Elderberry, your immune system's best ally

Updated on 2026-01-08

Summary: Elderberry, your immune system's best ally

At the height of winter, Lynn Goneau reminds us of the importance of supporting the immune system, our line of defense against viruses and bacteria, by focusing on antioxidants. Antioxidants protect immune cells from damage caused by free radicals, such as those produced by a sugary diet, alcohol or an unfavorable lifestyle, and also help reduce chronic inflammation.

Key antioxidants include vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwis, peppers), zinc (nuts, grains, seafood, legumes), selenium (Brazil nuts, fish, eggs), polyphenols (fruits, vegetables, 70%+ dark chocolate) and omega-3s (oily fish, oils), all essential for effective immunity.

Lynn also highlights elderberry, a small fruit with powerful flavonoids, recognized for its effectiveness against viruses such as influenza A and B, capable of reducing the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms, especially when taken at the earliest signs.

Finally, it highlights the Quebec range Immunia by Fruitomed including Immunia Synergy a concentrated formula of 67 antioxidants from Quebec berries, which supports immunity, reduces inflammation and promotes a balanced intestinal microbiota.

1. The immune system and the role of antioxidants

The immune system is the body's line of defense against viruses, bacteria and other microbes. White blood cells act like little soldiers, but they can be weakened by an excess of free radicals, often linked to poor diet, sugar, alcohol or an unbalanced lifestyle. Antioxidants protect these cells, reduce chronic inflammation and help the body to better defend itself.

2. Essential antioxidants for daily consumption

Among the most important are vitamin C, which stimulates white blood cells (citrus fruits, kiwis, peppers, strawberries), zinc, essential for cell repair (nuts, grains, seafood, legumes), and selenium, which fights free radicals (Brazil nuts, fish, eggs). Polyphenols, found in fruits, vegetables and 70%+ dark chocolate, and omega-3s, with their anti-inflammatory properties, complete this protection.

3. Elderberry: a powerful ally against viruses

Elderberry is recognized for its effectiveness against a number of viruses, including influenza A and B. Rich in flavonoids, it blocks the entry of viruses into cells, reduces the duration and intensity of cold and flu symptoms, naturally stimulates immunity and acts as a decongestant. It is most effective when taken at the first signs of infection.

4. A local solution rich in antioxidants

Fruitomed's Immunia range features elderberry in antioxidant-rich natural formulas. The formula Immunia Synergy combines 67 antioxidants from five Quebec berries, including elderberry, chamomile, wild blueberry and blackcurrant, to support immunity, reduce inflammation and promote balanced intestinal microbiota.

About the author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specialized in :

• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Stress and fatigue
• Memory and concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host at 104.7 FM

Host of the 104.7 FM radio station on the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson has hosted L'Outaouais Maintenant from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcription

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Another day gets off to a good start with this little snow. Just enough to remind us that we're in the middle of winter. It's January. We've got a few more weeks to go, and often, little illnesses just like that come knocking at our immune systems. Today, we're going to talk about antioxidants, among other things. You know how much she loves them. It's a passion for her and for me too. I have to admit, I don't think I consume enough of them. Antioxidants play a key role in protecting our bodies. And we'll be talking about elderberry Lynn Goneau in the New Year.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

And hello. And I'm fine.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Yes, I'll call you back, Lynn Goneau is a naturopath at La Boite à Grains. Antioxidants and the immune system. It's the perfect way to start the year.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Ah, we definitely love antioxidants. Yes, you just have to understand that to begin with, obviously, it's the immune system that I'd like to explain, because that's your body's defense system. Its role is to protect your body from all the little microbes, like viruses, bacteria, fungi, ok? Then the immune cells. In other words, white blood cells are your body's little soldiers. They're the ones that will attack, then eliminate all the microbes to keep you healthy. Yeah. Sometimes, the little immune cells or white blood cells can be weakened or reduced in number by a surplus of the famous free radicals. This is often caused by the junk food we eat. It can be sugar. It can be alcohol or autoimmune diseases, or simply an unhealthy lifestyle.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

And you like antioxidants because they eliminate free radicals.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

It protects immune cells from damage caused by free radicals, because small free radicals are the unstable little molecules that damage immune cells, then weaken them, then reduce their ability to protect us. Antioxidants can also reduce chronic inflammation, which can also weaken the immune system.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

We want to eat them, we want to consume them, but where do we find antioxidants?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Different antioxidants. We'll start with vitamin C, because I really like it because it stimulates white blood cells and antibodies. Then we'll find it in your citrus fruits, your kiwis, your peppers, your strawberries. I'm a big kiwi consumer in winter. Of course, kiwis are organic. But I brush them properly and eat them. They're very good. Then there's zinc. Zinc is essential for cell repair. It's found in nuts, grains, seafood and legumes, which aren't hard to find either, and selenium fights free radicals. In particular, I eat three Brazil nuts a day, which gives me the amount of selenium I need. You can also find it in fish and eggs.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

It helps to go to the bathroom too.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, indeed, for some people, yes, exactly. Then there are the polyphenols, which are anti-inflammatory and cell-protecting, found in dark chocolate, but only if it's 70% or more, and then in fruit and vegetables. Is that okay?

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

And omega-3?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Very important. Anti-inflammatory omega-3. So, of course, we're used to finding it in oily fish and oils. If you're a fan of fish, you can easily take them.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Vitamin C, zinc, selenium, polyphenols, omega-3. And we mentioned elderberries at the beginning. Elderberries are a little fruit.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Elderberry. It's a powerful antioxidant that blocks viral entry into cells, reduces the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms, and acts as a natural immunity stimulant. It's also a good decongestant. Is it? Yes. Because it clears all the respiratory tracts, and it's really effective if you take it at the first sign of infection.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Okay, by the way, do you have an extra this week?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

The entire Immunia range from Fruitomed. This Quebec-based company has formulated antioxidant-rich natural supplements with elderberry as the star ingredient. And they have one formula in particular right now, Immunia Synergy, which is concentrated with 67 powerful antioxidants. Yes. Then they combine the five Quebec berries, such as elderberry, camerberry, wild blueberry and blackcurrant. It's going to help a lot to modulate and regulate the immune system. It helps relieve pain, even inflammatory pain. It helps balance the intestinal microbiota.