One of the best things you can do for your body is to reinforce it with natural antivirals. Viruses are behind so many illnesses we experience as humans, including mild ones like the common cold as well as more life-threatening diseases.
It’s much easier to keep your immune system functioning well in order to prevent illness than it is to deal with a virus once it takes hold. There are many foods, herbs, and supplements that can help, but more importantly, you should focus on following a lifestyle that keeps your immune system strong.
In this post, I’ll outline the basics of the natural approach to dealing with viruses, along with some of my favorite natural antivirals that’ll give your system a boost.
The Holistic Approach to Viruses
The holistic approach to viruses and virus-borne illnesses prioritizes prevention over cure. It’s much easier and more beneficial to make antiviral herbs, foods, and supplements a part of your regular diet.
If you’re wondering if there are herbs that kill viruses in the body, unfortunately, we don’t have the data. While there is a lot of research showing that antiviral herbs and supplements can kill pathogens in a petri dish, that’s not enough to understand exactly how they’ll impact different kinds of illnesses in the body.
In other words, If you’re currently experiencing a viral infection, herbs, and supplements can be a wonderful addition that may help but they’re not a reliable treatment on their own. When you’re sick, always speak to your healthcare provider about getting the proper medical treatment.
Antiviral Herbs
Herbs are not just delicious, but they also contain complex phytochemicals that exhibit antiviral properties. Making them a big part of your diet will keep your immune system fortified by loading you up with all sorts of beneficial nutrients.
In vitro research conducted on the main constituents of various herbs has shown that they can inhibit a wide range of viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19, the flu, hand, foot, and mouth disease, herpes, hepatitis, dengue fever, and more.
Here are some of the most research-backed antiviral herbs and spices:
- Sweet basil and holy basil
- Cinnamon
- Black pepper
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Mint
- Echinacea
- Milk thistle
- Turmeric
Natural Antiviral Foods
Herbs and spices are excellent, but there are plenty of natural antiviral foods worth adding to your diet to further reinforce your body’s ability to resist viral infection. Here are the ones I always recommend to my patients:
- As many fruits and veggies as you can handle
- Garlic
- Probiotics such as lacto-fermented pickles, yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha.
- Mushrooms, especially if you aim to include a lot of different types of mushrooms in your diet.
- Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains.
It’s also important to avoid foods that can suppress your immunity, like sugars, refined carbs, overly-processed foods, and trans fats. A diet that primarily consists of whole foods is, in its own way, a great remedy.
Beneficial Supplements
The wonderful thing about supplements is that they give your body everything it needs all at once. You can basically enjoy a very concentrated level of the most beneficial constituents of basil, ginger, or echinacea without having to eat them by the fistful.
Look for options with a robust blend of nutrients and potent plant extracts designed specifically to fortify the immune system. In addition to some of the herbs I listed above, I also recommend formulas with the following vitamins and minerals, which are known to fortify against illness:
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B6 (and B vitamins in general)
- Selenium
It’s important to also take your individual health and nutritional needs into account. If your diet is already rich in certain nutrients, you likely won’t need more of that nutrient in a supplement. On the other hand, if you’re suffering from a nutritional deficiency, there might be certain supplements that are essential for your body.
Get Naturopathic Guidance
There is so much more to boosting your immune system than just taking natural antivirals. It’s so important to follow a holistic health plan that takes into account everything about your lifestyle. All of the supplements in the world are not going to keep you healthy if you’re constantly stressed, not eating a balanced diet, or dealing with a nutritional deficiency.
Whether you find that you’re particularly prone to viral infections or you’re just looking to boost your immune system, working with a naturopathic doctor can help ensure you go about it the right way. Our approach is based on functional medicine, which means we conduct thorough testing to know what’s going on inside your body and we also examine every aspect of your lifestyle.
Through this evidence-based approach, we can help you make the right lifestyle changes to ensure you can be the healthiest you. Schedule a consultation if you’d like to help your body be better protected!