The foods we eat can determine whether the viruses present in the body are active or passive, starve or flourish, and thus do or don't cause disease. In case of the herpes virus, Richard S. Griffith, MD., Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Indiana University Medical School firmly believes that diet determines whether this virus grows, and causes trouble or remains dormant and harmless. It has been shown in lab studies, he says, that the' amino acid argentine makes the herpes virus grovv, and that the amino acid lysine stops its growth. Some of the more important foods that fight viruses are described herein.

Viruses are particles too small to be seen with a light microscope. A protein coat
Surrounds these. They can reproduce themselves in living cells and cannot exist
without ribosome of the host cell, for they have none themselves. Viruses are
responsible for smallpox, poliomyelitis,yellow fever and number of lesser diseases like cold and influenza. The names given to viruses are in general descriptive, for example herpes viruses and poxviruses. They entered the body through the air, water and food,scratches and wounds of the skin Cinnamon

This popular spice is highly valuable in preventing and treating viral infections. A drink made from it has disinfectant properties. This drink is prepared by putting half a teaspoon of tincture, obtained from the bark of cinnamon tree, in 285 ml. of hot water. Taken daily before going into crowded places, it protects against colds and influenza, when these diseases are prevalent in an epidemic form. Cinnamon is also regarded as an effective remedy for sore throat resulting from cold and influenza. One teaspoon of coarsely powdered cinnamon, boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and two teaspoons of honey can be taken as a medicine in the treatment of this condition.
Curd or yoghurt is a powerful antiviral food. It spurs activity of natural killer cells that
are particularly vicious in attacking viruses. A daily intake of 225 gram of yoghurt reduces colds and other upper respiratory infections in humans.

The use of curds has also been found beneficial in the treatment of hepatitis and jaundice. Excessive liberation of ammonia, which is one of the major causes of coma in hepatitis, can be prevented by liberal use of curds. The lactic acid organisms in the curd counteract the formation of ammonia. In jaundice, curd or buttermilk sweetened with honey, makes an ideal diet.

Foods rich in Folic acid

Foods rich in folic acid, a vitamin of B group fight viruses. This vitamin is contained in green leafy vegetables and legumes. In interesting studies of women infected with a virus that can lead to cervical cancer, Charles Butterworth, M.D., at the University of Alabama, discovered that the virus was smashed in the presence of adequate supplies of folic acid.
He explains that when folic acid is lacking, chromosomes are more likely to break at "fragile" point. This enables the virus to slip into the healthy cells' genetic material, promoting initial changes that precede cancer. Those with low levels of folic acid in their red blood cells were five times more likely to develop such pre-cancerous cell changes than those with higher folic acid levels.

Garlic

Garlic is a potent antiviral food. It works against such viruses as influenza and common
I cold. This is presumably due to its ability to produce a warming and drying action generally, leading to stimulation of the blood flow and thereby producing additional energy. Garlic soup is an ancient remedy to reduce the severity of cold. The volatile oil contained in garlic helps to open up the respiratory passages. In soup form; garlic flushes out the system of all toxins and thus helps bring down fever. Garlic oil combined with onion juice, diluted with water and drunk several times a day, has also been found in several studies to be ex tremely effective in the treatment of common cold.
Garlic is also highly beneficial in the treatment of herpes virus and cold sores  The usefulness of garlic in combating herpes virus arises from its antiviral and immunity boosting properties. Garlic should be used internally as soon as first sign of outbreak of the disease appears. When sores have opened up, the garlic may be applied externally.

Ginger

Ginger possesses antiviral activity. It destroys influenza viruses. A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste is an excellent diaphoretic mixture to reduce fever in influenza. Ginger is also an excellent food remedy for colds and coughs. It should be cut into
small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be stained and half a teaspoon of honey added to it should be drunk when hot.

The use of dry ginger is also considered beneficial in the treatment of mumps. It should be ground to a paste and applied over the swollen parts. As the paste dries, the swelling will reduce and the pain will also subside.

Holy Basil
The leaves of holy basil are specific for many viral fevers. During the rainy season, when commcn cold, influenza and dengue fever are widely prevalent, a decoction of the tender leaves act as a preventive against these diseases. In the case of acute viral fevers, the patients should be given a decoction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a litre of water and mixed with honey or jaggery and milk. This brings dqwn the temperature.
For treating influenza, about one gram of the leaves should be boiled along with some ginger in half a litre of water till about half the water is left. This decoction should be taken as

Lemon

Lemon possesses antiviral activity. London's first influenza epidemic in November 1931 was cured, not by doctors, but by lemon. Some one has appropriately said, "A lemon a day keeps a cold away." For a bad cold, the juice of two lemons in half a litre of boiling
,water, sweetned with honey, taken at bed.' time, is a very effective remedy.

Liquid Foods

In case of cold or influenza, it is always advisable to drink lots of liquids. One good reason for this is that when a person is stuffed up, he breathes through his mouth. As a consequence, the mucous membranes lining the respiratory tract may get dehydrated. Viruses thrive better in these dried environments. Keeping the airway moist through drinking of liquids can discourage them. Hot fluids are better than cold ones as heat can weaken viruses. Dr. Sackner and others have discovered, the vapours from hot water fight congestion to some extent. One should drink at lease six to eight glasses of clear liquids a day, including water but not milk, to prevent viruses from becoming active.

Onion

Onion is an antiviral food. Quercetin, concentrated in it has antiviral and antibacterial activity. This vegetable is thus beneficial in the treatment of several viral diseases, especially cold and influenza. The use of a hot roasted onion before retiring to bed at night is an effective remedy for common cold. For treating influenza, equal amounts of onion juice and honey should be mixed, and three or four teaspoon of this mixture should be taken daily.
A French military physician, Dr. Melamet, during the World War II, treated the influenza patients at his hospital at St. Servan by giving them daily from the beginning of their illness the juice of pounded onions three times a day in a warm infusion. Under this treatment the temperature came down within two days and none of the 80 patients so treated died.

Orange
This citrus fruit is an antiviral food. As a rich source of antioxidant Vitamin C, it has been found beneficial in the treatment of viral diseases like common cold and influenza. Its regular use also helps prevent these diseases. It is most beneficial, when used in the form of juice. This juice is most suitable for all ages and can be taken with advantage in all kinds of viral and other infectious diseases.

Turmeric
Turmeric is an antiviral food and helps fight certain viruses. It is especially valuable against influenza virus. A teaspoon of turmeric powder should be mixed in a cup of warm milk and taken three times a day. It will prevent complications arising from influenza and also activate the liver, which becomes sluggish during the attack of influenza.
Turmeric is also beneficial in the treatment of measles. Raw roots of turmeric should be dried in the sun and ground to a fine powder. This powder, mixed with a few drops of honey and the juice of few bitter gourd leaves, should be given to the patient suffering from this disease.