8 Products Against Flu

The cold weather, combined with stress and holiday crowds, will raise the risk of colds and flu for weeks to come, Newsmax Health. You can fight back by keeping your immune system in tip-top order by making sure your diet is rich in antivirals — powerful natural immune enhancers.  Their anti-inflammatory properties are powerful immune boosters that can help protect you from the disease of aging, including cancer, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular disease.

Enjoy the following eight antivirals as a part of your daily diet, or buy them as supplements and follow directions on the label.

Turmeric. 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.

Turmeric can be purchased as a supplement. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Rosemary. Rosemary improves brain function and circulation, and also lowers the risk of developing cancer, according to several studies. Researchers recommend adding rosemary extract to ground beef to reduce the cancer-causing chemicals that can form when meat is cooked. Add rosemary to favorite dishes or buy as a supplement and follow directions on the label.

Garlic. Garlic lowers the risk of pancreatic cancer by 54 percent, prostate cancer by 50 percent, colon cancer by 50 percent, and stomach cancer by 52 percent. Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina found that sulfur compounds in garlic are effective against glioblastoma, a fatal type of brain tumor.

Garlic is also a potent ally in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Several studies have found that garlic lowers blood levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol — the "bad" forms — as much as 20 percent. 

Green tea. Green tea contains catechins — powerful disease-fighters that fight cancer and lower cholesterol. A Taiwanese study found that drinking green tea daily reduced the risk of developing lung cancer by 66 percent. Other studies link green tea with a lower risk of numerous other cancers, including breast, stomach, skin, oral, esophageal, prostate, uterine, pancreatic, and colorectal, as well as leukemia.

Coffee. It’s an ally against developing diabetes. Drinking moderate amounts of coffee during middle age — classified as three to five cups daily — can decrease the risk of dementia by 65 percent, according to a study by Swedish and Finnish researchers.

Resveratrol. This component of grapes is present in much higher amounts in wine than in grape juice and may be responsible for the “French Paradox” — the apparent ability of the French to eat high-fat diets and drink copious amounts of red wine and still have low rates of heart disease and cancer.

 An avalanche of studies show that moderate drinking, which is considered to be two glasses of wine each day for men and one for women, can aid your body from head to toe, including helping you fight cancer, lose weight, and maintain a sharp intellect.

Gingko biloba. Gingko increases circulation in the brain, thus enhancing memory and brain function. 

 Coconut oil. Coconut oil has been used in traditional medicine around the world to treat a wide range of ailments. 

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