Top 10 Herpes Diet Tips

Through knowledge comes the wisdom of our challenge. By understanding how something operates, we can remove it as a threat..

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Dealing with herpes can seem like a battle. In fact when herpes is treated, not as an enemy as such, but rather as a force that can be controlled; just like anything else in this existence, then we can not only harness our power to control outbreaks, but we also develop an expanse of personal skills that applies to any challenges in our life.

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Herpes Diet Tip #1

Avoid supplements or foods that contain excessive Arginine..
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One theory is that foods which contain high amounts of the amino acid Arginine can provoke or bring on a herpes episode for some people.

This is related to the fact that the herpes virus requires this amino acid to grow, replicate and to become active. This is why limiting foods which are very high in Arginine can be helpful for those who are trying to reduce herpes breakouts.

Foods which are high in Arginine and can commonly trigger an outbreak are:

Chocolate
Nuts, including peanut butter
Protein shakes and drinks that contain Arginine
Oats, including porridge
Muscle building formulas and multivitamins that contain Arginine

Reducing some of these foods can be helpful but it is important not to make this the main focus of your diet. The human body naturally produces Arginine so it can never be eliminated completely.

Simply being mindful of foods that are excessively high in this amino acid, and not taking it in supplement form, is sufficient when trying to reduce herpes symptoms.

 

Herpes Diet Tip #2

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Balance Arginine rich foods with Lysine..
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Lysine helps to stop the virus which causes herpes. If you get ample amounts of this amino acid in your diet it can help to reduce the frequency of the symptoms and make healing faster.

This is why it is recommended to eat foods that are high in Lysine, or take a Lysine supplement.

See the Lysine, Natural Amino Acid Fights Herpes article from the HC support network for advice on what to look for in a Lysine supplement. Nutrients that can assist the prevention of HSV outbreaks can be understood in the article Supplements and Nutrients.

Foods that contain high amounts of Lysine are:

Most vegetables and fruits particularly beets, avocados, mangos, tomatoes, apples, apricots, pears, figs and papaya
Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheeses (acid forming)
Eggs (acid forming)
Brewer’s yeast
Fish, particularly sardines and cod (acid forming)
Chicken, beef and lamb (acid forming)
Sprouts

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Herpes Diet Tip #3

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Eat foods which are good for your skin..
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Lysine is beneficial but it is not the only nutrient that the body requires to ward off herpes. The skin should also be nourished with essential nutrients that are needed to resist an infection, as well as to regenerate and repair itself.

Make sure that you are getting plenty of zinc, vitamin C and bioflavonoids in your diet to help protect, nourish and strengthen your skin.

This will help your skin to heal more quickly during breakouts, and will also help make your body more resistant to the symptoms surfacing in the first place.

Foods that contain high amounts of Vitamin C:

Fresh fruits (especially citrus, such as oranges)
Leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, bok choy and spinach
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cauliflower
Bell peppers
Strawberries
Papaya (papaw)
Parsley

Foods that contain high amounts of Bioflavonoids:

Most citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, mandarins and others
Many bright colored fruits and vegetables, including cherries, cranberries, grapes, peppers, apricots and prunes
Leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach
Black tea (such as Earl Gray, etc)
Broccoli, brussel sprouts and eggplant (aubergine or egg fruit)
Wine and juice made from berries or grapes
Some varieties of red clover
Rosehips

Foods that contain high amounts of Zinc:

Seafood
Pumpkin seeds
Most dairy products
Beans and lentils
Wholegrain cereals
Legumes

John has a product called the Combined Lysine Formula which contains Lysine, Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids & Zinc.

Herpes Diet Tip #4

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Avoid or reduce these foods to help prevent outbreaks..
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Artificial sweeteners – anecdotal evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners can trigger a herpes outbreak for some people. They are commonly found in food and drinks that are “diet” or “sugar free” including diet sodas, many toothpastes and sugar substitutes.

Check the label to see if it contains the word ‘sweetener’ followed by a reference number, or any one of these ingredient names:

– Saccharin (Sweet’N Low)
– Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
– Sucralose (Splenda, Altern), or
– Sorbitol

Protein shakes or muscle building formulas that contain the amino acid Arginine.

White bread – replace with wholemeal, rye or brown bread where possible.

Cut back on coffee, caffeine and soda, especially if you feel you have too much of these in your diet.

If you are going to drink alcohol or take recreational drugs try to do so in moderation. If you have a late night or do not get adequate sleep, try taking Panax or Korean Ginseng (before, during and after) to help reduce the negative impact it can have on your body. This in turn can help reduce the chance of a breakout.

White and refined sugars – be mindful of excess sweets in your diet and opt for a natural sweetener instead of sugar where possible, such as agave syrup or stevia.

Eat chocolate, nuts and oats in moderation, not every day or to excess.

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Herpes Diet Tip #5

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Eat lots of broccoli and other “cruciferous” vegetables..
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Vegetables belonging to the cruciferous family (including brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale) may help to stop herpes in its tracks, this is due to a naturally high amount of a compound called indole-3-carbinol (I3C).

Clinical studies show that this compound has the potential to interfere with the way the Herpes simplex virus (HSV) reproduces. The preliminary trial results are very promising, so eat up on these nutritious vegetables whenever you can.

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Herpes Diet Tip #6

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Ditch processed and junk food..
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The occasional treat is no problem, but where possible try to avoid deep fried foods, sugary treats, white bread, junk foods and any processed or packet foods. Foods with artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives fit into this category too.

