14 Ways You Can Heal From Epstein-Barr Virus
Boost Your Immune System For Optimum Results
Liana Werner-GrayMore by this author
Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common human viruses in the world. It is also known as the Kissing Disease, Glandular Fever or Mono (mononucleosis). If you have Epstein-Barr virus, or have had it in the past, it can stay dormant in your body for years waiting to be activated when you become stressed, run down, or come into contact with someone who has active Epstein-Barr.
Symptoms include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, a sore throat and sore neck. You may also be lacking in many important vitamins as this virus pulls from the nutritional bank in the body in order to try and heal itself. It’s very important during this time that you watch your diet and what you put into your body.
A blood test can confirm whether you have Epstein-Barr virus, if it is active, and what vitamins you are lacking.
By adding these 14 steps to your overall diet you will be able to fight back far more effectively.
1. Works some Curcumin into your Diet
This is a bright yellow chemical produced in some plants including:
- Ginger
- Turmeric
Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, which helps you heal from Epstein-Barr.
2. Increase Lycopene
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps to strengthen your immune system so you can fight the virus. Lycopene is found in:
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Watermelons
- Papayas
- Asparagus
- Parsley
- Pink Grapefruit
- Apricots
- Rosehip
When absorbed from the intestine, lycopene is transported in the blood by various lipoproteins and accumulates in the blood, skin, liver and adrenal glands.
3. Get Sufficient Amounts of Protein
This can be from meats such as:
- Beef
- Chicken
Or if you are worried about consuming too much meat you can get protein in high amounts from fish and also from these fruits and vegetables:
- Spinach
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
There are also several seeds are very high in protein such as:
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
4. Cut Back on Sugars
Definitely rule out refined white sugar, cane sugar and corn syrup. These severely weaken the immune system. Replace all of these processed sugars with natural sugars.
If you have already removed these from your diet, as many people have, and are already at the stage of only consuming natural sugars like fruits, dates, honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar, cut back on these too for a while. The less sugars you have in general, the better.
5. Switch to Real Salt
Real salt contains essential minerals that we need to maintain a healthy body. Do not eat table salt that has preservatives as this can make the virus worse. Opt for clean whole salts like sea salt, Himalayan salt or Redmond Real Salt.
6. Focus on Anti-Viral Foods
All of these foods have antiviral attributes and have been shown to improve immune function. When the body has Epstein Barr it needs extra immune support.
Anti-viral foods include:
- Seaweed
- Lemon
- Cabbage
- Flaxseed
- Onion
Anti-viral herbs include:
- Elderberry
- Garlic
- Cat’s Claw
- Licorice Root
7. Limit Grains – go Gluten Free
There is said to be a connection between digestive issues and celiac disease and the Epstein-Barr virus. Gluten depletes energy during the process of digestion, and if the digestive system is already struggling, it just exacerbates the problem. In addition, your bowels need to absorb as many nutrients as possible however gluten blocks nutrition absorption. Grains also turn into sugar when they enter the body. Try committing to being gluten free until the Epstein-Barr virus is no longer active.
8. Increase Vitamin A Foods
Vitamin A is best consumed with fat in order to have optimal absorption. Foods high in Vitamin A include:
- Lettuce
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Carrots
- Dark leafy greens including kale and collard greens
- Fish
9. Eat More Foods High in Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for our nerve function, brain function and red blood cells. It is found in:
- Fatty Fish
- Eggs
- Crab
- Beef
- Chicken
- Clams
- Oysters
- Turkey
Vegans are more susceptible to B12 deficiency so supplements can be taken.
10. Increase Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for keeping the immune system strong and important for bone health.
- Get plenty of sunshine
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Orange Juice
- Sardines
- Eggs
11. Take supplements
These are immune system superchargers and help to rebuild the body:
- Astragalus
- Bentonite clay
- Echinacea
- Olive leaf extract
- Colloidal silver
12. Drink lots of Fluids
Drink a lot of fluids to flush out the virus like:
- Clean filtered water
- Herbal tea
- Broths
- Soups
- Chicken broth
- Vegetable juice
Here is an anti-inflammatory immune boosting tea, drink this every evening before bed until the Epstein-Barr virus is at bay.
