Foods To Avoid With Herpes Outbreak

Herpes And Moldy Food

What You Need to Know About Genital Herpes

Molds and other fungi produce substances called mycotoxins that can weaken the immune system and have other detrimental effects on human health.

Weakening of the immune system is a trigger for herpes outbreaks in people infected with the virus.

For this reason, one way to avoid the harmful effects of mycotoxins in nutrition is to avoid the ingestion of moldy food.

To avoid the ingestion of mycotoxins that could come from the consumption of meat and milk, more than 100 countries have joined the initiative to regulate the limits of mycotoxin content in animal feed.

The FDA has implemented several inspection programs for industries producing animal feed since 1985. Among the products that are subject to inspection are corn, tree nuts, cottonseed and peanuts.

Bread is very prone to mold if you place it in a plastic bag because this type of bag, besides preserving it, contributes to the growth of molds.

Remember that the diet for herpes sufferers has special requirements that, besides helping you avoid outbreaks, will help you to be healthy.

Commontriggers For A Herpes Outbreak

There are afew common triggers of a Herpes Simplex Virus outbreak that people shouldavoid. Some of these include:

Stress: Stress is one of themost common triggers of a Herpes Simplex Virus outbreak. When someone isstressed, it can cause this virus to return.

WeakenedImmune State: Theimmune virus is responsible for fighting off invaders. These invaders includebacteria and viruses. Sometimes, these invaders can actually weaken the immunesystem by reducing the white blood cell count. This can cause the virus toreactivate.

HormoneDisruptions: Hormonalchanges also have the potential to cause a Herpes Simplex Virus outbreak.These hormonal changes can vary from person to person, just as the triggers themselves.

Treatment The First Time You Have Genital Herpes

You may be prescribed:

antiviral medicine to stop the symptoms getting worse you need to start taking this within 5 days of the symptoms appearing
cream for the pain

If you have had symptoms for more than 5 days before you go to a sexual health clinic, you can still get tested to find out the cause.

Recommended Reading: Are All Cold Sores Herpes

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Lysine And Herpes Outbreaks

Lysine is an amino acid that human beings need and must obtain through the consumption of supplements or foods rich in proteins that contain it. Our organism is not able to synthesize lysine and that is why this amino acid is essential.

For this reason, the consumption of foods rich in lysine is a recommendation you should take into account in your diet.

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.

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.

Read Also: Can You Pass Herpes Through Birth

Foods That You Should Avoid

There are basically two amino acids that regulate the occurrence of herpes outbreaks. These amino acids include L-lysine and L-arginine. For reducing the herpes blisters and other symptoms, doctors recommend a diet that is high in lysine and low in arginine. Lysine works by inhibiting the metabolism of arginine, which is basically the compound that the virus needs in order to replicate itself. Here is a list of arginine rich foods that need to be avoided if you want to prevent the oral or genital herpes.

Foods High In Arginine

Hazelnuts, walnuts, sesame flour, chocolate, black tea, coconut, oats, whole wheat, gelatin, peanuts, soybeans and wheat germ are foods rich in arginine. These foods also contain lysine, but the arginine content exceeds the lysine content.

Coconut water and coconut oil do not contain arginine and can be included in your diet.

If you are interested in the diet for herpes sufferers, you should know which foods are high in lysine and low in arginine.

Recommended Reading: Why Is There No Cure For Herpes Yet

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.

How Long Do Sores From Herpes Simplex Last

Protecting Against Herpes

If youre infected with HSV-1, commonly known as oral herpes, you may notice tingling or burning around your mouth in the days before a cold sore appears. These blisters break open and ooze fluid before forming a crust. Usually, sores last for seven to 10 days.

If youre infected with HSV-2, commonly known as genital herpes, your first outbreak may last between two to four weeks. Recurrent outbreaks usually last between three to seven days.

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How Can I Best Learn To Cope With Herpes Simplex

Some people feel distressed or embarrassed about their herpes simplex infection. Its important to understand that the herpes virus is common. For most people, herpes doesnt significantly interfere with daily life.

To cope with negative feelings, you may consider:

Connecting with others through support groups or online forums.
Sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or loved one.
Speaking with a therapist.

