Foods to Consume and Avoid for Oral and Genital Herpes

This condition can trigger the surfacing of painful red blisters within the mouth area or the area of the genitals. These blisters are normally accompanied by itching, tingling and burning sensation within the affected regions. The outbreak of the sores is typically concentrated on the mucous membranes of the genital region and the lip, although this may occur in various parts of the body as well.

There are antiviral medications that can be opted for in order to control the outbreak and reduce its frequency. However, these medications are not capable of eliminating the virus. This is due to the fact that once you get infected by HSV; you will have the virus all your life. What an infected individual can do is to alleviate the symptoms of the condition and this can be done using medications and natural remedies. However, experts do believe that foods play a huge role in controlling cold sore conditions.

Foods that should be Avoided

Basically, there are two different types of amino acids that can help regulate the occurrence of cold sore outbreaks. These are amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. In order to alleviate the symptoms of the condition, doctors normally recommend a diet that is high in L-lysine and low in L-arginine. Lysine is helpful in inhibiting the metabolism of amino acid arginine, which is the primary compound that herpes virus needs to replicate. The list of foods rich in arginine and should be avoided includes the following:

Foods to Avoid for Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is considered as a highly contagious condition that occurs in the genitals due to HSV. This condition can be transmitted sexually and the symptoms include the presence of watery and reddish blisters on the penis, vagina, anus or buttocks and the scrotum. Although antiviral medications can be prescribed to reduce the severity of the symptoms, it is also necessary to learn about the foods that can actually worsen the condition. Some of the foods that should be avoided when suffering from genital herpes include the following:

Dark leafy vegetables like mustard greens and spinach

Shrimp

Lobster

Crabs

Caffeine

Brown rice

Gelatin

Nuts and other nut products

Chocolate

Caffeine

Oatmeal

Sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds

Raisins

Whole wheat bread

Sugary snacks

Foods to Avoid for Oral Herpes

Oral herpes is due to herpes simplex virus type 1 and the symptoms include the existence of painful cold sores on the gums, lips, roof of the mouth, tongue and the inside part of the cheeks. These are ulcerative lesions within the mouth that is normally accompanied with muscular aches and fever. Aside from the consumption of OTC medications and certain numbing products, dietary changes are considered as natural cures for oral herpes and the foods that should be avoided are as follows:

Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, peanuts, walnuts, pistachio nuts and almonds

Cocoa powder

Sesame seeds

Peanut butter

Cashews

Oatmeal

Tomatoes

Carob powder

Pecans

Chickpeas

Brown rice

Onions

Citrus fruits

Peas

Goat's milk

Brussels sprouts

Cow's milk

Lamb

Dried beans

Squash

Aside from these, foods containing sugar, chocolate, vinegar, animal proteins, cola drinks and coffee should also be avoided. Such food and beverage products can put strains into the body's immune system and trigger cold sores or fever blisters.

Foods to Eat for Oral and Genital Herpes

Aside from the foods that should be avoided, there are certain foods that should be consumed as well. These foods are high in lysine and are helpful in alleviating the symptoms of both conditions and in shortening the duration of the outbreak. Some of the foods that can be very helpful against oral and genital herpes include the following:

Chicken

Fresh fish

Pork

Beef

Soybeans

Cheese

Broccoli

Eggs