Valentine's Day: Chocolate, Nuts and Herpes

Want to avoid getting a lip like that this Valentine's Day?

Want to avoid kissing a lip like that this Valentine's Day?

Don't like herpes?

Then read.

Im not talking genital herpes here which is herpes simplex 2 or HSV-2

Im talking about the herpes around your mouth, lips and nose. This is herpes simplex type 1 or HSV-1

Valentine's Day always brings in more cold sore complaints to the clinic.

Yes, lysine is an effective treatment for it. You can always go and pick up some lysine and take it. Yes you can apply lysine to your lips to help make the cold sore go away.

However, most of you know me by now and know that I prefer to prevent things rather than treat them.

Prevent Herpes Simplex Type 1: ie. Cold sores

• Limit the amount of arginine foods.
• Nuts
• Chocolate
• Need I say more?
• See why Valentine's day causes a ton of HSV-1 Cold sores???

Yes chocolate and nuts are tasty but is Valentine's Day about chocolate and nuts?

Don't think so.

It is about love and that typically requires a bit of kissing. I don't think you want to kiss your loved one with a cold sore on their lips or vice versa.

Keep it safe. Keep it HSV-1 (and by all means HSV-2) free.

You know how to keep HSV-2 at bay...if not, let me know and I'll write a post!

Tell your friends about chocolate and nuts causing cold sores. Let them kiss their loved ones on Valentine's day.

Have a story about cold sores caused by chocolate or nut binging? Post a comment!

In health,
Dr Ben

Valentine's Day Gifts? Herpes, Toxins & Heart Issues

Gettin to be that time of year. Bustin out the chocolates, jewels, perfumes, flowers and who knows what else.

While I don't fully support this day as it is grossly commercialized, I like the idea. However, I prefer the day of March 8th - called Women's Day in Russia. This one I do celebrate - well because my wife is Russian. If your lady is Russian or Eastern European, and you don't know about this - now you do. Get out on March 8th and treat her like a woman. She'll love ya even more.

Tangent. Sorry.

Common Valentine's Day Gifts and Dangers with them:

Jewelry: I dont believe jewels will make her sick. It may make you sick from the cost but I actually think she'll be so happy that her immune system will be on overdrive.

Chocolate: Besides the obvious fillers, food coloring, preservatives and high saturated fat content clogging her gorgeous cardiovascular system and funking up her smoothly figured liver, there is another hidden danger of chocolate: Herpes outbreaks. Yes that sucks. Why does that happen? Well, chocolate is very high in arginine and low in lysine. Arginine in high amounts may lead to a herpes outbreak. We see this in the clinic all the time during this period. In fact, I'm already seeing it as people are eating more chocolate. Other foods that are high in arginine are nuts and peanuts. So careful. Don't want a herpes outbreak on such a passionate day do we?*

Perfumes: Ahh the aroma of her. Her natural smells are the best right? Good. Keep it that way. If she kinda smells a bit, go for natural deodorants, bathing salts, oils and she may want to avoid dairy products. Dairy products make many people a bit funky smelling. I for one fall into that category. If you know you've gotta have the perfume or bath salt or something that smells good, make sure you understand the toxicity of that product. The Environmental Working Group has done that job for you already. Choose from their suggested safe perfume product list. She will appreciate your concern. Trust me on that one.

On those notes, have a wonderful happy sexy Valentine's Day - and a healthy one at that.

*Ok - herpes outbreak. I got you freaked out. Sorry. Chocolate doesn't cause herpes but it may stimulate the herpes virus to replicate. So you may want to consider limiting chocolate, nuts and peanuts for her and you. If you do really gotta have chocolate, get to the health store and pick up some lysine. Ask your doctor how to dose it or check it out from a good source. So if you have or she has a history of cold sores, herpes simplex I or II - this blog post is for you.