Caused by the varicella-zoster virus that also causes chickenpox, shingles is a painful rash or blisters most common in people older than 50 and those with a weakened immune system. According to the National Shingles Foundation, nearly 1 million people develop shingles in the U.S. every year. There are several dietary measures you can take to help treat shingles and provide symptom relief.
Cayenne
Doctors recommend cayenne because it contains a substance called capsaicin that can help with shingles pain relief. Capsaican works to numb the nerves that cause shingle pain. Applying a topical cream with capsaicin three to four times daily may provide pain relief.
Fruits and Vegetables
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discovered a connection between fruit intake and the zoster virus. Led by researcher Sara L. Thomas and published in the April 2006 edition of the "International Journal of Epidemiology," a cocktail of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables together act to prevent the virus from causing shingles by maintaining immunity.
Immune System Boosting Diet
People with faulty or weak immune system are vulnerable to many illnesses including shingles. According to a CNN article on the subject, a diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, is rich in protein, avoids trans fats, includes antioxidant-rich green tea, and contains sufficient calories, can help boost your immune system.
Diet for HSV
Because both cause nearly identical lesions, doctors often require a culture to determine if a blister is the result of herpes zoster or the herpes simplex virus or HSV. If you are unsure of which virus is causing your blisters, it may be helpful to follow a diet that is low in arginine and high in lysine to help prevent HSV from spreading. The University of Michigan Health system notes that some doctors advise people with shingles to avoid foods like nuts, peanuts and chocolate, and to eat more nonfat dairy products, as a way to decrease arginine and increase lysine.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia
- University of Michigan Health System: Cayenne
- International Epidemiological Association:Micronutrient intake and the risk of herpes zoster: a case--control study
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Shingles: Hope Through Research
- CNN.com: Follow this eat-right plan to fortify your immune system
- Merck Manual: Herpes Zoster
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