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Tedious Manyepo Herald Reporter
Adequate uptake of foods rich in Vitamin D reduces the risk of “dying” of cancer, a world-acclaimed health expert has said. In an interview just after presenting his topic on cancer to health experts in Harare last week, Professor Howard Morris of the University of South Australia, said Vitamin D could tremendously minimise deaths among cancer patients.

He added that the same nutrient also lessens any chances of contracting the ailment as well as tuberculosis and hepatitis.

“We have done a thorough research in Australia and we have found out that sufficient uptake of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of dying of cancer.

“The research has also found that the nutrient can actually protect people from contracting the epidemic, which has claimed thousands of lives across the world,” he said.

According to Professor Morris, Vitamin D is mostly found from sunlight exposure, mushroom and dairy products.

“People should always have a tendency of exposing themselves to the sun for at least 45 minutes daily as the sun is the major source of Vitamin D. That is why you find that most of the people who contract cancer work indoors and do not commit time to expose themselves in the sun. Mushroom and dairy foods are also rich in the nutrient,” he said.

The president of Zimbabwe Association of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Professor Hilda Marima-Matarira, concurred with Prof Morris and said her organisation had since developed a new technology which could prove to be a breakthrough in cancer and HIV-Aids treatment.

“I do agree with Prof Morris. Indeed, Vitamin D reduces chances of deaths amongst cancer patients provided it is taken in its rightful amounts,” she said.

On the new technology her team has developed, Prof Marima-Matarira said people who were HIV positive and cancer patients could buy a ‘She Era kit’ on which they would pour whey (mutuvi) which they should drink at least thrice a day to neutralise the viruses in their bodies.

“We have tested this new technology and we are ready to deliver the good news to the people around the globe. HIV positive people could actually stop taking the anti-retroviral drugs as a result of the whey. The technology is local and cheaper so we are saying those people suffering from cancer and those who are HIV positive should visit us at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in the Department of Pathology,” she said.

According to statistics about 7000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Zimbabwe.