Both the oral and genital forms of herpes are caused by a virus that persists in your body for life. Thus, there is no cure for herpes, only management of the infection. Lowering your stress levels and exercising regularly can help; adjusting your diet can also have a beneficial effect in either lengthening the time between outbreaks or healing them faster once they occur. Consult with your doctor about how making nutritional changes and other lifestyle adjustments can help manage your herpes infection.
Increase Your Lysine
Lysine, or L-lysine, is an amino acid--one of the building blocks of protein in your body. One medical study published in Dermatologica in 1978 suggested that extra lysine in the diet helped heal outbreaks faster and prevent recurrences, but subsequent studies have been inconclusive about lysine's benefits. Foods high in lysine include poultry, fish, red meat, cheese and milk.
Lower Your Arginine
Another amino acid known as arginine, or L-arginine, seems to encourage the growth of the virus in vitro, according to a paper published in "Chemotherapy," and may and increase the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Therefore, reducing the amount of arginine in your diet may help. Arginine-rich foods to avoid include peanuts, tree nuts, chocolate, sesame seeds and tofu.
Vitamin C for Your Immune System
Vitamin C, an antioxidant, supports your immune system by boosting white blood cell production. The more white blood cells you have, the more viruses they can defeat, thus possibly reducing the number and duration of outbreaks you experience. Citrus fruit, broccoli and red bell peppers are all good sources for this vitamin.
Vitamin E To Heal Lesions
Vitamin E is known to help with skin ailments in general, and it may be useful in healing herpes lesions once an outbreak is in progress. HerpesClinic.com cites a study in the "Dermatologist Surgery Journal" that found Vitamin E shortened the healing time of active lesions. Foods rich in Vitamin E include various vegetable oils, almonds, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and fish roe.
Zinc, the Virus Fighter
Zinc helps your body produce T-lymphocyte cells, which are key in fighting viral infections. It's not known whether zinc helps in countering herpes outbreaks specifically. Nonetheless, if you'd like to add zinc-rich foods to your diet, try eating more oysters, lobster, crab, wheat germ, beef and lamb.
References
- Herpes Clinic: Genital Herpes Health and Nutrition
- Mother Nature: Nature's Medicines--Genital Herpes
- Health Central: L-Lysine and Genital Herpes
- PubMed: A Multicentered Study of Lysine Therapy in Herpes Simplex Infection
- PubMed: Relation of Arginine-Lysine Antagonism to Herpes Simplex Growth in Tissue Culture
