Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Risk

Just as plants make sugars in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, our skin makes vitamin D in the sunshine. Vitamin D has been found to be protective and can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. Just half an hour’s sun exposure on your forearms and face, three times a week, has a risk-reducing preventative effect for breast cancer. As the daylight recedes you could sit outdoors to reduce your breast cancer risk or perhaps walk with your sleeves pushed up and face exposed. Of course, it is important to remember that too much sun can increase the risk of skin cancer and so after half an hour you should apply sunblock, put on a shirt and hat and go into the shade. Pigmented skin acts as a partial sunblock, so more exposure in a private setting if needs be, may be required.There are Vitamin D supplements available from pharmacies for those who have reduced sun exposure, which also boost the immune system.