Doubling the recommended Vitamin D intake of 1000 IU for children and adolescents could reduce later instances of cancer, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and other degenerative diseases.

“The sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D, is a preventive vitamin. There is a 67% decrease in cancer instances from all causes simply by increasing vitamin D intake,” said Lyle MacWilliams, President of NutriSearch, a Canadian company that conducts quality control tests of different dietary supplements. MacWilliams is currently in the country to promote his book, “Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements”.

Morning Sun

Food supplements are a good source of Vitamin D, MacWilliams said. But contrary to popular belief, one needs not splurge on expensive dietary supplements to get this additional dosage of Vitamin D.

Soaking in the sun’s rays for 15 minutes every morning should provide the body with enough Vitamin D, MacWilliams told reporters present at press conference held Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Hotel Intercon, Manila.

To optimize absorption and processing of Vitamin D, MacWilliams advises against too much use of sunscreens.

Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D is absorbed and processed by the skin, MacWilliams explained. “Using sunscreen will hamper the skin from manufacturing Vitamin D,” he said. Along with that fact, he shared that a lot of people living in sunny climates like the Philippines are Vitamin D deficient.

Filipinos who are darker skinned need not worry about skin cancer because they have more melanin, protecting the skin from sunburn and development of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, he said.

Raw food, fruits and veggies

There are other ways to save money while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Managing director of USANA health sciences Australia Bill Duncan said that aside from vitamin D, it is still important to nourish the body with a well-balanced diet.

MacWilliams observed that the problem with Filipinos is their food choices. “I am surprised that people from a country rich in fruits and vegetables choose high fat and high salt foods,” he said.

Filling the stomach will not necessarily mean that a person will not be hungry again.

“Small quantity of healthy food is better than large quantities of junk food,” saying that hunger may be lessened when the body gets proper nourishment.

“When you feed the body with more junk food, the more the body will yearn for proper nutrition, the more the person will be hungry” he said. 

Eating raw fruits and vegetables is another way of saving your money and saving your life.

There is no need for oil, no need for stove, gas or coal. “Eating raw is cost efficient and even healthier. The amount of vitamin C is reduced in half when you cook your fruits and vegetables,” MacWilliams said.

Duncan said that the healthiest foods are organic, but the price of manufacturing and produce is very expensive.

“I am urging governments around the world to provide strong social policy, led by legislative initiatives, so that there will be growth in organic produce,” said MacWilliams who was a member of the Canadian Parliament.

He said that without government support, all efforts for organic food production will surely fail.