Try to reduce the amount of saturated animal fat consumed (which is found in all animal products, and especially fatty cuts of meat) and particularly avoid trans-fatty acids.

Trans-fatty acids are commonly found in:

Margarine
Fast food restaurant food
Packet or snack foods, such as crisps
Frozen dinners

Some simple adjustments to your kitchen cupboard can help you live a healthier life and therefore help to prevent herpes outbreaks:

Use real butter in place of margarine.
Use a quality, high smoking point oil when you cook your meals such as olive, coconut, rice bran or grapeseed oil.
Use raw sugar or a natural sweetener, instead of white sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Check out the following articles for more information on nutrition and harmful food additives: Do you really know what you’re eating?, Food Additives and Preservatives that are KILLING you!

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Herpes Diet Tip #7

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Increase the amount of fresh “raw” foods in your diet..
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This could be the single most important diet tip of this entire guide because what you eat and therefore how your body functions all begins from here.

There are a number of reasons why we might neglect to eat raw fruits and vegetables, including convenience, family tradition and how we are raised. The truth is, eating fresh raw foods every day should not be a “diet”, it should be a way of life. It will help you to maintain a healthy weight, have more energy and vitality, more youthful skin and… less outbreaks.

Some simple suggestions to get started:

Include fresh, raw fruits and vegetables as a side to your breakfast, lunch or dinner.
When you have a snack try munching on vegetable sticks made of celery, beets or carrot, with a nice dip such as hummus to go with it.
Make a salad for lunch that has as many raw vegetables as you can find, including fresh greens and sprouts, and top with your choice of oil such as coconut, olive, grapeseed, flax seed, etc. Finish with a decent pinch of sea or rock salt and a very small splash of apple cider vinegar.
Drink a freshly made fruit or vegetable juice each day (within minutes of making it) from whatever is in season in your area. Some nice mixes are:

– Tomatoes, beets, carrots, salt and pepper
– Apples, carrots and celery
– Apples, pineapples, mint and lime
– Berries, apples and watermelon
– Whatever yummy fruits you have access to, be creative
– Add a dash of fresh ginger or bee pollen to your fruit juices, if you desire

Check out this article for more guidance on boosting your immunity and improving your health: Improving your immunity defence systems, Ten Foods to Forge a Healthy You

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Herpes Diet Tip #8

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Eat foods which help you to de-stress and relax..
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Stress has a profoundly negative effect on the body and may contribute to the length and frequency of herpes breakouts. Try to avoid or reduce the stress in your life however you can.

You can improve your diet to assist your body in weathering the stress by eating a diet rich in B vitamins and magnesium. Vitamin B5 has long been considered the “anti-stress” vitamin, and when taken along with vitamin B6 and magnesium your body has a better chance to recover from stressful situations.

If taken in a supplement form, B vitamins should always be taken together in a “complex” to prevent causing an imbalance because some B vitamins are codependent on one another.

The Vitamin B complex is comprised of the following; B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid) and B12 ( cobalamin). The B group of vitamins are also important for a healthy nervous system and for the body’s production of serotonin, a hormone released in our brain which helps us to feel happy, relaxed and at ease.

Foods that contain high amounts of B group vitamins:

Bananas
Wholegrain foods and brown rice
Green leafy vegetables
Brewer’s Yeast
Barley
Soy Products
Turkey
Tuna & Salmon
Other Meats and eggs
Dairy Products
Mushrooms

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Herpes Diet Tip #9

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Indulge in antioxidant-rich foods, such as berries and prunes..
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There are lots of foods that nature has given us that possess the potential to ward off diseases and infections including herpes, and some of the most powerful of these are called ‘antioxidants’.

An antioxidant is something that helps to neutralize and stop the damage caused by free radicals . Free radicals are caused by many things, including chemicals and toxins in our food and environment, and they are responsible for aging, tissue damage and deterioration of the body.

These foods are on top of the antioxidant rich list:

Berries
Apricots, prunes and dates
Broccoli, brussel sprouts and artichokes
Kale and spinach
Chilli, peppers, red cabbage and beets
Parsley
Lemon
Ginger
Tomatoes
Red grapes
Garlic
Tea (especially green tea)
Carrots
Soy
Wholegrains

Other highly beneficial superfoods for herpes are:

Reishi mushrooms
Coconuts, particularly coconut oil
Barley grass
Spirulina
Shitaki mushrooms
Goji berries

These are just a few. Look for other foods that are antiviral, contain antioxidants or have immune enhancing benefits.

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Herpes Diet Tip #10

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Drink purified, alkaline water..
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Not only is the amount of water you drink important, but the quality of your water can make a difference too.

Some chemicals such as chlorine are necessary to filter germs from our water, but this chemical is also extremely toxic to our health and ideally should be removed from the water before drinking. Carbon filters are available which filter chlorine from your water and can be fitted either to the house or just to a particular tap or fosset.

A reverse-osmosis filter is another type of filter which will remove all heavy metals and chemicals from your water. However, this process removes a lot of the beneficial minerals too, so it is important to find a filter that also replaces these minerals, such as through the use of a coral or mineral cartridge.

Very importantly, it is preferable to drink water that is alkaline. By alkalizing the body you help your entire system fight off “free radicals” which can cause deterioration of the cells. Many scientists claim miraculous benefits for a wide range of health conditions through the regular consumption of alkalizing water.

If you don’t have access to alkaline or filtered water, try having a glass of water with freshly squeeze lemon or lime juice each morning and night. This is highly alkalizing and will help provide you with a good start.