John Arts Abundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz

Most disease is an indication that some cell chemistry has switched from normal to abnormal function. Once cell chemistry is altered, this sets off chain reactions affecting other cells, which affects the behaviour of body tissues, organs, organ systems and, in some cases, the entire body.

All chronic diseases have a first cause. It is a little like the first gatherings of water collecting before forming rivulets, streams and rivers. There is always a first cause.

I have just given a talk to people affected by breast cancer and commented that cancer starts with free radicals damaging DNA. This is then the first cause. Once cancer cells have formed, our bodies have the ability to kill them by programmed cell death. To do this efficiently, we need to maintain optimum levels of vitamin D.
If this cancer-killing system fails, cancer cells multiply and can move to other parts of the body. With sufficient vitamin D it can change from its storage form calcidiol to the active steroid hormone form of cacitriol and that's when the real cancer protection qualities begin.

I have just read a research paper that included a map showing the incidence of breast cancer in the USA. If the map had no explanation you would think you were looking at a map showing winter sunshine hours. When correlated with sunshine there is a clear relationship between sunshine, vitamin D and breast cancer (American Public Health Association; Garland et al 2005).
There is mounting evidence of chronic vitamin D deficiency in our New Zealand populations, especially Maori and Polynesian communities who have much lower rates of vitamin D synthesis.

To protect ourselves against cancer we need an antioxidant-dense diet and to ensure high levels of vitamin D. Well formulated supplements can be of great benefit as many of the most potent antioxidants are difficult to obtain from diet alone. This would include compounds like resveratrol and OPC from grapes skins and seeds.

With vitamin D we need a very careful, perhaps impossible balance between sun exposure and sun protection. Supplementation of vitamin D3 delivers vitamin D without the downside. By optimising antioxidants and vitamin D, we can prevent the DNA damage that causes cancer and we can make sure our bodies have the ability to fight cancer once cancer cells have formed.

To contact John phone 0800 423559 or visit www.johnarts.co.nz