Hello all and hello fall! I am really getting outside of my comfort zone here and this is my first post done from my cell phone! I’m so modern! Haha but I figure if I may post more often if I can figure out how to post from my phone :)!

This is an important time of year to spread awareness of the severity of Vitamin D deficiency (and not just in Maine/New England; this is becoming a problem in more southern regions too (too much indoor time)!

Maine has some of the highest cancer rates and I am shocked that more providers have not considered the connection/that there are not more studies looking at the relationship between vitamin D and cancer rates (as Maine has some of the lowest vitamin D rates and the highest cancer rates). If there’s one thing I’m an expert on its disease PREVENTION! And vitamin D is a huge part of that.

In Maine (and New England) the sun’s rays (even in summer) are not at the proper angle to synthesize sufficient quantities of vitamin D. Supplementation is a must in Maine and other northern latitudes.

Even if kids/people are drinking vitamin D fortified milk, I typically still recommend supplementing. The classic 50,000IU once weekly prescription doesn’t make much sense to me; a robust DAILY supplement with occasional booster dosing is more effective in my clinical experience. Vitamin D is crucial in strengthening immune health.

Your immune system isn’t just there to keep you from getting sick. Neurologic and psychological health are DIRECTLY related to immune function. Vitamin D is also important in connective tissue function and required for calcium absorption. Vitamin D is CRUCIAL in decreasing inflammation (and inflammation plays a role in every disease!).

Want to hear something crazy?

When I did my doctoral education and training to become a nurse practitioner in St. Louis, Missouri, the local labs referenced a “NORMAL” Vitamin D level as 30-100. In Maine, several major labs list the “NORMAL” reference value as 25-50!!

THIS WAS SO SHOCKING TO ME!

Do you know why this is? Because Mainers are so Vitamin D deficient, it is just considered a normal finding to be depleted. Labs often create “Normal” ranges based on population data. So if an entire population has a problem (hello high blood sugar, and deficiencies in magnesium and vitamin D); it might get entirely overlooked!!!!

To make it worse, ADEQUATE supplementation is often overlooked! If you want to speed healing time, decrease joint/arthritis pain, avoid colds/boost immune function, prevent osteoporosis, prevent fatigue/depression for yourself/your children/family, optimizing your Vitamin D level is crucial!

Talk to your practitioner about Vitamin D today! Also, be empowered to question the “normal” lab values (and this goes beyond Vitamin D levels!). I was taught by physicians/practitioners that Vitamin D levels above 60 or even above 80 are required to combat many issues directly related to Vitamin D deficiency.

Ok so that’s the PSA of the day! Now to share some pictures of the beautiful transition from summer to fall!

Our sunflowers are falling for fall!! :)

Post swim! Swam twice (well at least dunked under!) this week without a wetsuit! But water is definitely starting to cool down!

Dorian waves (we only watched! Big waves!!)

This last pic is from late summer and I just love it; we went to the beach so much this summer and even though it was a busy/pretty intense summer there was also a lot of THIS💙!! Farewell to summer and hello to fall!! Thanks for visiting!!!

Wholeheartedly,

Evelyn