If you’re going to eat, why not eat food that can help you stay healthy, fight illnesses, and live longer. You have the power available to fight against the infections you are exposed to. There are many tools, such as washing your hands, exercising and getting a good night's sleep, but one of the most important ways to avoid getting sick is by eating anti-viral foods. There are a ton available of available foods to choose from, but we have gathered the top choices that are easy to keep on hand.
Top Anti-Viral Foods
This list is comprised of simple and easy foods that you may already have in your home. You may not have known how powerful they are, but you might want to incorporate as many of these as you can into your regular diet so you can fight off any viruses that you are exposed to.
Apple Cider Vinegar. This anti-viral food works in two ways. It has all the antiviral properties of apples, as well as the probiotics that naturally occur when it is fermented. It is a traditional medicine that now has many modern studies to back up its efficiency as a microbial agent. Apple cider vinegar is also great to help digestion as well.
Black Tea. Black tea is a great anti-viral food. It contains compounds that fight pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Alkaloids, caffeine, catechins, polyphenols, theobromine, and theophylline are all naturally occurring elements found in the tea’s leaves. Studies have shown that black tea can stop the activity of both influenza and herpes simplex virus. Beware of the caffeine in black tea though if you’re sensitive.
Green Tea. Green tea has many of the health benefits of black tea and has less caffeine. This is a beneficial option if you are sensitive to caffeine or in adrenal fatigue.
Cinnamon. This delicious herb has been used medicinally for many years to fight viruses, fungi, yeasts, bacteria, other microbes, and inflammation. It is also considered an immunomodulator with its ability to modify the immune system responses and functions. The smell alone has the potency to stop the growth of certain viruses. It can be particularly effective with digestive bugs.
Garlic. Garlic has been used for centuries for its healing abilities. It contains very strong elements that ward off a couple of different varieties of herpes, influenza, HIV, pneumonia and the rotavirus. One of its compounds, allicin, was given to people in a trial test for 12 weeks and it lowered the number and duration of colds compared to a placebo group. So not only is it effective in preventing colds, but it can also reduce your symptoms if you do catch a cold. You can even get garlic as a supplement now.
Ginger. Ginger is an ancient medicinal food that has been used for thousands of years for viral illnesses, such as influenza, the common cold, and the human respiratory syncytial virus, or HRSV. One study found that it protects cells so that the virus cannot attach to them, while simultaneously initiating elements to be released to fight against the infection itself.
Shiitake Mushrooms. All edible mushrooms can help to support the immune system. Shiitake mushrooms in particular, however, are powerful anti-viral foods. They can inhibit the replication of viruses, enhance the immune system, and reduce inflammation. Shiitake mushrooms have strong antifungal and antibacterial components that work against a whopping 85% of the molds and yeasts in the environment.
Yogurt. Yogurt is full of probiotics that are great for fighting infections caused by viruses, especially respiratory illnesses, viruses that generate diarrhea, HIV-1 and certain types of Coxsackievirus. If in advanced stages of adrenal fatigue, be careful with dairy. Goat yogurt may be a gentler alternative or try getting probiotics from other sources.
Oregano. Oregano is not only a great herb for seasoning, but it also has anti-viral properties. Oregano has been found to be effective against over 30 different types of organisms. It’s available as an oil, tea, or supplement.
These are simple, everyday foods that are very easy to incorporate into your diet. They are anti-viral food that you can eat every day to keep you healthy and keep your immune system functioning optimally.
Tasty Ways To Eat Anti-Viral Food
Here are some simple ways to make anti-viral foods with simple, everyday ingredients. You can mix and match ingredients for a more potent antiviral food:
Black Tea Ideas
Black Tea Ginger Yogurt Smoothie. Brew a strong black tea to use as your smoothie’s base. Grate fresh ginger, a cup of frozen fruit, and Greek yogurt, and blend them all together until the mixture is smooth and drinkable.
Black Tea Muffins. Grind loose black tea leaves and add it to your muffin mix before cooking to make an immune-building breakfast.
Black Tea Rice. Use the appropriate amount of water needed to cook brown rice, but steep your black tea in it before adding the rice. Add garlic and onions for extra health benefits and flavor.
Greek Yogurt Ideas
Yogurt Salad Dressing. For a healthy alternative to bottled salad dressing, try whisking greek yogurt with apple cider, minced garlic, dried dill, and chives.
Yogurt Sandwich Spread. Mix plain greek yogurt with cumin, red onions that have been minced, and mashed avocado. Spread the mixture on your sandwich for a deliciously creamy spread that gives your meal an immune building booster.
Morning Parfait. Eat greek yogurt with some berries, seeds, granola, and nuts for a delicious, healthy breakfast.
Cinnamon Ideas
Cinnamon Apple Dessert. For a simple and healthy dessert, toss some apple slices and pear slices with honey and cinnamon, then saute them on a low heat in coconut oil. Sprinkle toasted pecans on top for the finishing touch.
Chai-Spiced Oatmeal. For a healthy breakfast option, mix cinnamon in with your morning oatmeal along with cardamom, coconut milk, and vanilla extract. For extra flavor and antiviral benefits, use water brewed with black tea.
Morning Coffee Blend. Try adding cocoa and cinnamon to your coffee for a delicious flavor and extra health and immune-building benefits.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Ideas
Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing. Mix together ACV, olive oil, honey, and mustard for a powerful salad dressing or something healthy to dip raw veggies in. The flavor is sweet, and the consistency creamy.
