Upping Your Intake Of Lysine
Older laboratory of studies performed in vitro showed that lysine an essential amino acid that you get from food may be able to help prevent cold sores. Lysine is also available as an oral supplement and as a cream.
Lysine is thought to prevent against cold sore outbreaks because it reduces the activity of arginine, an amino acid needed by the herpes simplex virus to replicate.
The richest sources of lysine are foods that are high in protein, such as:
- meat, specifically beef, chicken, and pork
- cheese, especially parmesan
- fish, particularly cod and sardines
What Foods To Avoid If You Have Herpes
Knowing what foods to avoid with herpes allows you to include the food sources in your diet that are rich in L-lysine and avoid the arginine rich foods. Here is a list of foods that you should avoid when infected with the herpes simplex viral infection.
Knowing what foods to avoid with herpes allows you to include the food sources in your diet that are rich in L-lysine and avoid the arginine rich foods. Here is a list of foods that you should avoid when infected with the herpes simplex viral infection.
A viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex virus, herpes results in painful red blisters in the oral or the genital region. The blisters are usually accompanied by burning, itching, and tingling in these regions. Outbreaks of herpes are usually concentrated in the mucous membrane of lips and genital region but can occur anywhere in the body as well. Although antiviral medication have known to reduce the symptoms and the frequency of the outbreaks, the best way to avoid the painful herpes blisters is to stick to a diet and to know what foods to avoid when you have herpes.
Avoid Or Limit Processed Or Preservative
Processed food synthetic preservatives that may contribute to oxidative stress. Keeping oxidative stress levels low may help promote healing during outbreaks.
Try limiting highly processed foods, like freezer meals, refined grain products, and candies, from your diet.
Supplements may help by supporting your immune system and helping your body suppress outbreaks.
But important to note that the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate supplements like drugs. You should always talk with a healthcare professional before taking any supplement. Some supplements may interact with over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take For Herpes To Show Up
What Is The Difference Between Genital Herpes And Genital Warts
Both genital herpes and genital warts are STIs, are spread through skin-to-skin contact, and are caused by a virus. But the viruses that cause genital herpes and genital warts are different:
- Herpes simplex virus is the virus that causes genital herpes.
- Human papillomavirus is the virus that causes genital warts.
There is no cure for either genital herpes or genital warts. But, different medicines can help manage the symptoms of herpes and treat the complications of HPV infections that can cause genital warts.
What Foods Contain Lysine
Your body doesnt naturally produce lysine, so it must come from your diet or a supplement. Fortunately, lysine is easy to find. The following foods are lysine powerhouses because theyre not only rich in lysine, theyre low in arginine:
- Legumes such as kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, and edamame
- Quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat
- Spirulina powder
Most people receive enough lysine from their standard diet, but those with ongoing cold sore outbreaks may benefit from additional supplementation.
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Herpes And Processed Foods
The list of foods to avoid by herpes sufferers is not complete without processed foods which include canned meats, precooked foods, snacks and bottled beverages.
These foods, in addition to having a low nutritional level, contain artificial ingredients that can be harmful to health and therefore should not be included in the diet for herpes sufferers.
One of these artificial ingredients is sulfite which is added as a preservative. The U.S. FDA declared that safe sulfiting agents are sodium sulfite, sodium and potassium metabisulfite, sodium and potassium bisulfite and sulfur dioxide.
Sulfites can cause adverse reactions, sometimes serious, in asthmatic persons and also in persons without allergic history. The most common symptoms are hives, diarrhea, nauseas, tightness in the chest, flushing and weakness.
The diet for herpes sufferers should be based primarily on foods free of artificial components.
Foods To Avoid And Eat With Herpes
Once infected with herpes, you have the virus for the rest of your life. There are two types of the virus one that triggers cold sores and the other that cause blisters on your genitals. While being infected can cause concern, there are ways to cope with breakouts and even help prevent them. Your doctor may prescribe medicine designed to manage the virus, but your diet also plays an important role in preventing herpes outbreaks.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Herpes Virus Permanently
Foods To Avoid With Herpes
Since you know the best foods for herpes outbreaks, you should also know the foods that may trigger outbreaks. Avoid them for better results controlling herpes. As you probably now know, its best to minimize or avoid the intake of foods that are high in arginine.
Arginine encourages the reproduction of the herpes virus inside the body, resulting in more frequent outbreaks.
However, you may not need to totally eliminate arginine. The trick may be to simply keep your lysine count higher throughout the day. As long as you have that balance, the lysine will naturally compete with the arginine to lower it in the body.
Acidic foods are also thought to weaken your immune system, making you susceptible to conditions and infections like herpes.
Foods To Avoid During A Herpes Outbreak
If you’re one of the millions of people who have herpes, you’re constantly on the hunt to find ways to alleviate symptoms and avoid outbreaks. Outbreaks can be caused by many different things, but one of the most common culprits is stress.
If you’re experiencing frequent outbreaks, some people say there are foods to avoid, certain activities to avoid, and even supplements to take that can help reduce stress and help keep outbreaks at bay.
But are there really foods that you should avoid in order to prevent herpes outbreaks?
