Hello, this is Monica Reinable, and you're listening to the Nutrition Deva

podcast. Welcome. As is so often the case, this week's episode was prompted by a listener email.

Chris writes,

A couple of months ago, I got my first ever cold sore, and since then I've had several.

A blood test confirms that I have HSV1, the oral herpes virus.

Do you have any suggestions on healthy ways to eat and the best foods to avoid while living with herpes.

As a carrier of the HS1 virus,

Chris is certainly not alone.

It's estimated that between 50 to 85% of the population is walking around with this virus in their bloodstream.

Now many of them will never develop the telltale cold sore or fever blister.

Others might have one or two over their entire lifetime, but some are plagued with regular

outbreaks.

HSV1 stands for the Herpies Simplex virus 1, and it belongs to the same family of viruses that cause

chicken pox and later in life shingles. There's no getting rid of a herpes virus

once you have it it remains in your body for your entire life. Now most of the time if

you're lucky the virus lies dormant and causes no symptoms but there's always the

potential for a herpes virus to be reactivated, especially if your immune system is weakened by stress, fatigue, or illness.

What role does diet play in keeping HSV from flaring up? Well given how many people this virus effects, it's a little surprising

how little research has been done on this question. Of course that doesn't stop folks from spouting off all kinds of advice, but much of the advice

you might encounter on the internet is anecdotal or speculative or even just mistaken.

For example, you might see recommendations for nutrients or herbs

that supposedly strengthen the immune system.

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