Epstein Barr Virus Tea
Serves 1
Total time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
A thumb-size piece of ginger, chopped into small pieces
3 cups water
½ lemon
Dash of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (or thumb-size root)
¼ teaspoon sage powder
Action:
- Add all ingredients to a pot or kettle. Bring to boil, then turn down to a low boil for 3 minutes. Let steep for a while and then drink warm.
13. Clean out intestinal parasites
Cutting out the foods mentioned above, and adding in these natural foods will cleanse excess parasites in your gut. Using supplements like bentonite clay will assist in absorbing parasites from your gut. Excess parasites in your gut can cause absorption issues meaning your body isn’t getting the nutrients from the food you eat. A lot of immune issues like Epstein-Barr stem from digestive tract issues.
14. Candida
Candida breeds on sugar, so cutting down on sugars helps to eliminate candida from the blood and digestive system. Excess candida can cause leaky gut syndrome which causes brain fog and weakened immune system. The cleaner the body during the time of healing the better so that the immune system can stay strong and do it’s job to heal Epstein Barr Virus.
Finally, stay away from nuts especially peanuts because they are hard for the body to digest and do not do the immune system any favors. Pay attention to your lifestyle factors by making sure you are getting plenty of sleep, rest and relaxation.
The right foods can supercharge your immune system so you are in a stronger position to fight the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms of the virus could disappear in as little as 10 days, and enlarged swollen lymph nodes, neck and spleen should return to normal within 4 weeks. The general fatigue may take longer, somewhere between 2-6 months. It is said that once you contract the Epstein-Barr Virus you have it in your system for life, however I firmly believe it can be totally eliminated. I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus in 2008 during my “health wake up call” when I was hospitalized with a golf ball sized tumor in my lymphatic system. I was suffering from chronic fatigue and blood work also showed I was on the verge of leukemia, in other words, my immune system was totally compromised.
I consider this my rock bottom for my health. My digestive system was just not working and I felt bloated, sick, tired all the time. To top it off I was addicted to junk foods, all I wanted to do was eat sugary fast foods.
I recently had blood work done and it saw that I had had Epstein Barr Virus in the past but it was no longer active. I am curious to see my blood work again in a few years and see whether it still shows up. Currently, my health is ideal with my doctor saying “All desirable results and vitamin levels”.
If you just found out you have Epstein-Barr virus I have a suggested shopping list for you.
Healing Epstein-Barr Virus Shopping List
Fresh food section
- Ginger
- Turmeric (or you can get the powder)
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Watermelons
- Papayas
- Asparagus
- Parsley
- Pink Grapefruit
- Apricot
- Spinach
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Lemon
- Cabbage
- Onion
- Garlic
- Lettuce
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Carrots
- Dark leafy greens including kale and collard greens
Superfoods
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
- Redmond Real Salt
- Seaweed
- Cinnamon
Meats and Fish
- Fish
- Beef
- Chicken
- Sardines
- Eggs
- Crab
- Beef
- Clams
- Oysters
- Turkey
- Salmon
- Tuna
Anti-viral herbs:
- Elderberry
- Cat’s Claw
- Licorice Root
Supplements:
- Astragalus
- Bentonite clay
- Echinacea
- Olive leaf extract
- Colloidal silver
Other:
- Clean filtered water
- Herbal tea
- Organic Broths
- Organic Soups
- Organic Chicken broth
Here is a recipe from my new book “10-Minute Recipes” that incorporates turmeric and chicken, a great anti-inflammatory and high protein recipe for immune boosting and building your body back up during healing Epstein-Barr virus.
Turmeric-Crusted Chicken Tenders
Ask the butcher to cut this into strips for you or buy prepackaged strips and you’ll save even more time.
Total time: 10 minutes
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup extra-virgin coconut oil, for cooking
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 cup almond flour or TigerNut flour for a nut-free alternative
2 tablespoons turmeric powder
2 teaspoons Real Salt
ACTIONS:
Add the oil to a large pan and heat on medium-high.
Add the oil to a large pan and heat on medium-high.
In a bowl, mix the almond flour, turmeric, and salt. Add this mixture to a plate.
Wet the chicken strips with water, then dip them in the almond flour mixture. Coat well and then drop them into the hot pan.
Cook for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
Calories: 724 | Total Fat: 62g | Carbohydrate: 10g | Dietary Fiber: 5g | Protein: 36g
*This information and recipe was excerpted from my books The Earth Diet and 10-Minute Recipes coming out in the Fall of 2016.