The answer to that question is a little bit complicated. Some people believe that certain foods can actually trigger outbreaks, while others say that certain foods can help reduce symptoms and prevent outbreaks. Let’s dive into the bulk of it!
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What is a Trigger Behavior for Herpes?
When someone talks about a trigger, it means something that sets off an action or reaction. Triggers for herpes can be anything from thinking about the virus to being in the sun for too long, or even something as simple as smelling a particular scent. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone is different, so what might be a trigger for one person might not be a trigger for another. It’s always best to talk to a healthcare provider about what might be triggering your symptoms.
What Triggers Herpes Outbreaks?
However, some common triggers include:
Which Foods Should You Avoid During a Herpes Outbreak?
Foods High in Arginine
Nuts
Citrus Fruits
Also Check: What’s Good For Herpes Outbreaks
Expect The First Outbreak To Be The Worst
Remember that although herpes lasts a lifetime, the first outbreak typically causes the most pain, while later outbreaks tend to be much milder.
You will always have herpes, and the sores will come and go, but you can decide not to treat the current outbreak. If its not that unpleasant or uncomfortable, some patients will do that, says Gade.
Topical Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. To reap some of these benefits, mix one part ACV with three parts warm water and apply it to the affected area.
Eating certain foods and avoiding others may boost your immune system and, in turn, help your body respond to the herpes virus.
Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that changing your diet could help prevent outbreaks.
Although more research is needed, clinical evidence does support some of these claims.
Also Check: Where To Go To Get Checked For Herpes
Activitiesto Avoid During A Herpes Outbreak
If there isan active Herpes Simplex Virus outbreak, there are a few activities thateveryone needs to avoid. Some of the activities to avoid during a HerpesSimplex Virus include:
Kissing: Because HerpesSimplex Virus 1 is triggered by directly contacting saliva or open sores,people should avoid kissing. This can lead to the transmission of the virusfrom person to person.
SexualActivity: Herpes Simplex Virus 2 is transmitted almost exclusively by sexual contact.Contact with genital herpes spreads this virus from person to person. Those whodo have sex during an active outbreak need to make sure they wear a condom.
Diet High In Lysine And Low In Arginine
In previous sessions I told you about the relationship between herpes and lysine and also between herpes and arginine.
You already know that lysine intake helps to prevent herpes outbreaks and arginine intake contributes to their appearance and increases their intensity and duration.
For this reason, your diet should be rich in lysine and poor in arginine.
You will achieve this purpose if you consume foods high in lysine and low in arginine such as milk and its derivatives.
A classic combination is to eat brown rice with cooked dried beans. While brown rice is rich in arginine, dried beans contain an excess of lysine that overcomes the lack of this amino acid in brown rice.
Popcorn contains more arginine than lysine, but people infected with the herpes virus can enjoy popcorn if they sprinkle it with nutritional yeast that adds a cheesy flavor.
Arginine is neutralized because one tablespoon of nutritional yeast contains 190 mg more lysine than arginine.
Fish, meats and dairy products are rich in lysine. However, eating too much of these protein-rich foods can raise your bodys acidity and cause a herpes outbreak. Moderation is the key.
If you cant get the foods you like to make up a diet high in lysine and low in arginine, you can use a lysine supplement.
Lysine supplement.
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How Can You Avoid Genital Herpes
Most women get genital herpes through sexual contactwith a person who has herpes sores. You can get thevirus without having sex. To avoid infection:
- Avoid skin-to-skin and sexual contact.
- Have safer sex:
- Reduce the number of sexual partners.
- Condoms, when used correctly, can reduce therisk of getting genital herpes. Each time you have sexuse a condom :
- Before vaginal sex
- Before oral sex
Recommended Reading: What Is The Definition Of Herpes
How To Prevent Herpes
But most people have sex at some point in their lives, so knowing how to have safer sex is important. Using protection like condoms and dental dams when you have sex helps to lower your risk of getting an STD.
Herpes can live on areas of your body that arent protected by condoms , so condoms wont always protect you from herpes. But they do lower your chances of getting herpes.
Dont have sex with anyone during a herpes outbreak, because thats when it spreads most easily. But herpes can also spread when there are no sores or symptoms, so its important to use condoms and dental dams, even if everything looks and feels A-OK.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Diagnose Herpes
Read Also: How To Get Tested For Oral Herpes
How Lysine Works Against Cold Sores
Lysine supports human health in many ways, but its best known for its potential role in protecting against cold sores.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 . Some people infected with HSV-1 never experience an outbreak, but most have experienced the pain and embarrassment of cold sore blisters. These fluid-filled sores develop on or around the mouth and burst to release their fluids.
Though no permanent cure for cold sores exists, its possible to prevent future outbreaks or expedite the recovery of existing cold sores using lysine. HSV-1 relies on arginine-rich proteins to spread and reproduce. Arginine is a different amino acid found in certain meats, nuts, and wheat. It triggers cold sore and aggravates existing outbreaks.
Research suggests that lysine works against cold sores by interfering with the absorption of arginine. With the help of enough lysine, arginine becomes unavailable to the virus and shortens the duration of the outbreak.
