Reply #41: avoid chocolate and nuts when you have shingles/herpes [View All]

[uppityperson]

amino acids are in pairs which balance each other (think of 100 bits, if a food had 35 "A" it has 65 "B"). Chocolate and most nuts have more of the amino acid (arginine) that makes it easier for herpes to have an active outbreak in your body. Lysine is the other amino acid (complement of arginine) so taking free lysine can help. Avoid

http://www.herpes.com/Treatment.shtml
Supplementation with free-form lysine has shown to be beneficial in controlling herpes along with a diet high in lysine and low in arginine.

What foods are high in lysine and low in arginine?

Fish, chicken, beef, lamb, milk, cheese, beans, brewer's yeast, mung bean sprouts and most fruits and vegetables have more lysine than arginine, except for peas. Gelatin, chocolate, carob, coconut, oats, wholewheat and, white flour, peanuts, soybeans, and wheatgerm have more arginine than lysine.