“Antivirals are the newest substances to be found in nature, possessing even more disease-fighting power than antioxidants,” says Tosca Reno, author of the “Eat-Clean Diet” series and “Your Best Body Now.” Antivirals are immune boosters that can be used on a daily basis to treat various ailments, or when you’ve been exposed to disease-causing viruses.
“You can’t get enough of these incredible antivirals,” Reno says. “They should be on the top of your radar every day, at any age, because of their strong disease-fighting, age-proofing, and immune-system-boosting properties.”
Check out these eight antivirals. You can enjoy them as a part of your daily diet, or buy them as supplements and follow directions on the label. Either way, Reno says, you’ll be giving your health a boost.
1. Turmeric
The spice turmeric contains the antiviral curcumin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and helps to prevent many deadly diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and Parkinson’s. One study at the University of California, Los Angeles, found curcumin may treat Alzheimer's by slowing the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain.
Laboratory studies at the University of Texas found that turmeric appeared to prevent the development and spread of many types of cancer, including breast, colon, and melanoma. Additional studies have found a link between a reduced risk of leukemia and colon cancer in populations whose diets include large amounts of turmeric.
One recent study published in Gut, a publication of the British Medical Journal, found that turmeric delays liver damage that eventually causes cirrhosis.
Turmeric can be purchased as a spice and used in Indian dishes or in supplement form. Follow the directions on the bottle.
