By Jane Barthelemy.
Did you know there are over 400 different viruses that can affect your health? And over 200 viruses that can cause a common cold? No matter if you have the flu or another virus, there’s a LOT you can do to build your immune system and eat in ways that will clear a virus. Other virus-based illnesses include chicken pox, mumps, hepatitis, meningitis, pneumonia, herpes, mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr, and AIDS. It’s time to say good-bye to viruses!
What Is a Virus?
A virus is a small organism that can only replicate inside the living cells of another organism. Viruses can infect all life forms – humans, animals, plants and even bacteria. In fact, they’re the most abundant type of biological being that exists! Viruses are smart, and immunization shots are frequently ineffective because viruses can genetically mutate to survive the toughest medications. Antibiotics do not affect viruses, so we don’t have a quick fix.
Viruses are genetic parasites
They can’t reproduce on their own, so they use your cells to do their work for them. Viruses carry genetic material, reproduce, and evolve through natural selection. However they have no cell structure. A virus can float in the air and enter through a body orifice such as the nose, mouth or ears. It can be carried by an insect bite. It can spread through skin contact, or in food and water. Some viruses spread through sexual or by blood contact. A few viruses can mask their presence in your body so that your immune system doesn’t recognize them.
Bolster the Immune System
Your body has excellent defense mechanisms to fight viruses. Most viruses are defeated by your own white blood cells. Your immune system is reinforced by your healthy lifestyle habits and the foods you eat. Here are the ten best ways to build your immune system.
- Eat Organic. This eliminates many GMO’s, chemicals, and pesticides.
- Avoid these worst immune-suppressing foods: sugar, wheat, GMO foods, boxed breakfast cereals, sweets, packaged and processed foods. Alcohol, smoking and toxins also are immune suppressors.
- De-Stress. Observe, face and express your emotions. Don’t stuff them down.
- Get lots of sleep. Turn off Wi-Fi & electronics at night.
- Cultivate Friendships! Spend time having fun!
- Exercise every day. Move the lymph. It improves your brain function.
- Belly Laugh every day. REALLY laugh!
- Wash Your Hands, but not with anti-bacterial soap.
- Have sex once or twice a week (um, if you’re a consenting adult).
- Do a detox cleanse once or twice a year.
Optimize Lysine, Minimize Arginine Foods
The amino acid Lysine suppresses all viruses. The amino acid Arginine encourages all viruses. Eating foods with highest ratio of lysine to arginine can discourage the virus and it will dissolve more quickly. Arginine competes with lysine for absorption. Viruses loves arginine, and they are discouraged by lysine! Tipping your diet away from arginine and towards lysine helps your body resist or overcome the virus.
Forget about nuts for a little while!
Whether you’re healing a cold, a cold sore, the mumps, or any viral infection, the food guide below will help heal more quickly. Your anti-viral diet may be temporary for a week, or a few months. It could be longer depending on your level of health and your specific virus.
High Lysine Foods are GOOD for Healing a Virus!
In general, foods high in lysine are dairy, cheese, fish, and meats. However these are all Acid-producing foods. Your objective is BALANCE. Eat coconut oil for lauric acid, which defends against viruses.
Eat foods rich in lysine, such as fish, chicken, beef, lamb, milk, cheese, beans, brewer’s yeast, mung bean sprouts. Many fruits and vegetables have more lysine than arginine, except for peas.
High Arginine Foods are BAD for Healing a Virus!
Foods high in arginine are nuts, chocolate, wheat, all grains, and coconut. Darn! If you’re doing a Paleo alkaline diet or anything similar, this can be challenging. Eat plenty of fermented foods! Fermenting lacto-bacteria break down arginine, increasing the ratio of lysine. See the chart below that lists foods by their Lysine-Arginine ratio and Alkalinity. Use it intelligently and don’t be rigid. It can help guide you in your food choices.
Forget about chocolate for a little while!
Worst Foods to Eat on Anti-Viral Diet
This chart below shows foods with the lowest ratio of Lysine to Arginine. These are best to eliminate when healing a virus.
| To Vanquish a Virus | Lowest Lysine/Arginine |
| Skip These Foods! | Ratios |
| Hazelnuts | 0.2 |
| Walnuts | 0.2 |
| Orange juice | 0.2 |
| Pine nuts | 0.2 |
| Watermelon | 0.5 |
| Tangerine juice | 0.2 |
| Grape juice | 0.2 |
| Tahini | 0.2 |
| Brazil nuts | 0.2 |
| Grapefruit, pink | 0.2 |
| Sesame seeds | 0.2 |
| Pecans | 0.3 |
| Rutabaga | 0.3 |
| Almond butter, plain | 0.3 |
| Almonds | 0.3 |
| Almond milk, unsweetened | 0.3 |
| Coconut Milk | 0.3 |
| Coconut Butter | 0.3 |
| Coconut, shredded | 0.3 |
| Peanuts & butter | 0.3 |
| Coffee, black | 0.3 |
| Sunflower seeds & oil | 0.3 |
| Grapes | 0.3 |
| Tapioca | 0.3 |
| Goji berries | 0.3 |
| Hemp seeds | 0.3 |
| Onions, mature | 0.3 |
| Blackberries | 0.3 |
| Blueberries | 0.3 |
| Macadamia nuts | 0.4 |
| Garlic | 0.4 |
| Pumpkin seeds & squash | 0.5 |
| Parsnip | 0.5 |
| Yams | 0.5 |
| Chia seeds | 0.5 |
| Flaxseeds | 0.5 |
| Rice, Brown | 0.5 |
| Rice, white | 0.5 |
| Chestnuts, fresh | 0.5 |
| Cashews | 0.5 |
| Gingko biloba | 0.5 |
| Oatmeal | 0.5 |
| Maca | 0.5 |
| Millet | 0.6 |
| Plantain | 0.6 |
| Strawberries | 0.6 |
| Elderberries | 0.6 |
| Squash, winter | 0.6 |
| Chocolate | 0.6 |
| Pistachios, shelled | 0.6 |
| Spelt | 0.6 |
| Popcorn | 0.6 |
| Corn | 0.6 |
| Wheat | 0.6 |
| Whole Wheat Bread | 0.6 |
| White Bread | 0.6 |