THIS WEEK IN THE HEALTHIER TALK COMMUNITY

Yearly totals of colorectal cancer deaths have been steadily dropping over the past 20 years.

For that you can thank Katie Couric and others who have helped bring colonoscopy into the mainstream as the accepted norm in colorectal cancer screening.

So now that your risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 19, how would you like to reduce that risk even further?

On the Healthier Talk website, Dr. Michael Cutler explains how.

Dr. Cutler: "The results of a study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicated that higher vitamin D levels correlated with a 72 percent reduced risk for colon cancer. Other findings indicate this vitamin could possibly even improve survival of those who have the disease. Studies also show vitamin D can be beneficial for breast and pancreatic cancer.

"But that's only the beginning of the incredible health benefits of vitamin D...

"Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which also aids in creating and maintaining strong bones. A study in Arthritis & Rheumatism revealed that women who took vitamin D had a 33 percent reduction in rheumatoid arthritis.

"According to a report published in Neurology, 40 percent of those participants taking vitamin D were immune to multiple sclerosis compared to those not taking the vitamin.

"A study reported in Epidemiology showed that men with higher vitamin D levels reduced their risk of diabetes by 72 percent over a period of 22 years.

"Plus, the good news is... you can get high levels of vitamin D from fish, egg yolks, bone meal, organ meats and specific types of mushrooms, as well as high-quality supplements. In addition to getting it from your diet, the oils of the skin produce vitamin D in the presence of sunlight."

You can read Dr. Cutler's entire article "Can Vitamin D Protect You Against Colon Cancer?" on the Healthier Talk website where you'll find a wide range of insightful commentary from the most respected doctors and researchers in the field of alternative health care. In addition, you're invited to join in by posting your own comments following any individual article or video.