From the Desk of Carolyn Dean MD ND
Every fall, the same thought seems to arrive: Who is going to get sick first? Will the children bring something home from school? Will a cough make its way through the household just as everyone gets busy with holiday plans?
And since COVID, it seems we’ve become even more flu-fearful.
We cannot predict every illness or control every exposure. However, we can take a calmer approach to the season ahead and think about immune system support.
I prefer to focus on creating a strong immune system rather than making the entire conversation about avoiding illness. We want an immune system that responds to everyday challenges and helps us recover.
To do that, we can think about nutrition, rest, and daily habits. We can also look after ourselves without expecting any one nutrient or product to guarantee a healthy winter.
The Season Ahead, Without the Alarm
The CDC’s outlook suggests that the 2026–2027 flu season will likely be moderate, although it has low to moderate confidence in that assessment. It is an outlook based on available information, not a guarantee of what will happen. CDC
For me, the useful takeaway is not to become anxious about the forecast. The takeaway is to prepare sensibly.
Respiratory viruses are part of the seasonal picture, but we do not need to spend the next several months anticipating the worst. Instead, we can learn about our options and make thoughtful decisions with our healthcare providers.
We can also establish everyday routines that help us look after ourselves and the people around us.
What Does a Strong Immune System Mean?
On my Immune Resilience page, I describe immune resilience as the body’s capacity to defend against everyday threats and recover from them.
The immune system is not a single organ or one switch that can be turned on and off. Rather, it is a complex network of cells, tissues, signaling molecules, and biological processes that must work together.
Age is one factor in this picture. The gradual changes in immune function associated with aging are known as immunosenescence.
However, that term describes a complex process, not an inevitable timetable that everyone follows in the same way. Nutrition, health conditions, medications, lifestyle, and individual biology all contribute to the larger picture.
I consider nutritional support an important part of helping the body function as we get older. Of course, individual needs and circumstances vary.
Nutrients to Consider for Immune System Support
Zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C are nutrients I often discuss in relation to immune function. Each has different roles in the body.
I could also give a nod to magnesium, selenium, omega-3, and the whole Maui ReSet Bundle. But let’s start with these three.
Zinc and Immune Cells
Zinc is essential to the development and function of immune cells. It also participates in many aspects of cellular metabolism, including enzyme activity, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and cell signaling.
Research suggests that marginal zinc deficiency is relatively common among older adults.
In one randomized trial discussed on my immune resilience page, zinc supplementation improved zinc status and T-cell function in older adults whose zinc levels were low.
That qualification matters. Findings in people who begin with low zinc status should not automatically be applied to people who already have adequate levels. Likewise, evidence about zinc itself does not establish that every zinc supplement produces the same result.
Vitamin D and Immune Function
Vitamin D is another nutrient involved in normal immune function. Most people think of it mainly in relation to calcium absorption and bone health.
However, vitamin D also helps regulate the two major parts of the immune system: innate and adaptive immunity.
Vitamin D status can be affected by several factors, including food intake, supplement use, and sunlight exposure. During winter, changes in outdoor activity and sunlight may make it worthwhile to consider whether your nutritional needs are being met.
That does not mean everyone needs the same supplement or amount. Instead, discuss questions about your individual needs with a qualified healthcare professional.
Vitamin C Beyond Cold Season
Vitamin C is another nutrient worth understanding in its own right. In my book, Vitamin C: Listening to the Experts, I explore its history and the many biological processes in which it participates.
Its story goes well beyond its familiar association with colds and flu.
I also discuss Linus Pauling’s work and the debate surrounding higher vitamin C intakes. You can download my book on Kindle or get a print copy and judge the research for yourself.
If you are considering a high-dose supplement, discuss it with a healthcare professional. For most adults, the established upper limit for vitamin C from food and supplements is 2,000 milligrams per day. Consumer
Where Does Silver Fit In?
Silver, especially our stabilized mineral ion of silver called Pico Silver, is a somewhat unknown entity to many readers.
Some silver-containing dressings are used in burn care. However, that use does not establish that a silver supplement is safe or effective when swallowed, sprayed into the nose, or inhaled.
Silver is not an essential nutrient, and it has no known benefit in the body when taken by mouth. Therefore, speak with a healthcare professional before using a silver product, especially if you are considering it for an infection or another medical concern. NCCIH
What My Maui ReSet Pilot Showed
In my October 22 post, Can Everyday People Slow Their Pace of Aging? A First Look at the Maui ReSet Pilot Study, I shared results from ten adults who followed a defined daily nutrient protocol for six months.
The study used before-and-after blood testing by TruDiagnostic, an independent laboratory.
It was an uncontrolled observational pilot, not a randomized or placebo-controlled clinical trial. Therefore, the findings cannot establish that the protocol caused the changes we observed.
