Health & Wellness

11 List of Food to Avoid with Herpes virus Outbreak

Do you know what food to avoid with herpes virus? It’s essential to be aware of the foods that might potentially provoke an outbreak if you have herpes. You may lower your risk of infection and maintain general health by avoiding specific foods.

In this article, we’ll discuss list of food to avoid with herpes virus outbreak and how you can manage your symptoms while still eating a healthy diet.

In This Article

Food to Avoid with Herpes virus

Here is the list of foods that may be harmful to people with herpes include:

1. Stay away from Acidic foods

It’s essential to stay away from acidic foods like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits if you have herpes. Citrus fruits are an excellent example of this because of their high acidity, which can aggravate and make herpes symptoms worse.

2. Avoid Nuts and seeds

Nutrient-rich foods like nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds) can also be an excellent source of arginine, an amino acid that can encourage herpes outbreaks. So it’s advisable to avoid these foods if you have herpes.

3. Spicy foods

Spicy foods can irritate and inflame the skin, making herpes symptoms worse. The best thing to do if you are prone to herpes is to avoid spicy foods.

4. Avoid Processed foods

High sugar content is frequently found in processed and refined meals, which can cause herpes outbreaks. Sodas, energy drinks, chocolates, cakes, and other sweets can also be considered among these foods. The best action is to avoid these foods altogether if you are experiencing a herpes infection.

5. Consumption of Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners interact with the body’s natural sugar receptors, which can result in herpes outbreaks. This may trigger an immunological response, leading to skin sores’ development.

6. Avoid Dairy Products

Dairy products may increase mucous formation and inflammation, making herpes symptoms worse. Dairy products might make the disease worse because they have high sugar content. Therefore, staying away from these items unless you specifically require them is recommended.

7. Excessive Alcohol intake

Our sensitive skin is responsible for keeping us hydrated and shielding us from the outside environment. When you consume alcohol, your skin loses moisture, increasing your risk of infection.

8. Avoid Fried and Greasy foods

Fried and greasy foods are undoubtedly excellent, but if you have herpes, you might want to avoid them. In fact, fried and greasy meals might aggravate herpes symptoms by causing the body to become more inflamed. This is because fried and greasy meals include high quantities of bad fats and oils, which might up your chance of getting herpes.

9. Drinking Coffee

Even though that coffee is a widely consumed beverage, it is advised to avoid it if you have herpes. One of the main components of coffee is caffeine, which can elevate stress levels and cause herpes breakouts.

If you do drink coffee, make sure to keep your use to a minimum. Additionally, if an outbreak occurs, drink a lot of water.

10. Avoid Pickles

Despite being a common food item, pickles should be avoided if you have herpes since they contain a lot of salt. In certain instances, this might result in skin irritation and even blistering.

11. Avoid Eating Chocolate

If you have herpes, avoid chocolate since it includes a lot of arginines, which can induce breakouts. Many foodstuffs include the amino acid arginine, which has been related to the breakout of the herpes virus.

In Closing

In conclusion, those who have herpes should stay away from foods that might cause or exacerbate outbreaks, such as processed foods, foods rich in arginine, and foods high in sugar or artificial sweeteners. To boost general immune function, it’s also essential to maintain healthy food and a way of life.

References

  1. Assessment of dietary intake of lysine and arginine in patients with herpes simplex
  2. Pathogenesis and disease – Human Herpesviruses
  3. (PDF) Pathogenesis and virulence of herpes simplex virus

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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