What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes Simplex

Many people with the infection never experience any herpes symptoms. If you do notice symptoms, youll experience them differently depending on whether youre having your first herpes outbreak or a repeat outbreak. Recurring symptoms are usually milder than the first outbreak. Symptoms dont last as long with later outbreaks. Some people may only have one or two outbreaks during their lifetime. Others may have as many as four or five outbreaks a year.

People who do have herpes symptoms may experience:

Cold sores around their lips, mouth or tongue. They may look crusty or like fluid-filled blisters.
Tingling, itching or burning.
Pain while urinating.

Read Also: How Do You Contract Herpes

Simple Treatments For The Relief Of Discomfort

Wear loose underclothes, preferably cotton , to help minimise discomfort and allow healing.
Use plain water or saline solution with cotton wool to clean and soothe the area. To make a saline solution, use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful of salt in a shallow bath.
Dont use scented soaps, bubble bath, etc in the area, as these may irritate it.
Using a hairdryer on its lowest setting to dry the area may be more comfortable than using a towel.
Pain relief medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may ease the pain. Check with your pharmacist or other health professional whether taking these is suitable for you.
Ice wrapped in a face cloth or flannel and placed over the sores for 510 minutes may be soothing. Dont apply ice directly to the sores as this can cause ice burn.
If you find peeing painful, try applying Vaseline® to the area or sitting in a warm bath before urinating or using a pump bottle full of water and spraying water on yourself while peeing.
You can also try applying a pain relief cream such as lignocaine cream to the painful area. This is applied 5 minutes before peeing and should be used for a maximum of 12 days.
Drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes your pee and may help reduce stinging.

Foods To Help Reduce The Frequency Of Herpes Outbreaks

Foods To Avoid With Herpes : What To Eat When You Have A Herpes ...

The Canadian Government recently recognized that a diet rich in the amino acid l-lysine may help protect against oral herpes outbreaks. In fact, in Canada l-lysine supplements can now make a cold sore treatment label claim. The United States FDA has not yet followed suit. However, for those who suffer from herpes outbreaks a diet rich in l-lysine, and low in l-arginine is well worth trying.

The easy method of increasing lysine intake is to take an l-lysine supplement. However, you can also examine this list of foods that are rich in lysine and those rich in arginine :

Eat these Foods Rich in Lysine

Most cheese
Apples, mangoes, apricots, pears .

Avoid these foods rich in Arginine

Many grains .

In addition, some experts recommend an alkaline diet, which consists of foods that are low in acid. Heres a list of acidic and alkaline foods.

Eat these alkaline foods:

Most fruits .
Peppers, asparagus and parsley

In addition, immune-boosting herbs might help. Garlic, Olive Leaf, Echinacea, Propolis and Licorice have a traditional value in boosting the immune system. In Chinese medicine, Astragalus is often prescribed for those suffering from oral herpes.

There is not a cure for herpes – but you may be able to keep the condition in check with a proper diet.

Is Herpes Simplex Related To Herpes Zoster

Herpes simplex and the varicella-zoster virus are related, but they arent the same. VZV causes chickenpox and shingles.

Like HSV-1 and HSV-2, shingles can cause a painful, blistering rash. The shingles rash usually shows up on the back, side, abdomen , neck and face. It is often only on half of your body, following the pattern of your nerves. See your healthcare provider if you have a new rash and suspect you may have shingles.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Herpes simplex is a virus. Once you have herpes, its a lifelong condition. A herpes infection can lead to outbreaks , but youll also have times when you have no symptoms. The main sign of herpes is sores that appear on the infected skin. Some people choose not to treat herpes, especially if symptoms are mild. Others take antiviral medications to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/17/2022.

References

Best Foods + Worst Foods To Avoid Herpes Outbreaks

Foods for herpes might relieve symptoms from HSV. Cold sores from oral herpes and genital herpes can both benefit. Certain foods might help prevent herpes outbreaks, while others trigger them. Learn the best foods for herpes and the foods to avoid on a therapeutic herpes diet, plus the reasons why.

