by Dr. Owen Wiseman, ND

Protect Your Family, Protect Yourself: Boost Immunity with the 30-Day Reset Program

Imagine this: you’ve just settled into your evening after a long day when your little one comes running over with a sneeze that feels like a gust of winter wind. Within days, your partner has a scratchy throat, you’ve got a headache, and the house feels like a rotating sick bay. For many families, this is a familiar scenario—and it highlights the vital role immunity plays, not just for your own health but for the health of everyone in your household.

At A.Vogel, we know that when you’re juggling the needs of your family, your immune health often takes a backseat. Yet, protecting your immune system is one of the most important ways to safeguard your family’s well-being. That’s why the Immunity Pillar is a cornerstone of our 30-Day Reset Program—a practical, natural approach to building stronger defences so you can keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.

 

Why Immune Health Matters

Your immune system is like a security program for your body. It detects and neutralizes harmful invaders, keeping you healthy and resilient. However, when your immune defenses are compromised, illness spreads quickly—especially in families or workplaces where close quarters and shared spaces make germs a communal problem.

Consider these statistics:

• Canadians collectively miss tens of millions of workdays annually due to illness, much of which is related to preventable colds and flu.^1,2
• On average, children catch 6-10 colds per year, and many parents end up catching half of those themselves.^3,4,5
• The financial cost of illness is staggering: between doctor visits, over-the-counter remedies, and lost productivity, the annual cost of colds and flu is estimated at $2.4 billion in Canada alone.^6,7

If these numbers feel overwhelming, you’re not alone. But the solution isn’t just in avoiding germs—it’s in building a stronger immune foundation.

Start strengthening your immunity today with our 30-Day Reset Program.

What’s Weakening Your Immune Defenses?

Modern life is full of immunity saboteurs. Many of the things we take for granted as part of a busy life are quietly chipping away at our immune health. Here are some common culprits:

• Stress: Chronic stress reduces the efficiency of white blood cells, leaving your body less equipped to fend off infections.⁸
• Lack of Sleep: A 2023 study found that individuals who sleep fewer than six hours per night are 27% more likely to catch a cold than those who sleep seven hours or more. But, the pendulum CAN swing too far – those who slept more than 9 hours were 44% more likely to get sick.⁹
• Poor Nutrition: A diet low in essential nutrients like Vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants deprives your body of the tools it needs to stay strong.¹⁰
• Sedentary Lifestyle: Regular physical activity enhances circulation, allowing immune cells to move efficiently through the body, but many Canadians fall short of the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.¹¹

Reinforce Your Immune System with Natural Solutions

The 30-Day Reset Program is designed to combat these challenges and strengthen your immune system with simple, natural solutions.

How to Strengthen Your Immunity Pillar

Boost Your Immunity with Echinaforce®

One of the most effective ways to bolster your immune system is with Echinaforce, A.Vogel’s pharmaceutical-grade echinacea product. As the most researched cold and flu natural health product on the Canadian market, Echinaforce is backed by multiple clinical studies demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing and treating respiratory infections.

What makes Echinaforce stand out?

1. Proven Efficacy: Clinical studies show that Echinaforce reduces the frequency and duration of colds by up to 58%, making it a game-changer during flu season.¹²
2. Pharmaceutical-Grade Quality: Echinaforce is manufactured to the highest standards, ensuring consistent potency and safety with every dose.
3. National Recognition: It’s the only echinacea product mentioned on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website, cementing its reputation as a trusted, scientifically validated solution.¹³
4. Whole-Plant Extract: Unlike many other echinacea products, Echinaforce uses the entire plant, harnessing the full spectrum of active compounds to maximize effectiveness.

By incorporating Echinaforce into your daily routine, you’re not just treating symptoms—you’re strengthening your body’s ability to defend itself.

