calcium’s potential benefits
- Increasing weight loss
- Decreasing blood pressure
- Decreasing cholesterol
- Preventing osteoporosis
- Preventing stroke
- Preventing colon cancer
- Preventing gum disease
Vitamin D’s potential benefits
- Decreasing blood pressure
- Preventing heart disease
- Preventing osteoporosis
- preventing arthritis
- preventing colorectal and prostate cancer
Where to find them
Calcium can be found in milk, cheese, yogurt, almonds, broccoli, cabbage, and dark leafy green vegetables. Vitamin D can be found in eggs and cold water fatty fish such as salmon or tuna. There are also foods fortified with calcium and/or vitamin D to consider.
If you decide to go the supplement route the daily doses to aim for are at least:
- Calcium: 1000mg
- Vitamin D: 5mcg
Sources:
Mayo Clinic
University of Maryland
VitaGuide
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