Oct
27
In my humble opinion this is an ad for people whose lives have been hit with the cancer stick. I like the personification of cancer in this ad because the experience of cancer can indeed feel like living under violent dictatorship, or being stalked by a serial killer. The anger and hatred expressed towards cancer in this ad is palpable – and a refreshing change from the heart-wrenching, super-depressing imagery of helplessness and victimhood that you so often see in materials related to cancer. Not that it won’t make you cry like a schoolgirl; just makes you do so with clenched fists.
And then – waaaayyyy on the other end of the spectrum – there’s this PSA, which, if I may say, is an ad for people who have no frikking idea. Like seriously, not even the faint and fluttering beginnings of a clue. The target viewer for this one seems to be a Maxim-magazine reader with no breast cancer risk factors and a permanent woody. Who doesn’t do his own laundry. Might still live with his parents. But, I guess if he’s into supporting breast cancer, he’s ok by me.
And one more – just in case you are under the mistaken impression that I’ve got something against things that are immature, kind of gross and involve bikini-clad models – check out this effective messaging about skin cancer.
Takes all kinds to beat cancer.
Sep
29
Brrr, I’m not used to walking outside at 7:30 a.m. to 12C weather. Vive l’automne, I guess! And what’s the one nutrient you should be thinking about as the seasons change? The answer is vitamin D. Last week, I spoke with Bev Callaghan, a dietitian, cookbook author and nutrition expert, about “the sunshine vitamin” and why it should be top of mind for Canadians at this time of year.
Why’s vitamin D important for our health?
Vitamin D has long been recognized for its role in bone health in children and adults. But there’s a growing body of evidence that vitamin D may have a beneficial effect on some types of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer and other immune-related diseases. [One U.S. study suggested that the vitamin could cut the risk of cancer by 60 percent; previous research has also linked low levels of vitamin D with various cancers, such as breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.]
What’s the connection between vitamin D and calcium?
Vitamin D is necessary for absorbing calcium. When children are growing, they’re laying down bone. They need calcium, but they also need vitamin D. Long ago, it was difficult to get vitamin D, which is why we had cod liver oil. Now fluid milk and soy beverages are fortified with vitamin D, and some juices are fortified with calcium and vitamin D — a big improvement on cod liver oil!
How much vitamin D do we need per day?
Health Canada’s recommendation for vitamin D is 200 to 600 UI per day, depending on age; 200 UI is the equivalent of two servings of fluid milk. But I believe that recommendation is too low. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends 1,000 UI per day, based on the recent evidence about vitamin D and cancer.
Why should we pay particular attention to vitamin D in the fall and winter?
One source of vitamin D is sunlight: Skin exposure to UVB radiation from the sun promotes vitamin D production. Fifteen to 20 minutes per day is enough to meet the Canadian Cancer Society recommendations for vitamin D. But for most of the winter months in Canada, there’s insufficient UVB radiation from the sun to produce vitamin D.
Where else can we get enough vitamin D to meet the recommendations?
There aren’t that many natural dietary sources of vitamin D, unfortunately. There’s fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna. There’s fortified milk and some juices. But with dietary sources alone, it would be difficult to obtain the Canadian Cancer Society’s recommended amount of vitamin D. So that’s when we have to take vitamin D supplements.
You’ve created a quiz, called “Vitamin IQ.” Why?
I’ve found that there’s a lot of confusion about what to eat, where to get vitamins and nutrients, when to supplement… There’s so much information that Canadians are food-fatigued. The quiz clears up the myths and provides great information. And at the end, there’s a handy chart, about what vitamins do and where to find them, that you can print off and stick on your fridge.
Thanks, Bev, for your time and expert advice.
Test your vitamin IQ by taking the quiz. You’ll find answers to questions such as: What vitamins and minerals help to maintain a healthy immune system? How many servings of fruits and vegetables there are in one cup of 100 percent orange juice? And, why phytonutrients are beneficial for your health? And if you have any other questions about vitamin D (or other vitamins), let me know by posting a comment below. Have a lovely Monday.
