EP 54: Meg Sutton on Building a Robust Immune System + Natural Wellness at Home

What does it look like to support your body naturally when sickness hits—without panic, and with wisdom?

In this episode, Cathy Meehan sits down with Meg Sutton, natural health consultant, to talk about building a strong, resilient immune system in a world full of toxins, stress, and nutrient-depleted foods. Meg shares how her passion for natural wellness, nutrition, and practical home support has shaped the way she helps families think about illness, prevention, and recovery.

Together, Cathy and Meg explore what it means to work with the body instead of against it. From whole foods and foundational supplements to hydration, rest, and at-home tools for tracking symptoms, this conversation also introduces the Adult Natural Health Guide and the Meehan MD Wellness Program—resources designed to help families know when to care for common illnesses at home and when it is time to call the doctor.

This conversation covers:

• How to think about sickness as a sign the body is working, not failing
• Why nutrition is the foundation of immune support
• Common toxins in food, products, and everyday life
• The role of vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K, and sulforaphane
• What to do early when you start feeling sick
• Why cutting sugar, dairy, and processed foods can help during illness
• Gentle recovery foods like congee, homemade chicken soup, and bone broth
• How the Adult Natural Health Guide and wellness tools can help families at home

If you are a parent, caregiver, or health-conscious family looking for practical, faith-friendly guidance, this episode offers a grounded starting point. Listen in for simple ways to support wellness at home with greater confidence and clarity.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Meehan Mission, where we explore the intersection of faith, science, truth, and health, and we empower families to take ownership in their wellness. Today in studio, we are joined by our very own natural health consultant, Meg Sutton. So Meg is going to talk to us about building a resilient immune system. Because face it, many of us will encounter an illness, but what do we do to make sure that the duration of illness is short and we bounce back after we've been sick? And we're also so excited because we are introducing the Meehan MD Wellness Program. And guess what? The Adult Natural Health Guide is now available. So this is designed to help families decide when do we need to call the doctor or when can something be taken care of at home? We're going to give you the tools and the resources to help you make those decisions. So for now, let's get started and let's talk to Meg. Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Mehan Mission Podcast. Today's guest, the one and only Meg Sutton, our natural health consultant. And for those of you who have already met with Meg, you know what a brilliant line she has. Because if you want to talk natural, holistic supplements, she is the go-to. And we are so thankful that she is part of our Meehan MD team. So, May, today, I would love to talk to our community about building a robust immune system because you know everybody's getting sick all the time, but what do we do to prevent that? And then the other part of this podcast is we are actually introducing the Meehan MD Wellness Program. You guys, it's the adult natural health guide that we've all been waiting for. And finally, it is ready and available. But let's start in the beginning. Okay. And that's the immune system and when we get sick. So what do we got?

SPEAKER_01 2:26

So I wanted to back that up a little bit because um when people get sick, they automatically think that their bodies are failing us. But it's the total opposite. Our bodies are made beautifully. We were designed beautifully to handle toxins, to detox properly. And I think of it more of a sign as our body working as it's supposed to be. Um, so when we get sick, we want to support our bodies. Okay. Um, the problem is if you're constantly sick, um, that can be where there's a true issue going on, and we need to look at it. Um, I we're kind of a rule of thumb, once or twice, you know, a year sickness, I think of a great detox. Um, and so we want to support our body. If it's more than that, then we need to look at kind of the deeper thing. But to support our immune system, it's all about um what we eat, reduce the toxins. Um, and we know that we live in a toxic world. The products we use on our skin, the foods we eat, the water we drink. Let me go down that whole topic. Um all of those things have toxins in it. And it's our bodies are constantly trying to um detox that out. Um, sometimes we're unfortunate and it's stored for us to be able to detox that at a later time. Um, but we're supposed to support our system, um, make sure we're getting the appropriate nutrients, making sure we're hydrated properly and we reduce those toxins. So, um, how do you support your immune system typically?

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Well, number one, you talked about nutrition. So, and you would think that somebody's trying to like kill us when you have to talk about all the environmental things. We've got the preservatives in our food, the seed oils, the dyes, the dyes, even like the BPA on receipts, then you know, disrupting our endocrine system. So, and I always like to tell people, you know, you can't live in a bubble.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:27

But if we can reduce toxins and then we can also do things to support our immune system, which I I think number one, it's nutrition. Yeah. You really got, you know, organic, um, whole foods, read labels. I mean, that is the most thing.

