Herpes, Women and Chocolate
Chocolate could have an influence on women herpes symptoms. Several articles published recently claim that chocolate is a health food superior even to green tea. A study in 2003 suggested that eating chocolate regularly could prolong your life span, and other studies suggest that it protects blood vessels. Chocolate may be an antioxidant and contain lots of polyphenols, but for people with herpes, chocolate is often a trigger.
Most studies on chocolate conclude that it is best to eat highly concentrated dark chocolate because it contains more antioxidant, polyphenols and minerals than other varieties and also because it usually contains less added sugar and fat.
Chocolate also contains ingredients which can suppress your immune system, such as metylxantil and small amounts of caffeine and refined sugar.
Its high arginine content gives fuel to herpes reproduction. So chocolate should be avoided by both men and women infected with herpes.
Menopausal women or those suffering from PMS should be extra careful about their chocolate intake. Chocolate can stimulate the production of certain prostaglandins, which are thought to promote PMS. Women with PMS are often advised to avoid beverages or foods (tea, coffee and chocolate) containing Xantine or melxantil in order to reduce nervousness, breast tenderness and irritability.
A 2002 laboratory study conducted in New Jersey suggested that prostaglandins inhibitors such as aspirin could prevent reproduction of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) virus and that may also be the case with the herpes virus.
Other small studies indicate that a certain type of prostaglandin (E2) exacerbates herpes virus proliferation while another (E1), suppresses it.
In other words, the action of chocolate on prostaglandin (E2) could promote herpes replication and especially in women during PMS and menopause. Body levels of prostaglandin (E1) decrease during PMS and menopause while other types of prostaglandins naturally increase.
This could mean that women who display high prostaglandin levels naturally experience more severe herpes symptoms and that eating chocolate could make things worse for them.
This theory is backed up by my personal experience, and that of my female readers. We are much more herpes-prone during the 7 to 12 days prior to menstruation or during the menopause. So avoiding chocolate a little prior to menstruation is essential. Dairy produce, can contribute to stimulating the production of prostaglandins so milk chocolate is even worse.
By Nathalie Foy
Nathalie Foy is an alternative treatment specialist. She is the author of Herpes Wise, a book which gives her unique step by step easy plan to cure genital herpes symptoms in 3 days and for life and answers most important questions about herpes testing, transmission, prevention and more. Visit her website at http://www.herpes-wise.com
Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg
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Hi, I am a male at age 79 who takes 200 mg Acyclovir capsule daily to counter eruption of genital herpes. For the last 40 years I have witnessed on myself that if I eat chocolate (any kind) in “large” amount, for example four Girls Scouts Thin Mints (32g total) cookies at one time, then I should expect a flareup of my herpes the next day.
Thank you for sharing. Monitoring and understanding yourself is the best way to ensure you continue to enjoy a full and healthy life. Different foods will have different effects on you and knowing your own tolerance is definitely a good thing.
Thanks Admin, I have just emailed Joe and Terry Graedon at People Pharmacy.com, and also added a link to this website. The Graedons keep saying, for years, on their radio show, that “eating chocolate is good for you”.