Eat Immune-Boosting Foods

Your diet is your first line of defence. Focus on nutrient-dense foods like citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, which are rich in Vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants. Fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi also play a critical role in balancing your gut microbiome—home to 70% of your immune system.¹⁴

Tip: Involve your family in meal prep! Kids are more likely to eat immune-boosting foods when they’ve helped prepare them.

Prioritize Quality Sleep

As we’ve read, sleep is non-negotiable for a healthy immune system. During deep sleep, your body produces infection-fighting cytokines and repairs cellular damage.¹⁵ Adults need 7-9 hours per night, while children need even more.

To improve your sleep hygiene:

• Establish a calming bedtime routine.
• Avoid screens at least an hour before bed.
• Incorporate natural remedies like Goodnight! or Relax Sprayto promote rest and recovery.

Manage Stress Effectively

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but unmanaged stress suppresses your immune system and makes you more susceptible to illness. Practicing mindfulness, deep breathing, or even taking regular nature walks (like this doc!) can significantly reduce stress levels.

This ties directly into the Stress & Sleep Pillar of our program, as managing one often improves the other.

Support Gut Health

Your gut isn’t just for digestion—it’s a critical player in immunity. A balanced gut microbiome supports immune cell production and regulates inflammation. Incorporating probiotics into your diet and staying hydrated are simple steps that strengthen this connection.

Here, the Digestion Pillar plays a critical supporting role. When your digestive system is functioning optimally, your body can better absorb the nutrients it needs to maintain strong immunity.

How the Other Pillars Contribute to Immunity

By addressing all four pillars, you create a stable foundation for long-term wellness.

When you prioritize your immune health, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re protecting your family.

Picture this: you’re well-rested, energized, and less susceptible to illness. You have the stamina to juggle work and family life, and when your kids inevitably bring home a cold from daycare, or your partner a virus from the office, your body is ready to fight back.

It’s not about being invincible—it’s about being prepared.

References

1. Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0196-01 Work absence of full-time employees by public and private sector, annual
2. 2. Rafferty, Ellen, et al. "Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections: Healthcare costs and effects of post-COVID-19 condition in Canada." Canada Communicable Disease Report 49.10 (2023): 425.
3. 3. Schmidt, Kara, et al. "Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections: National Influenza Annual Report, Canada, 2022–2023: Canada’s first fall epidemic since the 2019–2020 season." Canada Communicable Disease Report 49.10 (2023): 413.
4. 4. Pappas, D. "Patient information: The common cold in children (beyond the basics)." UpToDate (2016).
5. 5. Geppe, Natalia A., et al. "The Common Cold and Influenza in Children: To Treat or Not to Treat?." Microorganisms 11.4 (2023): 858.
6. 6. Statistics Canada. 2017. The Public Health Agency of Canada. The Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, 2010
7. 7. Diener, A., and J. Dugas. "Economic burden of communicable diseases in Canada." CCDR 42 (2016): S1.
8. 8. Dhabhar, Firdaus S. "Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful." Immunologic research 58 (2014): 193-210.
9. 9. Forthun, Ingeborg, et al. "The association between self-reported sleep problems, infection, and antibiotic use in patients in general practice." Frontiers in Psychiatry 14 (2023): 1033034.
10. 10. Munteanu, Camelia, and Betty Schwartz. "The relationship between nutrition and the immune system." Frontiers in Nutrition 9 (2022): 1082500.
11. 11. Damiot, Anthony, et al. "Immunological implications of physical inactivity among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic." Gerontology 66.5 (2020): 431-438.
12. 12. Schapowal, Andreas, Peter Klein, and Sebastian L. Johnston. "Echinacea reduces the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections and complications: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Advances in therapy 32 (2015): 187-200.
13. 13. National Institute of Health. Dietary Supplements in the Time of COVID-19. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (2024).
14. 14. Wiertsema, Selma P., et al. "The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious diseases throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies." Nutrients 13.3 (2021): 886.
15. 15. Zada, David, et al. "Sleep increases chromosome dynamics to enable reduction of accumulating DNA damage in single neurons." Nature Communications 10.1 (2019): 895.