Walking your dog prevents cancer

According to a new study that is to be published in June, Vitamin D, which the body creates automatically when exposed to sunlight, helps prevent cancer. This is good news of course, but not all that surprising because people have been saying for years that daily exposure to sunlight has a whole host of health benefits. Read more on CBC.ca or on Slashdot.

Dog owners get more than your average outdoor time, so that's good, but we are blessed in many other ways too:

"The effect of pet ownership on human health has been studied on a number of occasions but has been somewhat inconclusive due to the difficulties in studying such a complex relationship and assigning direction of causation. Pets provide companionship and also probably confer physiological health and psychological benefits. For example, pet owners have fewer doctors visits and longer survival following heart attack, compared to non-pet owners. Katcher and Friedmann suggested seven common functions of pet ownership: companionship; something to care for; something to touch and fondle; something to keep one busy; a focus of attention; exercise and safety. Pets have also been indicated to have important roles in enhancing child development, the wellbeing of older people and may also be used in a therapeutic setting. [source]"

What is surprising about this story is to learn that there is a worldwide epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency, according to the Vitamim D Council.

Here in Toronto, we've had some beautiful weather already and the parks have been packed on the weekend. So I'd say we can expect to see a lot of skin this summer.