Herpes & your diet

[disturbed226]

Hi,

I'm back again. It's been going ok so far and my first outbreak is almost over. The blisters have healed and some have basically disappeared already. What I wanted to know is....how sensitive is the herpes virus to the foods  you eat in particular foods high in arginine. I've done my research and I know that I need to avoid those foods but if I do have them once in a while...can I counteract it's possible triggering effect by making up and eating foods high in lysine or taking the lysine supplements. I know chocolate is one of the main things to give up and I haven't had it since diagnosis but last night I had a triple chocolate cake with fudge and cookies and cream ice-cream. Today I now have a tingling feeling in my genital area and I want to know if the chocolate somehow has suppressed my immune system and brought it back on. I've heard tingling feelings is usually the first sign of symptoms of the blisters. I've hardly healed from the first outbreak!! I would die if I get another one RIGHT now! I got this information

"There have been published article reports which say that chocolate can actually activate herpes virus in women. A 2003 report says that one of the chocolate's ingredients, metylxantil helps to suppress the immune system, a situation that helps trigger the herpes virus. Chocolate is a kind of food to avoid both by women and men with herpes virus because it contains very high amount of arginine."

Do you think I could have activated it again by eating that dessert? I'm still taking the Zovirax. If so, Can I do something to avoid the manifestation of these symptoms or keep it suppressed. I just cannot tolerate this again so soon! I Finally have relief!

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Miccky]

Chocolate definately sets herpes off in my body. If I eat chocolate its garanteed to rear its ugly head within a day or two! I guess everyones body reacts differently.

[disturbed226]

Thanks for the info!! I don't know why this tingling feeling has started and I'm concerned cuz it's usually a sign of something. I'll cut out the chocolate for a while and see what happens. It just seems weird that there's this tingling there all of a sudden. Not saying that its the chocolate....but I've become really paranoid. I'm hoping nature is not so cruel as to inflict an OB on me again after I've barely overcome the primary one I just had!

What else could the tingling be? Other than continuing to take the meds, is there anything else I can do to suppress what I think can be happening again? I've heard someone said they douche with peroxide. Does doing that help anthing or make a difference?

Thanks!!

[petal130]

I have to tell you, I eat chocolate just about every day. If your theory were correct, I'd be a mess. I haven't had an outbreak in months.... Lysine has not been shown to be effective in treating herpes, as it is with most natural/herbal remedies

Personally I think any doctor will tell you that eating right and exercising is the key to staying healthy in general. I didn't change one eating habit when I found out I had genital herpes...