Herpes Diet - A natural Treatment for Herpes

Pursuing a herpes diet can make a difference in managing your symptoms and preventing outbreaks. Medical treatment should be followed as well, but a healthy lifestyle to go with it will benefit your body.

I know personally, the best treatment I have even experienced for my herpes outbreak is managing my diet and my stress. I used to get outbreaks almost every month. Now that I monitor my stress and my diet, I can go a whole year without an outbreak.

What Is The Herpes Virus?

The herpes simplex virus is one of the most common viruses around today. This is because it is highly contagious and it affects a very large number of people worldwide. There are two types of the virus, one responsible for genital herpes (HSV-2) and one for cold sores (HSV-1). In many people the virus remains asymptomatic, increasing the chances of it being transmitted to someone else.

Upon infecting a person, the virus travels along nerves until it reaches the spinal cord. There it multiplies and in about a week, will start traveling along the nerves back to the skin. Depending on the type of herpes simplex a person has been infected with, it can develop into cold sores or genital herpes.

The Good News About Bad News: Herpes Everything You Need to Know

Helping Your Immune System Fight Herpes With Lysine

The crucial thing behind these outbreaks is our immune system. The antibodies that our bodies release when the virus is detected cannot alone keep it at bay. We also need a strong immune system to fight off the virus and its symptoms. A herpes diet can help with that, being that it will provide the healthy nourishment we need.

While there is no treatment and no cure for herpes, there are methods to manage symptoms and prevent outbreaks. One of these methods is keeping herpes diet.

Studies and tests show that the herpes simplex virus depends on the presence of a certain amino acid called arginine in the body. Also, another amino acid called lysine will prevent arginine being stacked in our bodies, thus reducing the chances of outbreaks. Many persons suffering with herpes take lysine supplments to ensure they are getting enough lysine in their diet.

Following a good herpes diet means that an infected person should seek out foods rich in lysine and low in arginine. It is not a perfect science because because there are a lot of foods that contain both. The idea is to maintain a proper balance between the intake of arginine and lysine. Remember that this kind of diet will only reduce chances of outbreaks, not ensure you an outbreak-free life.

Foods that are rich in arginine should be avoided. These are:

nuts (especially walnuts), chocolate, seeds, oats, lentils, wheat germ, gelatin, carob, coconut, brown rice, peanut butter, caffeine or dried beans.

If you cannot let one or any of these foods go, then it is best to counter their arginine content with lysine-rich foods.

These lysine-rich foods are:

sprouts, tomatoes, eggs, papaya, mango, avocados, pears, apples, figs, apricots, beets, tomatoes, beef, chicken, fish, lamb and brewer's yeast.

If you feel you cannot deal with rationing your food accordingly, you can seek out lysine supplements to help you. Also, taking Zinc and Vitamin C supplements will also reduce the frequency and intensity of outbreaks.

I personally found diet and rest to be the best treatment for the herpes virus. Listen to your body. You should have at least one day a week where you come home and just relax. I love walnuts myself, and used to eat them all the time in my yogurt. When I learned about how high walnuts are in argenine, I stopped eating them and my outbreaks greatly reduced in frequency from making that one change alone.

I know how frustrating it is, and I have tried so many things in the past, but I found the best treatment for me and my herpes was diet. You really have nothing to lose.

"Achieving A Healthy Lifestyle For Women's Health and Fitness"