Although nutritional supplements such as vitamin C may calm the symptoms of inflammation, it may be important not to ignore the signs.

Inflammation could be your body’s way of indicating abnormal cell growth that may lead to colon cancer. According to a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, mice who were fed a high-fat diet were more susceptible to inflammation of the colon, which could eventually lead to cancer.

A diet high in fat and low in fiber, vitamin D and calcium has already been proven to be related to colon cancer. However, a new study suggests it sparks an inflammatory reaction that could eventually trigger the disease.

After feeding mice either a diet of 5 percent fat and a large amount of calcium and vitamin D or a diet made up of 20 percent fat and limited amounts of calcium and vitamin D, it was discovered that the mice in the second group gained more weight and experienced inflammation systems more frequently.

The inflammatory response was also shown to trigger the carcinogenic, or cancer formatting process.

Now, in the latest bit of research, mothers who were pregnant with babies who were born between June and October had children who, when studied at the age of 9 years, were taller and had wider bones than those born in the darker months.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) –  which is also known as Children of the 90’s – is a long-term health research project based at the University of Bristol, England. All of the more than 14,000 Children of the 90’s were born during 1991 and 1992, and their health and development have been followed in great detail ever since.

Originally, all of the ALSPAC families lived in England around Bristol and Bath. Now, some live as far away as Kenya, Brazil and Australia, but they remain in the study.

The families have provided answers about a wide range of health issues such as the benefits of eating fish during pregnancy, peanut allergy, eczema, and childhood ear infections. You can find a list of research findings here.

Based on this latest study, and consistent with my previous posts, pregnant women and children would do well to go outside in the sun, without sunscreens for 15 minutes a day.

Jon Tobias of Bristol University, and a lead researcher on the ALSPAC project, said “Wider bones are thought to be stronger and less prone to breaking as a result of osteoporosis inlater life, so anything that affects early bone development is significant. Pregnant women might consider talking to their doctor about taking Vitamin D supplement, particularly if their babies are due between November and May, when sunlight levels are low.”

Our skin faces a number of environmental irritants every day yet nothing is harder on it than routine sun exposure.

The harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun can rob the skin of helpful antioxidants and leave it looking and feeling dry, cracked and leathery. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of sun protection products available to help combat this type of damage.

The sun isn’t entirely our enemy

It is actually a very good natural source of Vitamin D and a minimal amount of exposure to the sun on a regular basis can be good for us. But it is far too easy to cross the line from healthy exposure to serious damage.

Too much of a good thing can be bad, and excess exposure to the UV rays of the sun can lead to permanent skin discoloration and skin cancer.

In order to avoid skin damage, it is important to take simple precautions

Wearing protective clothing, particularly a wide brimmed hat, can be quite helpful in blocking the sun. So too can avoiding direct exposure to the sun for extended periods. And then there are the numerous products, from body lotions to sunscreen, which contain built in protection against the sun.

We’ve all seen those numbers on bottles of sunscreen or lotions indicating the SPF factor, but what exactly do they mean?

SPF stands for sun protection factor. Simply put, it is an indicator of exactly how much protection a given product offers from the suns ultra violet rays.  The higher the SPF factor, the less UV rays will be able to penetrate and reach your skin.

The level of SPF you require will depend on your skin type

In general, SPF factors will range from about 15 to 50+. The level of SPF you require will depend on your skin type.  Generally speaking, the fairer the skin, the more UV protection that is necessary.  Therefore, people with red or blonde hair and fair skin will likely need at least a 30 SPF while those with darker skin can sometimes get by with as little as 15.

Children and those with sensitive skin require higher SPF levels

Children and people with very sensitive skin will also require higher SPF levels as their skin tends to be more delicate and prone to damage. Those who tend to tan easily may not need as much protection.  Figuring out exactly what level of SPF you require is extremely important as this can make all the difference in ensuring you get the proper protection.

Sunscreen needs to be properly applied to be effective

One thing that holds true across the board, no matter what level SPF your sunscreen provides, is that it can only do its job if it is properly applied. This means reapplying sunscreen after swimming or sweating heavily and making sure you apply it evenly on all exposed areas of skin.

This doesn’t mean that applying extra sunscreen will increase the SPF. The stated SPF will remain the same no matter how much sunscreen you apply.

Protect your health – don’t ignore those little numbers

Protecting your skin from sun exposure can be one of the most important steps you can take in maintaining your health

The more careful you are now, the better your chances of keeping your skin looking soft, smooth and firm for years to come. So don’t ignore those little numbers…make sure you’re using sunscreen with the right SPF for your skin type and your skin will thank you for it!

Up to 8 out of 10 persons will have back pain in their lifetimes. In many cases, there is no evidence of any injury, disease, or bone problem like a slipped disk. An extensive review of clinical research in a report from Pain Treatment Topics found that help may be available from a surprising champion of pain relief Vitamin D.

According to Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, Executive Director of Pain Treatment Topics and author of the report, “our examination of the research, which included numerous clinical studies, found that patients with chronic back pain usually had inadequate levels of vitamin D. When sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, their pain either vanished or was at least helped to a significant extent.”

