Herpes is a prevalent viral infection that can cause outbreaks on your mouth or genitals. According to HerpesClinic.com, at least one in four adults carry the herpes virus and approximately one million new cases are diagnosed each year. Individuals who suffer from herpes outbreaks have options to help reduce the number and severity of outbreaks they experience. Doctors have medications that can be used on a daily basis or during an outbreak and there are dietary changes that can help prevent an outbreak.
About Herpes
There is currently no cure for genital herpes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease and many people who suffer from it do not even know that they have it. Outbreaks are caused by herpes simplex viruses that may cause only minimal signs and symptoms or larger infections. When signs and symptoms do occur, they typically erupt as a blister that breaks and leaves a tender sore which can take up to four weeks to heal the first time it occurs. The following outbreaks are often less severe and shorter in nature, unless you experience another underlying medical condition that negatively impacts your immune system. People who have cancer, HIV or AIDS can have more severe outbreaks of herpes because of the reduced efficiency and effectiveness of their immune systems.
Lysine and Arginine Connection
Lysine and arginine are amino acids which the body uses to produce proteins and enzymes. Most people get enough lysine in their bodies, although vegans and patients who have experienced extensive burns may require additional supplementation, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid because although adults can normally make enough to meet their body requirements, children require arginine supplementation from the diet for brain growth and development, according to MayoClinic.com. There is a relationship between herpes outbreaks and lysine and arginine ratios within the body, according to Drugs.com. Patients who are prone to herpes lesions during periods of stress are counseled to abstain from using foods which contain arginine and potentially supplement their diet with lysine in order to create the ratio required to suppress the replication of the herpes virus.
Foods with Lysine
Dietary sources of lysine should be included in your daily intake in order to reduce the number of herpes outbreaks you may experience. Some of these sources include red meat, pork and poultry, Parmesan cheese, cod and sardines, eggs, soybeans, brewers yeast, and other legumes, such as peanuts. By increasing the amount of dietary sources of lysine you can produce a diet that will help reduce your herpes outbreaks and your discomfort.
Foods with Arginine
Dietary sources of arginine include walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, brown rice, raisins, buckwheat, almonds, cashews, chicken, chocolate, dairy products, meat, oats, peanuts, sunflower and sesame seeds, and barley. If you have a propensity for developing herpes virus outbreaks you should reduce your intake of these extra dietary sources of arginine and increase your intake of foods that contain lysine.
