Boosting Natural Immunity During Cold & Flu Season

Posted on | by Dr. Rachael O’Connell, ND

Boosting Natural Immunity During Cold & Flu Season

“How long will this cold last?” “Is this contagious?” “When will this cough and fever end?!” “This runny, stuffy nose is driving me crazy!” “Are there any natural remedies for the flu?”

Any of this sound familiar? Let’s answer some of these questions and give you some helpful ideas along the way! Mountain Peak Nutritionals has your back and some great products to keep cold and flu season at bay.

First, answers to these common questions: Generally, the flu, influenza virus, comes on quickly and severely, includes fever, cough, fatigue, with symptoms lasting around 3-7 days and full recovery in 1-2 weeks. The flu can knock us out! A common cold, also viral, is more gradual and mild, includes runny nose, sneezing, congestion, with symptoms peaking in 1-3 days and recovery in 7-10 days. Colds are no fun, but they’re usually tolerable. Both colds and flus affect people with immune deficiency and blood sugar issues much worse though.

Some general ways to combat each of these is first to get rest! Make sure sleep is always a priority and know that more sleep and napping will help the body fight off the infection better. Hydration is key for everyday life, but we need more water (and electrolytes!) when we’re sick, especially for fevers. What we eat matters too. Getting high protein, moderate fat, and low carbohydrates actually helps the immune system work more efficiently because it doesn’t have to work as hard to find the building blocks to repair the body and it won’t have sugar (from all types of carbs) disabling the white blood cells that are doing the heavy lifting. Know that more sugar equals more sticky mucous and can worsen the severity of other symptoms.

Remember when someone brought you chicken soup when you were sick? Traditionally prepared chicken soup (whole pieces of chicken with the bone simmered with vegetables, garlic, and onions) is a delicious, high protein, hydrating, electrolyte-full, nutrient-dense, collagen-rich bone broth that really feeds the immune system!

For fever, before going straight to medications, remember that a fever is part of what kills viruses. A fever is our body’s natural defense because viruses don’t thrive in higher temperatures. If a fever is getting too high, a lukewarm bath or cool compresses on the forehead/neck (avoid cold water to prevent shivering, which raises temperature) and drinking plenty of water can help manage symptoms. There are herbs that can help too, and we will discuss those later so read on! Important: always consult a doctor for fevers lasting over 3 days, exceeding 103°F (39.4°C), or in vulnerable groups like infants or the elderly.

Cough and congestion symptoms can be soothed with hydrating herbal concoctions and vocal rest (quietly read or watch a movie while you rest). A great remedy for adults, and kids over 3 years old, is to simmer fresh ginger root in water for 10 mins, strain into a mug and cool with a couple ice cubes, add a tablespoon of raw honey, and a squeeze of lemon. Ginger can relax airways and thin mucous, while lemon and honey soothe the throat. Slippery Elm tea with Thyme can work as a soothing agent as well as expectorant to get lung butter out. And N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is an expectorant that thins mucous and even boost the immune system! Cool mist humidifiers are also a great way to help soothe coughs and break up mucous while you sleep.

Now that you’ve got some basics most people can do at home, let’s talk about three great, research-backed supplements from Mountain Peak Nutritionals: Immuni-T, Immuni-LT, and Immuni-V. These three are each made for the immune system, in different formulations, with ingredients that work together and amplify each other for maximal results. Here’s a breakdown of how some of these blends work together:

  • Vitamin C + Zinc + Selenium: Vitamin C recycles zinc’s antiviral ions, while selenium amplifies glutathione defenses (glutathione is the master antioxidant); research shows this trio shortens cold duration by up to 30% more than each ingredient alone.
  • Echinacea/Astragalus + Mushroom Beta-Glucans: Herbs stimulate adaptive immunity (not getting the same illness repeatedly), while glucans prime innate responses (think of Natural Killer white blood cells like virus snipers), enhancing overall prevention in respiratory research.
  • Elderberry/Olive Leaf + Oregano: Flavonoids and phenolics cooperate for broad antiviral coverage, reducing symptoms by 25-40% in studies.
  • Larch Arabinogalactan + Probiotic-like Fibers (like Beta-Glucan): Gut-immune axis amplification (your gut is full of immune cell activity); arabinogalactan boosts short-chain fatty acids that fuel glucan-activated macrophages (white blood cells that gobble up viruses).
  • Alpha-Lipoic Acid + Vitamins A/C/E: Regenerates depleted antioxidants during infection, preventing severity escalation. In other words, makes your other antioxidants live longer!
  • Lactoferrin + Garlic/Ginger/Quercetin: Iron-binding pairs with sulfur (not sulfa, don’t worry) compounds for enhanced bacterial/viral clearance, easing symptoms.
  • Mushroom Blend + Humic/Fulvic Acids: Polysaccharides (a type of starch) deliver targeted delivery of minerals, improving bioavailability for sustained immune modulation. These make your body recognize and use healing compounds for a longer duration.
  • Serrapeptase + Anti-Inflammatories (including Ginger/Cayenne): Enzyme breaks up and clears debris while spices improve circulation and activate other compounds, shortening illness duration and symptom severity.

So, what do these different formulas do, and how are they usually taken?

Immuni-V is an antioxidant booster that supports tissue regeneration for whole-body immune support. It can be taken all season long to help the body prevent illness more effectively. It boasts a combo of Humic and Fulvic acid, Olive Leaf, Oregano, Elderberry, and Serrapeptase. The usual dose is 1 capsule daily for seasonal support.

Immuni-T helps support cellular defenses and balances the immune system, making it a simple choice for catching colds and flus before they get really nasty. This powerhouse blend packs in echinacea, olive leaf, mushrooms, oregano, ginger, garlic, grapefruit seed, glucans, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids! The best way to take this is at the first sign of a cold or flu or if exposed to others who have it, while viral loads are low in the body. The usual dose is 1-2 caps, every 2-4 hours, with food, at the first sign of illness and through the duration of a cold/flu. This contains selenium, so don’t go over 8 caps per day and check any other supplements you take for selenium. The max daily adult dose for selenium is 400 mcg total.

Immuni-LT promotes healthy circulation and strengthens the immune system with Astragalus, Larch, Olive Leaf, Lactoferrin, Quercetin, mushrooms, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more, that all work together brilliantly. This supplement has been designed to be safely used on a long-term daily basis, to aid in a consistently sharper state of good health and illness prevention. The usual dose is 1 cap, 1-3 times daily with food.

Now that you’re armed with more info and some excellent supplement choices in your back pocket, go forth and tackle the whole world! Pick up the kids from daycare without fear! Go to that office party! And remember that if you do get a sniffle, or just want to prevent one, practice these habits and pick up an amazing Mountain Peak Nutritionals immune support!

 

Important: While the synergistic blend of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and mushrooms in Immuni-T, Immuni-V, and Immuni-LT offers promising support for overall immune balance and cellular defense as described, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, including common colds or influenza. As with any supplement regimen, especially during active respiratory illness, it’s essential to consult your healthcare professional before beginning use to discuss potential interactions with medications or underlying conditions. Additionally, monitor symptoms closely—seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe indicators such as difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, high fever exceeding 101.3°F (38.5°C) lasting more than three days, confusion, or bluish lips, which could signal complications like pneumonia amid the 2025 flu season’s elevated activity. Early intervention can prevent escalation, ensuring these formulas enhance rather than complicate your wellness journey.

 

References:

 

  1. Panel on Micronutrients, et al. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001. NCBI Bookshelf Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222310/
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  10. Mushrooms & Other (Larch Arabinogalactan, Beta-Glucan):
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