Herpetic outbreaks (i.e. coldsores, genital herpes) can be influenced by one’s dietary intake of two amino acids – lysine and arginine. Lysine is known to reduce outbreaks (a good thing), while arginine is known to exacerbate them (a bad thing). Below is a list of foods high in each amino acid (in no particular order):
Lysine
- Lysine powder (your best option)
- Fish
- Chicken
- Egg white
- Game meat (elk, deer, etc)
- Whole dry milk
- Most cheeses (e.g. cottage (dry or low fat), ricotta, cheddar, mozzarella, edam; Dutch gouda and unprocessed swiss are the highest)
- Apricots (dried)
- Carob
Arginine
- Sesame
- Soy protein isolate
- Nuts
- Shell fish
- Gelatin
- Seaweed
- Pea protein powder
Stony Plain Naturopathic Clinic 