SPEAKER_01 4:44

Or don't get anything that has a label. Yeah. I mean, let's get the back. Yeah. But I always tell people if God hasn't, if God did not make it like that, then rethink eating it. I know that's kind of hard in this world, but let's let's go back to the beginning. You know, what did God create? And um, and and go with those foods. Yeah. But if you do need to you read labels, you know, look for things like those dyes. Um, and now they're hiding certain words like monosovium glutamate. They're changing that to hydrolyzed yeast extract and stuff like that. So you kind of have to play this game of what are we really looking at? So if there's more than five ingredients, you might want to put it away. Or if you don't know the ingredients or can't say the ingredients, maybe skip over that.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Maybe skip over it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Or make it yourself.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

Yeah. I definitely start, you know, nutrition-wise. And then the other part of that equation is a lot of our foods, even the healthy organic foods, um, they're lacking the nutrients and minerals and vitamins and everything. So I know for me, my staple is vitamin D. Yep. That's my staple is a vitamin D to support my immune system. And I know that you kind of feel that the vitamin D is a very important very, very important for immune regulation.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

But you also need the cofactors with it. Um, for instance, magnesium is fantastic with it. It activates the vitamin D. Then you have vitamin K, which helps direct the calcium and the vitamin D of where to go. So you kind of have to, we don't, I don't necessarily like singular vitamins or nutrients because there's so much more to it. And that's why you have something like vitamin D, our optimal vitamin D that has the vitamin K in it. Um, and that's gonna get it where it needs to go. Good point.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Good point. And and that's where I want to go back that you you actually answer questions for people when it comes to the supplements that they are taking. So that's an added benefit that people get is Meg as a resource. If you have questions that um she can help you with, and also sometimes she'll take if you've got a long list of supplements, she can actually help condense that into because the goal isn't to take a million supplements.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

Our goal is, you know, vitamin D, it most likely you're not getting it from the sun that you need. So it it you might need to supplement with it. Um, vitamin D from the sun is fantastic. I'm a big proponent of the sun. And, you know, we'll have to have another podcast on, you know, sunscreens and the toxins there. Yeah. Um, but I love the sun uh in moderation. Obviously, I'm fair skinned, so I'm probably good with five or ten minutes a day. Um, but vitamin D, that's gonna be crucial. It's gonna be great for your immune regulation. And uh I think it's highly important to um add to your diet.

SPEAKER_00 7:44

Yeah, that's one of the staples, I know. And some people even actually have a hard time um absorbing absorbing it. Yeah, that's the word I was looking for.

SPEAKER_01 7:53

Well, we do genetic testing, yeah, genomics testing, and a lot of patients have um a variant in the vitamin D receptor. It's VDR, and that's the specific gene. And so that um kind of makes it a little harder for them to absorb vitamin D. So they need support, and magnesium is highly recommended, as well as sulfurophane. And that's one that is recommended to help open up those vitamin D receptors. So that's something that we've noticed on those testing on a lot of patients. And so that's something that we've kind of recommended more and more. That sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 8:31

So, talking about keeping our immune system healthy, uh, one way is to eat natural whole foods, obviously, um, supplement where you need to. My go-to is vitamin D. Yep. Um, so let's talk about when people start to feel sick. Um, what are some early signs? And you talked about how our body is built to work with our own immune system when you do get sick. So, you know, sometimes I sneeze, I cough, I have gastrointestinal issues. Is that what's that? What's my body telling me when I do those things?

