Lysine is an amino acid that is one of the essential building blocks of protein. A diet high in lysine has many health benefits. The most well-known benefit of lysine is its ability to minimize cold sores caused by the herpes virus, as demonstrated in a study described in "Dermatoligica." Lysine has other benefits, as well. Lysine is valuable in the prevention of osteoporosis because it assists in absorption of calcium and decreases the amount of calcium excreted in urine. Eating foods that are high in lysine may confer these benefits.
The Herpes Diet
The herpes diet is designed to help control outbreaks of the herpes virus. The diet does not prevent or cure herpes, but it can help minimize recurrences of symptomatic outbreaks. According to Herpes-Coldsores.com, the diet maximizes lysine and minimizes arginine. Recommended high-lysine, low-arginine foods include fruits and vegetables, tropical fruits, dairy, eggs, tomatoes, animal proteins and sprouts. High-arginine foods to avoid include nuts, coconut, chocolate, grains and caffeine. The diet also recommends minimizing acidic foods like vinegar while maximizing alkaline foods like melon. Check with your doctor about dietary methods for controlling herpes outbreaks.
Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein Diets
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are rich in animal proteins and vegetables. According to the Self Nutrition Data website, animal proteins like beef, eggs, chicken, fish and lamb are all among the top sources of dietary lysine. Most low-carbohydrate and reduced carbohdyrate diets like the Atkins diet, South Beach Diet and the Zone Diet rely on animal proteins and vegetables as the primary foods eaten on the diet, so they are all high in lysine. Besides being rich in lysine, low-carbohydrate diets may also help you to lose weight and control type-2 diabetes.
Vegetarian Diets
There are many plant foods that are rich in lysine. According to the Self Nutrition Data website, common foods in vegetarian diets are excellent sources of dietary lysine. Both lacto-ovo vegetarian and vegan diets contain many lysine-rich foods. Vegans can eat foods that are high in lysine like nuts and seeds, soy products like tofu, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can eat all of those foods as well as incorporating other lysine-rich foods like eggs, parmesan cheese, yogurt and dairy products.
References
- "Dermatologica"; Success of L-Lysine Therapy in Frequently Recurrent Herpes Simplex Infection; Richard S. Griffith, David E. Walsh, Kurt H. Myrmel, Ronald W. Thompson, Ali Behforooz; April, 1987
- Herpes-Coldsores.Com: Diet and Nutrition with Herpes
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lysine
- Self Nutrition Data: Foods Highest in Lysine
- Self Nutrition Data: Glycemic Index
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