“Flu Season” — Take Control of Your Immune Health
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, you may hear the familiar refrain: “Flu season is here!” But it’s time to take a slightly different view. The truth is: the flu isn’t simply a seasonal force of nature—it’s much more about the conditions your body is in.
Here’s what I want you to know:
1) “Flu Season” is partly a marketing phrase
We often talk about “flu season” as though the virus magically blooms each fall the way pumpkins do. But that imagery can be misleading. What actually happens:
As daylight decreases, many of us get less sunlight (and therefore less natural vitamin D).
Sleep often suffers (shorter days + busy schedules).
Stress tends to go up (holidays, school, work demands).
We may indulge more in sugar and ultra-processed foods.
When your immune system is running on low fuel, germs have an easier time gaining ground.
2) You don’t have to roll over and accept the flu in your household
Just because germs are circulating doesn’t mean you’re powerless. You can take tangible action to support your body and keep your immune system functioning at its best.
Here are key habits to adopt now:
Eat primarily whole foods: plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats — minimize processed foods and excess sugar. Sugar has been shown to suppress immune cell function in some studies.
Stay well-hydrated: water supports every cell in your immune system and helps your body flush out waste and toxins.
Prioritize sleep: aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly. Poor sleep has been linked with increased susceptibility to infection.
Limit sugar and processed foods: not only do they provide less nutritional value, they can also increase inflammatory markers and reduce immune resilience.
Get outside for fresh air and sunshine: Even in cooler weather, brief exposure to sunlight supports vitamin D production and mood; fresh air supports respiratory health.
Consider extra nutritional support: At this time of year, vitamin D is especially important because sunlight exposure is lower. A vitamin D supplement may help fill the shortfall for many people.
3) If you sense an illness coming on — act early
If you notice the first signs of a cold or flu (scratchy throat, fatigue, chills), your goal should be to support your immune system — not just mask symptoms. Some points to consider:
Many over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicines do not shorten how long you’re sick; they mostly ease symptoms and may give a false sense of recovery before the body has fully done its work.
Therefore, the smarter approach is: bolster your immune system early (nutrition, rest, hydration) rather than rely solely on symptom-masking pills.
4) How we can support you
In our office, we’re offering the October Nutrition Bundle to give you a little extra support during this transitional time of year. While we don’t believe in “magic pills,” the right nutrients can help the body function optimally—especially when your lifestyle/stress/disruption might be working against you.
Viracid: designed to support immune health during onset of illness.
Vitamin K2 with D3: During months with limited sunlight, Vitamin K2 with D3 helps maintain optimal vitamin D levels to support immune health, bone strength, and proper calcium absorption when natural sun exposure isn’t enough.
Remember: these aren’t substitutes for sleep, whole foods, hydration, and sunshine—they’re complements.
A quick recap
“Flu season” is not simply about the virus appearing out of nowhere—it’s about the body’s vulnerability increasing.
You do not have to simply accept the flu in your household—you can act proactively.
Focus on whole foods, water, sleep, sunshine, lowering sugar, getting outside.
The right nutritional support makes sense—especially vitamin D at this time of year.
If you start to feel something coming on: boost your immunity, not just treat symptoms.
OTC cold/flu medicines may make you feel better short-term by masking symptoms, but most do not shorten illness duration or support your body's natural ability to heal.
We’re here for you—if you’d like to discuss your individualized nutrition plan, or how best to support your immune health this fall and winter, please don’t hesitate to reach out.