In one small study, treatment with lysine ointment achieved full resolution in 40% of participants by the third day and in 87% of participants by the sixth day. This marks a vast improvement compared to a standard cold sore episode that may last up to 21 days without treatment.
Recommended Reading: Best Foods For Herpes Outbreak
A Diet Rich In Arginine Should Be Avoided
Basically, there are two different types of amino acids that can help regulate the occurrence of cold sore outbreaks. These are amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. In order to alleviate the symptoms of the condition, doctors normally recommend a diet that is high in L-lysine and low in L-arginine. Lysine is helpful in inhibiting the metabolism of amino acid arginine, which is the primary compound that herpes virus needs to replicate. The list of foods rich in arginine and should be avoided includes the following:
Also Check: Creams That Help Genital Herpes
What Is A Herpes Outbreak
A herpes outbreak happens when lesions called blisters or sores start to form on your genitals, bottom or mouth. If you have oral sex, you can also get oral herpes in the mouth. Your first outbreak of genital herpes will generally last longer with more severe symptoms, such as a fever or muscle aches.
Recurrent infections happen because the virus stays dormant in your body. Once triggered, the virus reactivates which leads to an outbreak. Triggers for recurrent infections can include being stressed, being on your period or feeling run down.
You might have an outbreak of herpes a long time after youve had unprotected sex. The virus can stay in your body and not cause symptoms straight away.
Also Check: How To Avoid Herpes Outbreaks
Is It Safe To Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes
Yes- as long as there is no open lesion on chest or breast . If you have an active outbreak while breastfeeding, its possible to spread the infection to your nipples through touch. Careful hand-washing can prevent this spread. You shouldnt nurse from a breast that has herpes sores. You can pump breast milk until the sores heal. Dont give your baby expressed breast milk if the pump comes into contact with an open sore.
Also Check: Why Cant Herpes Be Cured
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What You Can Eat
If youâre avoiding foods that may cause herpes outbreaks, that doesnt mean a boring diet. Many nutritious and delicious whole foods, such as grass-fed beef, fish, poultry, dairy products, beans, eggs and most brightly colored fruits and vegetables, have a high ratio of lysine to arginine and should make up the bulk of your meals. Picozzi also cites the benefits of foods like mushrooms, sea vegetables and garlic for managing herpes outbreaks naturally.
Read Also: Can Genital Herpes Go Away
Is There Research On Curing Herpes
Yes, there is ongoing research that aims to find a cure for herpes a cure may be available in the future, but this remains uncertain. Current research includes:
- Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering research into a genetic technique called gene-editing has shown some promise. It aims to deactivate the virus by affecting its DNA, which is essential for its survival. Results are currently inconclusive.
There is also ongoing research into some vaccines these teach the body to reject the virus. Examples are TheraVaxHSV-2 and GEN-003, which aim to treat genital herpes. Both have shown promising initial results for both strains of the virus, with GEN-003 being further along in its stage of clinical trial testing. Results are currently inconclusive, but the vaccines are still undergoing further clinical trials.
Also Check: Early Stages Of Herpes On Lips
Worst Foods To Eat If You Have Herpes
The herpes simplex virus is incurable â once youre infected, it stays with you for life. That may be a downer, but many people turn to lifestyle changes to help manage the condition and prevent outbreaks of the two types of herpes â one that brings on cold sores and one that results in genital blisters. Staying away from certain foods or limiting your intake of them is a good cautionary step, but talk to your doctor about preventing herpes and managing outbreaks. She may suggest medications and supplements to deal with the condition.
Can You Cure Herpes
Last reviewed: 21 May 2022
What to expect from herpes treatment
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You can’t ‘cure’ a herpes infection, but treatment is still important
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Just because you can’t ‘cure’ herpes, doesn’t mean you’ll always have symptoms
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Medication can help you manage your herpes symptoms better
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There is still ongoing research being done on how to cure herpes permanently
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Although the infection is permanent, there are lots of way to manage herpes long-term
Read Also: How Soon Can I Test For Herpes
Additional Dietary Tips For Herpes
1. Eat Foods Good for Skin
- Wholegrain cereals
2. Eat Plenty of Cruciferous Vegetables
There are plenty of foods to avoid with herpes but cruciferous vegetables are not one of them. High in indole-3-carbinol , foods with this compound may hinder the virus by interfering with its reproduction. Studies are showing significant evidence supporting this finding. Foods include:
3. Eat Stress-Relieving Foods
Research has found that stress weakens the bodys immune system, making it more susceptible to illness. It is important to de-stress and relax whenever possible. Certain foods and nutrients can help your body fight tension and anxiety, thus warding off a herpes outbreak. Foods and drinks high in vitamin B and magnesium can help your body bounce back from stressful situations quicker. If you decide to take a supplement, make sure it is in the form of a vitamin B complex so you keep the nutrients in balance. The complex includes B1, B2, B6, B9 and B12. They help your body produce serotonin, which is the hormone that relaxes you and puts you at ease. Foods that can help you de-stress include:
- Green leafy vegetables
4. Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods
5. Drink Purified and Alkaline Water