Herpes Diet Tips

A common and highly contagious infectious disease, herpes is caused by strains of the herpes simplex virus and is noted by painful and itchy blisters. Type 1 herpes, or oral herpes, causes cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth. In some cases, this type of herpes infects the eyes and can result in blindness or, even more seriously, can spread to the brain and result in life-threatening herpes encephalitis. Type 2, or genital herpes, is sexually transmitted and causes sores in the genital and anal areas. Engaging in oral sex with an infected person can cause mouth and throat blisters that are difficult to differentiate from type 1 herpes.

Regardless of the type or location, herpes blisters usually rupture into open weeping sores that crust over and eventually heal within a few days or weeks. Some people also experience a mild fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. Even after healing, the virus remains dormant in the body; some people never have another attack, while others have repeated but milder eruptions sporadically throughout their lives. 20.9% of American women have type 2 herpes, almost twice as many as men at 11.5%. Recurrences may be triggered by hormonal changes, physical or emotional stress, fever, exposure to the sun, or other environmental factors.

Nutrition Connection
Certain foods and drugs precipitate recurrences in susceptible people. Keep notes of those items and avoid them while bolstering your immune system through diet.
Follow these tips:
-Eat a nutritious diet. To help prevent recurrences, strengthen your immune system to resist disease by eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and protein.
-Eat foods rich in lysine. Foods high in the amino acid lysine, found in meat, fish, milk, and dairy products, may help to reduce the frequency of herpes attacks. The supplement version can also help; some natural medicine advocates recommend taking 500 to 1,000 mg of L-lysine daily on an empty stomach. It can be found in natural food stores. Discuss with your doctor before taking.
-Eat yogurt. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthy bacteria found in certain yogurts containing live or “active” cultures and also sold in capsule form, may help prevent recurrences of cold sores. You may need to take supplements to get a therapeutic dose.
-Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine. In large amounts, alcoholic and caffeinated drinks can suppress the immune system.

Beyond the Diet
If you have frequent attacks, analyze your lifestyle and try to figure out what specific triggers may have precipitated them. Here are some suggestions:
-Don’t smoke. Smoking weakens the immune system.
-Avoid the sun. Sun exposure can trigger outbreaks of cold sores. Always wear sunscreen.
-Balance your lifestyle. Regular exercise alleviates stress that can cause outbreak and adequate rest ensures a healthy immune system.
-Pre-empt an outbreak. If you have a warning symptom before an outbreak, of oral herpes, prompt use of aspirin and ice packs sometimes prevents the recurrence. Once the lesions appear, compresses of cold water or milk may ease the discomfort.
-Ease inflammation. For genital outbreaks, warm baths or saltwater compresses can help soothe the area. Keep the infected area clean and dry. Wash your hands after contact with the sores to avoid spreading infection to other parts of your body.
-Look into medications. In more severe herpes cases, doctors prescribe acyclovir, an antiviral medication that can be taken orally or used as a cream. Acyclovir can shorten the duration of an attack and help prevent a recurrence.
-Protect others. Avoid kissing anyone, sharing dishes or utensils, or having sex during outbreaks. A pregnant woman who has had herpes should inform her obstetrician immediately. An active infection may be transmitted to the baby during delivery and can cause blindness, retardation, even death. A cesarean delivery can prevent transmission.