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Um, you're either not eating the appropriate foods for that time frame. Um, it could be that you have an overabundance of toxins that's your body's trying to slough off. I know even environmental issues. Um, a lot of people here in Oklahoma, we have a lot of pollen, a lot of allergies. And so that might be something you're experiment, experiencing there. Um, but vitamin C is a fantastic way to support that as well, your immune system. So whenever um anyone in me, me or my family gets sick, we number one, like we said, nutrition. I watch what we eat. I cut dairy, I cut any processed foods, we try to go back to the basics and eat whole foods, vitamin C rich foods, vitamin D rich foods, and supplements. Um, and then we just cut sugar. Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah. Cut sugar, cut dairy, um, even like breads and stuff, anything that's heavy. You want something that your body can easily digest. And we actually do kanji a lot. And I don't know if a lot of people are familiar with that. You do, it's kind of um it is an Asian dish, if I remember correctly. Okay, and basically like kanji kanji, C-O-N-G-E-E. And it's basically like a rice porridge, but it's so easy on your body. And I make it with honey foam broth. So easy on your body. You can add carrots if you want, or can just eat it like that. And it's your body, it it just gives it a rest and it gives you some of the nutrients it needs. Um, but one thing that is important is rest. Rest and hydration. So hydrate your body, get the supplements you need, um, and give yourself some patience. Uh, so many people are like, I need to work, I need to do this, I have this to-do list. Well, if you're sick, if you're getting sick, that's your body telling you, whoa, we need to stop and we need to rest, we need to kind of concentrate on just supporting your body and getting better. And typically I give it about three days. Three days is kind of normal for our family of when we're sick, onset of sickness to um getting better. And so give yourself patience in that time. So great advice.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

And not only is that great advice, but what a great segue into the adult natural health guy. Yeah, this is exciting. You guys, we get questions all the time. And number one is like, how do I know how sick I am or when I can handle it at home, or when do I need to call the doctor? You know, how do we manage some of the really common illnesses and sicknesses, you know, from our home? And, you know, if you remember Jim Meehan, MD, my dear husband, he was always be the scientist of um health. So Meg uh in conjunction with Jim and you know, Dr. Lakin created the natural health guide.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

It's labor of I really like this because this is kind of my brain coming together and sharing kind of what I do in my family to help anything from colds and flus, insect bites, sprains, miter burns, fevers, coughs, you know, and support it, not combat it. You're supporting it. Um good point. It also has some great recipes. So I was sit telling you about kanji, it's not in here. But I do have some great homemade chicken soup recipe. And super, super easy. And I'm amazed about how many people that don't actually make their own homemade chicken soup. That camels, that's not where you get your nutrients.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Read the label. Yeah, read the label on the soup or in the yeah, in the stores, and you will not want to get those. No. Okay, so let's let's talk about it. Chicken noodle soup when you're sick. Or not, or leave the noodles out. Well, or it's no noodles. But seriously, I just want to talk about that we are going back to natural, holistic care to support your system when you're sick. And this, these are things that grandma did before the pharmaceutical industry came in, because we have to get back to that place, everyone, where we are not just managing disease, you know, with a pill for every ill, but we are actually helping support our body. And and every little section there talks about when to call the doctor. Yes, that's what that's very important. And so what we've created is the Meehan MD Wellness Program. And I'm telling you, it is phenomenal. And I just want to share with everybody um, it's the Meehan MD. I mean, it comes in a beautiful box. It comes in beautiful box. And what do you get in that? You get tools, these are tools that are essential because when you know your numbers, you're not gonna panic.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

You're you're coming down to information is power. Yeah, when you have more information, the the better. And when you jump on it sooner than later, that's even better.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Yeah, that's even better. But we give you the tools like a blood pressure puff that everybody should have and a pulse ox so we can measure oxygen saturation and heart rate. The coolest little device, this is an otoscope that literally connects to your phone with a downloadable app. Yeah, you can look inside ears, you can look inside your friend's ears. Yeah, we did this round the office a lot. Uh, look up the nose, down the throat, or on skin lesions. It is just incredible. It comes in an adorable little packet. And you guys, it is essential for every home to have and it comes with the natural helm guide. So just reach out to the office. Um, you can go mehanmd.com and give us a call and we can get you all set up on that. But it's, you know, again, Meg, people get sick. Yeah, and that's okay. And that's okay. It's okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

It just needs pause. Pause, rest, and pause, uh, rest. You know, give yourself some time. And make sure you support your immune system.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

Yes. And just absolutely, people, if you need help, you need anything, um, reach out to us, mehanmd.com. We appreciate you all so much, and we just want to continue educating, supporting you. Please, of course, you know, share and like and do all those fun things. Thanks. And we'll catch you next time on the Meehan Mission Podcast. Thanks, guys.