ACV Pickles. For a quick pickle fix, mix ACV and agave into water that has been heated. Pour the mixture over sliced ginger and onions for a unique pickle blend.
Elderberry and ACV Herbal Tonic. To make a healing tonic out of anti-viral food, steep sliced ginger, and dried elderberries in ACV. Strain the concoction and add organic unrefined honey. This is a great oxymel recipe to use when you feel an illness coming on, or to shorten the duration of an already existing illness.
Ginger Ideas
Ginger Energy Balls. Grate ginger and mix it in a food processor with dates, walnuts, and coconut. They should have a pasty consistency with which you can roll into 1 inch balls. You will have a quick snack for that provides you with energy, nutrients, and immune building elements.
Ginger Salad Toppers. Peel the ginger root and cut the skin into very thin, matchstick-like pieces. Then, saute the thinly-sliced skin until they are nice and crispy. They make excellent toppers for salads or even soups.
Ginger-Turmeric Milk. Slice a small portion of ginger and boil it on low with milk or coconut milk, for a few minutes. Strain out the root from the liquid and then mix in honey and turmeric for a delicious creamy beverage that is great to drink if you have a cold or during flu season to strengthen the immune system.
Shiitake Mushrooms Ideas
Roasted Mushrooms. Slice shiitake mushroom caps into thin strips and place them on a thin cooking pan. Drizzle coconut oil on top of each one. Then mince garlic into small pieces and sprinkle the anti-viral food on top of the mushrooms and coconut oil. Roast the mushrooms until they are crispy and delicious.
Stir-fry Mushrooms. Try stir-frying shiitake mushrooms with a combination of your favorite veggies such as broccoli, carrots, red peppers and ginger. Use sesame oil and cook to desired tenderness. Toss the veggies over soba or rice noodles.
Sauteed Mushrooms. Take the whole mushroom cap and saute it in olive oil along with some leeks. As a finish, drizzle balsamic glaze on top.
Garlic Ideas
Garlic Salad Dressing. Mix olive oil, minced garlic, and thyme with lemon juice for a nutritious, healthy, virus-fighting salad dressing or veggie dip.
Garlic Spread. Mash garlic cloves and mix them with coconut oil and rosemary. Refrigerate the concoction until it's a thick consistency and then use it as a sandwich, crackers or pita spread.
Simply Garlic. For a simple, healthy anti-viral food, roast the entire garlic head, including the skin, until the cloves are softened. When they have cooled, peel the skins off and enjoy as a side entree, appetizer, or healthy snack. Just know that cooked garlic has less allicin than raw garlic and so is less potent.
Anti-Viral Foods and Adrenal Fatigue
What you eat plays a tremendous role in your overall wellness. For those who suffer from chronic illnesses such as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), a stress-induced illness that leaves the body fatigue from imbalanced hormone regulation, it is imperative that you follow a healthy diet full of anti-viral foods. When the adrenals are fatigued due to prolonged stress, every aspect of the body’s normal way of responding to stressful situations through the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response is affected.
In particular, the immune system plays a big role in the inflammation circuit, and this, in turn, can have major implications for AFS. Inflammation in your body is in part regulated by cortisol. Cortisol is one of the primary hormones that is produced by the adrenal glands. Increased inflammation from an immune system that is under attack will lead to increased cortisol production and stress on the adrenal glands. In turn, AFS leaves your entire body weakened and more prone to stealth infections such as viruses. It is important to focus on including anti-viral food into your diet every day to prevent illnesses and keep the body as healthy as possible during recovery.
However, anti-viral foods aren’t for everyone. Many people who suffer from AFS are sensitive to many foods and must exert extreme caution with their diet. Anti-viral foods can also affect your detox pathways if you are not careful. Die-off reactions can overwhelm your detox pathways and lead to worsening symptoms if not careful. Often times, those who suffer from AFS should avoid a variety of foods despite their nutrient content or antiviral effects. Thus, before beginning any new health regimen, you should consult with an AFS specialist who can help guide you through your recovery process, finding the right time to start a new diet.
There are many kinds of anti-viral foods, but the most simple foods to incorporate into an everyday diet include black tea, greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms. Many you can even combine together for a super-powered, immune-building food.
If you’re going to eat, why not eat food that can help you stay healthy, fight illnesses, and live longer. You have the power available to fight against the infections you are exposed to. There are many tools, such as washing your hands, exercising and getting a good night's sleep, but one of the most important ways to avoid getting sick is by eating anti-viral foods. There are a ton available of available foods to choose from, but we have gathered the top choices that are easy to keep on hand. 
Roasted Mushrooms. Slice shiitake mushroom caps into thin strips and place them on a thin cooking pan. Drizzle coconut oil on top of each one. Then mince garlic into small pieces and sprinkle the anti-viral food on top of the mushrooms and coconut oil. Roast the mushrooms until they are crispy and delicious.
However, anti-viral foods aren’t for everyone. Many people who suffer from AFS are sensitive to many foods and must exert extreme caution with their diet. Anti-viral foods can also affect your detox pathways if you are not careful. Die-off reactions can overwhelm your detox pathways and lead to worsening symptoms if not careful. Often times, those who suffer from AFS should avoid a variety of foods despite their nutrient content or antiviral effects. Thus, before beginning any new health regimen, you should consult with an AFS specialist who can help guide you through your recovery process, finding the right time to start a new diet. 