Medically reviewed by Meagan Fleming, RN on Jan. 1, 2019

Also Check: Is Herpes Only Contagious During An Outbreak

Diet For Healthy Weight To Prevent Herpes Flare

A research study claims that obesity can work as a trigger for patients who are suffering from this infection. So check your BMI often and if you notice that youre in the overweight or obese category, try to maintain a healthy weight by watching your calorie intake and eating healthy meals that are high in protein and fiber. For high-protein and high-fiber meals, add lentils, eggs, milk, milk products, lean meat and all colourful fruits and vegetables in your diet.

What Can I Do If I Have Herpes Simplex 2

Herpes Simplex Virus in Depth / Alynn Alexander, MD

Many people who find out they have herpes feel depressed knowing they’ll always have the virus and can give it to others. But you arent alone. Herpes is one of the most common STIs, both in the U.S. and worldwide. If you have herpes, you should:

Learn all you can about it. Information will help you to manage your disease and feel better about yourself.
Talk about your illness with your doctor.

If you have herpes, you can still:

Have sex if you use a condom or dental dam , and you tell your partner about your illness. Some couples, who have sexual relations only with each other, may choose not to use condoms even though one partner has herpes. Because each situation is different, you should ask your doctor if this is the right choice for you in your relationship.
Have children. People with herpes can still give birth to healthy babies. If you have herpes and plan to have children, discuss your illness with your healthcare provider.

If you have herpes, you should also get checked for HIV and other STIs .

Read Also: How Soon Can Herpes Be Detected

Recommendations About Diet For Herpes Sufferers

In this section you will be able to read recommendations including which foods to eat and which to avoid in your diet and why.

The list of recommendations is listed first, followed by an explanation of each recommendation.

If you are infected with the herpes simplex virus, you should commit to the following recommendations:

Eat a diet high in lysine and low in arginine.
Say no to coffee, tea and chocolate.
Do not eat moldy food.
Avoid alcohol or reduce your alcohol intake to a minimum.
Reduce sugar consumption.
Eat a diet without processed foods.
Avoid dehydration.

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

Supplements For Herpes Outbreaks

If you feel that your diet doesnt contain enough lysine, you can take lysine supplements. Small preliminary studies suggest that daily lysine supplements might minimize and improve healing times of herpes outbreaks. In one study, patients were given 1000mg of lysine three times per day . However, the study used a small sample size and was limited it its scope.

Lysine supplementation is safe and its considered the best cure for herpes outbreak sufferers. Lysine supplements that have minerals, such as bioflavonoids and zinc, as well as vitamins can work miracles to prevent and control herpes outbreaks. Here is a good lysine supplement that includes zinc. Each pill contains 333mg, so you can adjust to the proper dosage. Formulas often include zinc, vitamin B complex and vitamin C supplements in a herpes diet.

Another well-known supplement used in treating herpes is commonly called curcumin, or turmeric extract. Its an anti-inflammatory that makes your body cells less susceptible to viral infections. See it here. A traditional supplement such as cayenne pepper is also sometimes recommended by physicians to fight the herpes virus . You can apply either of these externally to ease pain.

Red marine algae is another great supplement as it helps your immune system fight the herpes virus and prevents its re-occurrence . Read the reviews from people who use it for HSV on the product page here!

The Role Of Arginine in the Replication Of Herpes Simplex Virus

Foods High in Lysine

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8 Foods To Prevent Recurring Herpes Outbreak

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Can I Get Genital Herpes More Than Once

There isnt a cure for HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes. Infections can come back . Recurring symptoms are usually milder than the first outbreak. Symptoms dont last as long with later outbreaks. Some people may only have one or two outbreaks during their lifetime. Others may have as many as four or five outbreaks a year.

After infection, the virus moves from skin cells to nerve cells. In the nerve cells, it becomes inactive . Certain things may reactivate the virus, such as:

Illness or fever.

Stress that is long-term, or stress accompanied by poor coping habits, can cause outbreak recurrences.
Sun can bring about cold sores, so sun protection can help.
The friction of sex can exacerbate herpes. Be wary if prodrome signs are present.
Menstruation correlates with slightly higher rates of prodrome symptoms, but not necessarily outbreaks with sores.

Herpesyl is a 100% natural blend that targets and eliminates herpes virus in the body.