What If We Got Sunlight All Wrong? The Truth About Vitamin D & Chronic Disease

What If We Got Sunlight All Wrong? The Truth About Vitamin D & Chronic Disease

Author: Dr. Mark Hyman July 14, 2025 Duration: 37:02
Sunlight has long been vilified for its link to skin cancer, yet hiding from it entirely may be costing us far more. Vitamin D, made primarily through sun exposure, plays a pivotal role in everything from bone strength and immune defense to mood regulation, cancer prevention, and even longevity. Shockingly, over 80% of people have levels too low to unlock its protective powers—putting them at greater risk for chronic illness, and even premature death. Research shows that raising vitamin D to optimal levels could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, rivaling or surpassing the impact of many medical interventions. With a few minutes of daily sun, the right kind of supplementation, and awareness of how our lifestyles block this essential nutrient, reclaiming our health may be simpler than we think. In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Cindy Geyer, the critical role of vitamin D in preventing chronic disease, boosting immunity, and promoting overall health. Dr. Cindy Geyer received her bachelor of science and her doctor of medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine. This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found here: Do You Need To Take Vitamin D?Choosing Skin Care Products that Won’t Make You SickWhy Boosting Your Vitamin D Could Change Your Life

Hosted by physician and functional medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Hyman, The Dr. Hyman Show is a conversation about reclaiming your well-being. Each episode digs into the interconnected systems that shape our health, moving beyond symptom management to address foundational causes. You’ll hear detailed discussions on nutrition, the roots of chronic disease, mental health strategies, and the science of longevity, all framed through a functional medicine lens. Dr. Hyman engages with leading experts and thinkers to challenge conventional wisdom on food policy and prevention, offering a practical and often provocative perspective. This podcast serves as a resource for anyone feeling lost in a healthcare system that can overlook root causes, providing actionable knowledge to make informed daily choices. Tune in for a deep, evidence-based exploration of how our bodies truly work, empowering you to reimagine your personal health potential through informed dialogue and discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Dr. Hyman Show
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