Researchers rounded up an array of natural plant extracts (cinnamon, onion, garlic, cloves, peppermint, cocoa, and saffron) and gauged their ability to fight a virus called Phi X 174 in a test tube study. Cinnamon was the only extract that proved strong enough to inactivate the virus—and it passed with flying colors, shutting down 99.9–100% of the virus in just 10 minutes. (Discover the spices and other ingredients that can balance your gut bacteria for optimum health when you try the Good Gut Diet.) MORE: Exactly What To Eat When You Have A Cold Or Flu And even though Phi X doesn’t infect humans (it actually attacks bacteria), it’s extremely similar in structure to viruses that we do need to fight, like the ones that cause colds, the flu, and even herpes, says lead author Milton Schiffenbauer, PhD, who recently presented the findings at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting. There’s still not much evidence of cinnamon’s antiviral effects in humans, but Schiffenbauer believes we can reap the virus-fighting benefits by consuming 1 to 2 tablespoons daily. Anyone for a cinnamon swirl smoothie? We’ll take one, too.
