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