The report, “Vitamin D A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain,” which was peer-reviewed by a panel of experts, includes the following important points:

– Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone health. Among other things, inadequate vitamin D intake can result in a softening of bone surfaces, called osteomalacia, which causes pain. The lower back seems to be particularly vulnerable.

– In one study of 360 patients with chronic back pain, all of them were found to have inadequate levels of vitamin D. After taking vitamin D supplements for 3 months, symptoms were improved in 95% of the patients.

– The currently recommended adequate intake of vitamin D up to 600 IU per day is outdated and too low. According to newer research, most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and persons with chronic back pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3 (also called cholecalciferol).

– Vitamin D supplements interact with very few medicines or other agents, and are generally safe unless very high doses such as 10,000 IU or more are taken daily for a long period of time. However, it is always wise to check with a healthcare professional before starting a new dietary supplement.

– Vitamin D supplements are easy to take, usually have no side effects, and typically cost as little as 7 to 10 cents per day.

Besides the comprehensive research report there are available a shorter Practitioner Briefing for healthcare providers summarizing the full report and a *Patient Brochure explaining what vitamin D is, how it works, and how it can help in relieving aches and pains.

In conclusion, Leavitt stresses that vitamin D should not be viewed as a cure for all back pain conditions, and it is not necessarily a replacement for other pain-relief treatments. “While further research would be helpful,” he says, “extra vitamin D should be considered for all persons during winter months, and especially for those who have back aches and pains.”

The Pain-Topics.org website, a project of Pain Treatment Topics, provides open and free access to noncommercial, evidence-based clinical news, information, research, and education on the causes and effective treatment of the many types of pain conditions.

It is independently produced and currently supported in part by an educational grant from Purdue Pharma L.P., Stamford, CT, a leading manufacturer of opioid analgesic products. NOTE: Neither the author nor the sponsor has any financial interests in vitamin D products or the nutritional supplement field.

As much as 80 per cent of our lifetime exposure to the sun occurs during childhood so it is vital that parents to make sure children are properly protected

Sun exposure and protection is a complex and contradictory area of child health. On the one hand, fresh air and sun are vital for the development of a child.

Sunlight, for example, is an important source of bone-building vitamin D. On the other hand, too much sun in childhood can seriously increase the risk of skin cancer in later life.

With this in mind, it is worrying that recent research published in the British Medical Journal shows that many parents still don’t use sunscreens regularly to protect their kids.

There are also suggestions that adults and children who do use sunscreens may actually be at increased risk of developing skin cancer as they mistakenly believe applying it once will give them free rein to stay out in the sun for long periods.

So what is a parent to do?

If you’ve seen your child suffering the agony of severe sunburn, you certainly won’t be blasé about protecting their skin in the future.

Skin cancer, like all cancers, is a slow developing disease, often with decades between the trigger (in this case overexposure to the sun) and the emergence of the symptoms. Research shows that six episodes of serious sunburn before the age of 18 doubles the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.

On balance, despite the concerns raised above, if your child is going to be out in the sun for extended periods then suncream is essential.

Vitamins are the essential building blocks of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Many of us take multivitamins and vitamins to satisfy our body’s nutritional needs, yet unaware of what each vitamin is doing for us. There are many other aesthetic benefits of using vitamins that will make you feel and look healthier.

• Found in orange vegetables like raw carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and cantaloupe
• Vitamin A improves the eyes ability to adjust to changes in light
• It also acts as a natural moisturizer to the skin making it soft and smooth

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

• Found in green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus, mushrooms, liver, and dried beans and peas
• Vitamin B9 is important to take during pregnancy because it allows the rapid reproduction of cells and benefit your developing child. This will also prevent birth defects
• It may act as protection against some forms of cancer and heart disease

Vitamin B12

• Found in fresh fish, dairy products, beef, pork, and eggs
• Vitamin B12 increases energy, reduces stress, improves the memory, helps the digestive system, and makes the immune system stronger.
• It can also act as a natural anti-depressant because of it’s ability to help your body create serotonin (a feel-good chemical)

Vitamin C

• Found in strawberries, melon, citrus fruits, papaya, raw or steamed broccoli, and brussel sprouts.
• Vitamin C helps boost the immune system, fighting colds, protecting against cancer, and the prevention of heart disease.
• It also improves the strength of teeth and makes the gums healthier, and fights against sun damage making the skin appear and feel healthier.

Vitamin D

• Found in egg yolks, fatty fish, and fortified milk. The sun is the best source for vitamin D
• Vitamin D is the best immune system booster. It is said that vitamin D helps fight against cancer and tuberculosis.
• Vitamin D will give you strong bones and teeth because it helps the body absorb calcium

Vitamin E

• Found in vegetable oil, mayonnaise, peanuts, whole grains, sunflower seeds, yams, and sweet potatoes.
• Vitamin E is the best protection against free radicals, helps prevent cancer, improves the immune system and protects against heart disease.
• It also improves the look and feel of the skin reducing pores and balancing the production of oils. Vitamin E is the best vitamin for healthy hair.