Indeed I am serious about my Bill C-388 to establish a National Vitamin D Day, and for good reasons. The evidence says we can prevent a lot of sickness, and lower health-care costs sharply, by taking a Vitamin D.
The fact is, many of us are not getting enough sunlight to provide the necessary amounts of Vitamin D that can boost our immune system and ward off cancer, heart disease, viral infections and the like.
An Estimate of the Economic Burden and Premature Deaths Due to Vitamin D deficiency in Canada says that increasing Vitamin D intake to optimal levels could reduce the incidence of some cancers by 25 per cent and save $14.4 billion in health-care costs across the country.
At a time of rising costs and a national debt of $591 billion, can we afford to overlook such savings? Moreover, the study predicts that a Vitamin D supplement would prevent about 37,000 deaths annually from diseases.
In his letter, Parksville resident Bob Tritschler is right: drug and medical costs are “soaring through the roof.” As citizens, we can help to lower those costs by proactively taking measures to promote our own health and well-being. In promoting a national Vitamin D Day I am striving to draw attention to a simple, cost-effective strategy that informed citizens can employ to improve their own immune system performance and health outcomes.
James Lunney, MP
Nanaimo-Alberni