Lysine/ Arginine Food List:

Arginine is an amino acid (a type of protein) that herpesviruses use to create their cell coating. When arginine is present, it causes the virus to become active and replicate. 

Arginine is produced naturally by the body and it is also found in whole foods like fruit, vegetables, meats, seafood, cheeses, and dairy products. (It’s usually absent in processed foods)

Arginine is a healing amino acid that the body produces to repair injury. If you get a cut, scrape, bruise, surgery, or have inflammation your body will produce Arginine to repair those areas of the body. 

Only thing is, this attracts the herpesvirus to those areas where arginine is being used to repair damage in the body. It can feed on this Arginine and replicate, worsening the symptoms and prolonging healing. 

Now there’s another important amino acid called Lysine. Lysine is also a protein because it’s also an amino acid. Amino acids are the most basic proteins, also known as the building blocks of life.

Lysine is not produced by the body. You can only get it through dietary means from your food. 

Lysine also has healing and reparative functions in the body, but there’s also something else that Lysine is great at, and that’s antagonizing and canceling out Arginine. 

Lysine cancels Arginine in equal amounts, so if a food has equal amounts of Lysine and Arginine, all of the Arginine will be canceled out. 

Take Leeks for example, Leeks has 97mg Lysine and 97mg Arginine, therefore all of the Arginine is canceled out.

If a food has more Lysine than Arginine, all of the Arginine will be canceled out. 

If a food has more Arginine than Lysine, there will be Arginine left over that can trigger the herpesvirus. 

The food list provided is to help you identify foods that are higher in Lysine and foods that are higher in Arginine. 

The goal of this list is to compile and provide the Lysine/Arginine values for every food known to man if those values are available.

This is not a food list of my healthy recommendations. There are indeed some foods on this list that we stay away from in our wellness protocols and healthy living recommendations, but we included them for your information. 

You might be someone who’s already on your healthy journey and looking for the fruits and vegetables on the Arginine list that you want to stay away from, and confirm the healthy high Lysine foods to incorporate in your diet, choosing only the healthy options from the list and avoiding unhealthy high Lysine options like pork. 

Maybe you're eating the Standard American Diet and want to know if certain foods in your diet can trigger the virus. 

No matter where you are in your journey, you can use this list to double check your food choices, and recognize the high Arginine triggers and your high Lysine options. 

Now choose wisely.

Like I said earlier, our wellness protocols are much more discerning and focused only on the healthiest of choices on this list.

If you need help with your herpesvirus diet, book your free call at TaraSimmons.as.me to discuss getting back into balance.  

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Consult with a healthcare provider before making any significant dietary changes, especially if you have a medical condition.

References

1. Griffith, R. S., DeLong, D. C., & Nelson, J. D. (1981). Relation of arginine-lysine antagonism to herpes simplex growth in tissue culture. Chemotherapy, 27(3), 209-213. doi:10.1159/000238828

2. Griffith, R. S., Norins, A. L., & Kagan, C. (1978). A multicentered study of lysine therapy in herpes simplex infection. Dermatologica, 156(5), 257-267. doi:10.1159/000250856

3. McCune, W. J., & Perry, H. O. (1980). Amino acids and herpes simplex virus: Interactions and therapeutic implications. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 3(4), 327-334. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(80)80030-5

4. Weil, A. (n.d.). Lysine and Herpes. Retrieved from Dr. Weil on Lysine and Herpes

5. University of Maryland Medical Center. (n.d.). Lysine. Retrieved from UMMC on Lysine

6. Axe, J. (n.d.). Lysine Benefits. Retrieved from Dr. Axe on Lysine and Herpes