The Immune Findings
One result stood out when we examined immune resilience. Only four of the ten participants improved in the measured immune markers.
This was the category in which the group showed the least improvement, and several readings fell.
For example, one participant, Suzanne, moved from the 38th to the 89th percentile. Meanwhile, Helen moved from the 36th to the 70th percentile.
Those changes are interesting observations. They also beg the question: What could a year or two of our formulas create?
At this point, we don’t know. The pilot did not test a longer protocol, so it cannot answer that question.
What Does an Immune Marker Percentile Mean?
The TruHealth panel reports an epigenetic signature associated with immune biochemistry as a percentile. Within the test’s framework, a higher percentile is considered more favorable.
However, this is a measurement to follow and interpret in context. It is not a diagnosis, and a change in the marker does not by itself show that someone will have fewer infections or recover more quickly.
Questions the Pilot Left Open
Pico Silver was not included in the pilot’s protocol. I have wondered whether adding it, introducing gut support earlier, or following the participants for longer might have made a difference.
Those are questions for future research. The pilot did not test Pico Silver or an earlier gut-support protocol, so its results cannot tell us whether either would improve immune markers or treat yeast overgrowth.
In our Maui ReSet Bundle materials, we also discuss Pico Silver and Flora ReVive as products people may consider after the initial months. If you have symptoms you think may be related to yeast or another infection, seek an appropriate evaluation rather than relying on a supplement as treatment.
For readers interested in the broader results, my October 22 study post provides more context. Here, I want to focus on what we can take away from the immune findings.
A Calm Season Kit: The Everyday Basics
The following suggestions are practical guidance, not findings from the Maui ReSet pilot.
A household plan for winter does not have to be elaborate. In fact, I would start with the ordinary things that are easy to overlook when everyone gets busy.
Make Room for Regular Sleep
A consistent sleep routine gives you a predictable time to rest. Otherwise, sleep can become whatever time remains after the day’s demands.
Adults and children have different sleep needs, so build a routine appropriate for each family member. Rest is not a guarantee against illness, but it is an important part of looking after your general health.
Keep Meals Simple and Nourishing
Warm soups, cooked vegetables, beans, eggs, fish, chicken, meat, and fruit can make regular meals easier when the weather changes and schedules become crowded.
You can also make a big batch and freeze half for a quick meal later.
There is no need for a perfect diet or a complicated list of superfoods. Instead, a varied eating pattern is a more useful starting point than expecting one food to do everything.
Get Outdoors When It Works for You
A walk, some daylight, especially morning sunlight, or a little time in the garden can be a welcome break from indoor routines.
Choose activities that suit your circumstances and the weather. After all, there is no need to turn every walk into a fitness challenge.
Make a Sick-Day Plan Before You Need One
Think about who can stay home from work or school and what easy meals you can prepare. Also, make sure you know where to find a thermometer and other ordinary household supplies.
It helps to know whom you would contact for medical advice, too.
Follow current public-health guidance about staying home when sick, reducing exposure to others, and seeking care when needed. You can also discuss recommended seasonal vaccinations with your healthcare provider.
Give Yourself Permission to Adjust
Finally, if someone in the household becomes ill, give yourself permission to change your plans.
The priority may be rest, fluids, practical help, and appropriate medical care. It does not have to be keeping every appointment or maintaining every routine.
The Everyday Nutrients Behind the Immune Discussion
The seven-formula foundation used in the Maui ReSet protocol included ReMag, ReMyte, ReAline, Pico Potassium, D3K2 ReSet, Pico Zinc Plus, and Vitamin C ReSet.
Two formulas are especially relevant to the nutrient discussion above. Pico Zinc Plus supplies zinc balanced with copper, while D3K2 ReSet supplies vitamin D3 with K2. Vitamin C ReSet was also part of the protocol.
Pico Silver was not included in the pilot’s seven-formula foundation.
If you are considering supplements, look at your overall diet, health circumstances, and any medicines you take. Then discuss your questions with a qualified healthcare professional.
Looking Forward
On November 12, I’ll turn to another part of this conversation: gut health and the immune barrier. We’ll explore why the gut matters in the wider picture of immune function.
We’ll also look at what the research can tell us and which questions still need better answers.
Until then, take a steady approach to immune system support. Keep asking good questions, and remember that informed care is more useful than fear.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.
Dr. Dean is the founder and formulator of this nutrient line and has a creative and economic interest in it. She funnels proceeds into a biodynamic, organic farm and two farm stores in Maui. These formulas are intended to support normal structure and function.
This content is for educational purposes only and discusses nutritional and lifestyle support for normal structure and function of the body. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure disease. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical guidance.
👉 Learn more and become a member here:
https://drcarolyndean.com/wellness-courses/
