Vitamin D, Magnesium & Sunglasses: Your Inflammation Survival Guide

In This Issue: 

• Women Age Differently from Men
• The CRP, Vitamin D & Magnesium Connection
• Do You Need Sunglasses?
• Speaking of Eye Health…

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Message from Bernadette Wulf

Greetings!

Happy Beltane or May Day!

One of my pet peeves is click bait. You know those emails or social media posts that promise you something amazing, but you have to click over to their web page to get it… and then you have to click another link to download the information or the eBook—or listen to a really long video that usually ends up trying to sell you a product without giving you what they promised in the first place.

Ugh! I don’t ever want to manipulate you like that. That’s why I give you the pertinent facts up front in this newsletter, and include a link to learn more if you are interested.

That’s also why I love Dr. Greger’s short, to-the-point videos and blogs from NutritionFacts.org. He shares excellent information and asks for nothing in return. Though he does appreciate donations to support his work… and he will even send you a handwritten birthday card in thanks.

That’s the New Earth way—share your gifts, trust the flow, everybody thrives. It’s coming. But we’re still in the messy in-between, where bills exist and groceries cost money. What we don’t have to accept in the meantime is manipulative “Bro Marketing” that treats people like targets.

It obviously works, but at what cost to integrity, self esteem, and the ability of humans to trust each other? That cost is just not worth it to me, in spite of how “successful” it makes people or corporations.

That being said (rant over, LOL), I found some great resources for you this month with two main themes: inflammation and eye health—which turn out to be more connected than you might think.

WulfWorks News

My Beltane workshop on the 4 Faery Cities is happening tomorrow, May 2nd, so you still have time to sign up if you’re interested. There’s even a sliding scale donation option if you’re in a cash crunch.

This time of year, I like to get out and enjoy the springtime as much as I can, so the computer stuff gets pushed to the back burner. But I always have time for you, so feel free to reach out anytime.

Have questions or comments? —>>> Email Bernadette <<<— Please use this link and do not hit reply to this post or I may never get your message.

To your health and happiness!
Bernadette Wulf
WulfWorks.com — HealItAll.com — Eat Plants for Life
Visit me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wulfworks

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Women Age Differently from Men

Ever wonder why women seem to have more inflammation and autoimmune issues than men? Turns out it’s built into our biology, and this fascinating new study explains why.

The good news is that genetics are only part of the story. Lifestyle, diet, and emotional states have a far greater impact, and we have real solutions available—see next article below.

From medicalxpress.com:

[ ] the results reveal that women present more pronounced changes in the immune system with age, with an increase in inflammatory immune cells. This finding could help explain why autoimmune diseases are mainly developed by women, especially at advanced ages, as well as the worsening of certain inflammatory pathologies after menopause.

That doesn’t leave men completely off the hook.

On the other hand, the changes associated with immune system aging observed in men are globally less extensive, but an increase in certain blood cells presenting pre-leukemia alterations was observed, a fact that could explain why some blood cancers are more frequent in older men.

Read more about how women age differently from men — https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-women-immune-bigger-age-men.html

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The CRP, Vitamin D & Magnesium Connection

This article perfectly follows the one above. I’m paraphrasing information from Sarah Otto’s email newsletter, which is always excellent (email only). I don’t even remember how I got on her list, but I’m glad I did.

You’ve probably heard it. “Aches and pains are just part of getting older.” Joint stiffness, stubborn fatigue, brain fog, weight that won’t budge.

But here’s the thing that connects almost all of those symptoms: Inflammation.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, even certain cancers. And, as the article above pointed out, it’s worse for women. After menopause, inflammation tends to slowly creep up while most women have no idea.

There’s a blood marker called CRP (C-reactive protein) that measures it—basically your body’s smoke alarm for inflammation. Most doctors don’t test for it routinely.

If your doctor won’t order it, you can order it yourself from Direct Labs or another DIY blood test facility. And while you’re at it, you may as well include a vitamin D test.

A recent meta-analysis looked at seven randomized controlled trials on what vitamin D supplementation does to CRP in postmenopausal women. The result? It significantly reduced inflammation levels.

Two things stood out. First, the effect was strongest in studies lasting longer than three months. (Your body isn’t going to reverse years of inflammation in a few weeks. Patience is part of the medicine.)

Second—and this is the surprising part—the greatest reduction came from modest daily doses of 1,000 IU or less.

That’s important. Not mega-doses of vitamin D. Consistency beat intensity every time.

So what can you do? Get your levels tested (ask for a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test). Also, aim for 15–20 minutes of midday sun on bare skin when you can. Supplement with vitamin D3 if your levels are low (most people are low, even if they spend a lot of time outdoors).

And—this is the part most people miss—include magnesium. Your body needs magnesium to actually convert and use vitamin D, and roughly 80% of Americans are already deficient.

Note: It’s best to take vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 (MK-7) during the early part of the day—it’s the sunshine vitamin after all—with a little fat (nuts, seeds, avocado) for best absorbability.

Then take magnesium (I prefer magnesium glycinate) shortly before bedtime for relaxation and restful sleep.

With simple tools and consistent habits, your body can find its way back to balance.

Here’s a link to the science — https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(23)01630-1/abstract

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Do You Need Sunglasses?

I’ve resisted wearing sunglasses for most of my life, but after a visit to the eye doctor I had to change my tune.

Apparently, those of us with light colored eyes (mine are green) have a higher risk of macular degeneration caused by UV rays.

But not just any sunglasses will provide protection.

Here’s the scoop from Zonia.com:

A bad (read: cheap) pair of sunglasses made only from colored plastic, without UV400 protection, can be harmful for your eyes. Without UV protection, low-quality sunglasses increase your risk of eye cancer and vision loss.

A good pair of sunglasses, on the other hand, offers maximal UV protection and protects you from eye strain caused by excessive sunlight. They’re an investment that usually pays off and will benefit your eyes and extend their function for many, many years.

Your diet and lifestyle will also affect your eye health. Make sure to eat plenty of berries, colorful veggies (especially dark green and orange), and omega 3 fatty acids. And of course, get some exercise and don’t smoke!

Read more about sunglasses and eye health — https://zonia.com/are-sunglasses-bad-for-your-eyes-the-facts

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Speaking of Eye Health…

These ladies always have great tips for aligning your energy—quick and easy techniques that use your own hands, or in this case your eyes, to heal and support your wellbeing.

https://youtu.be/OkwbIW6tXZ4