Coconut Lysine and Arginine Info Sheet
Overview
Coconut is a tropical fruit that has a hard shell and a white flesh.The flesh can be eaten fresh or dried and shredded.
Coconut is high in saturated fat, which may raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
However, coconut also contains medium-chain triglycerides, which may have some health benefits, such as boosting metabolism, enhancing brain function, and fighting infections.
Coconut is also a good source of fiber, manganese, copper, and iron.
| Name | Lysine (mg/100g) | Arginine (mg/100g) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut | 147mg | 546mg | 0.27 |
Coconut contains 147mg of Lysine and 546mg of Arginine per 100g of product.
This means Coconut has a low Lysine-Arginine ratio of 0.27.
Because Coconut contains much higher levels of arginine than lysine, limiting its consumption is recommended by people who suffer from herpes, as it may trigger outbreaks.
Lysine Considerations
Coconut is a moderate source of lysine, an essential amino acid that is important for protein synthesis, collagen formation, and calcium absorption.
Lysine may also help prevent cold sores and herpes infections.
Lysine can help prevent or treat cold sores, which are blisters caused by the virus HSV-1, also known as herpes.
Lysine works by blocking the growth of HSV-1, which needs another amino acid called arginine to multiply and infect cells.
Lysine can only be obtained through diet, and can be found in multiple high-protein foods like dairy, fish, eggs, meat and poultry.
Arginine Considerations
Coconut is a moderate source of arginine, another essential amino acid that is involved in nitric oxide production, wound healing, and immune function.
Arginine may also help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and enhance erectile function.
Arginine has many functions in the body, including wound healing, helping the kidneys remove waste products from the body, and maintaining immune and hormone function.
Arginine also plays a role in the replication of the herpes virus, making it a key factor in cold sore outbreaks.
The herpes virus requires arginine to grow, replicate, and create new herpes viruses.
Foods a decent source of arginine, such as nuts and chocolate, may increase the frequency and severity of these outbreaks.
Lysine-Arginine Ratio
Coconut has a low lysine-arginine ratio, which means that it provides more arginine than lysine.
This may not be ideal for people with viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus, as arginine may stimulate the replication of the virus.
Therefore, people with such infections may want to consume more lysine-rich foods and less arginine-rich foods.
Both lysine and arginine play crucial roles in protein synthesis and other metabolic activities.
Interestingly, they have contrasting effects on the herpes simplex virus, which is responsible for cold sores and genital herpes.
Lysine can prevent the virus's ability to replicate, while arginine can promote it.
Consequently, consuming foods with a high lysine to arginine ratio may help decrease the frequency and severity of herpes flare-ups.
Foods with a high lysine-arginine ratio include milk and cheese products, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
These foods can supply the body with sufficient lysine to block the virus's availability of arginine, thereby preventing its growth and spread.
Dietary Considerations
Fruits are generally high in natural sugars, water, and vitamin C.
Some fruits have more lysine than arginine, such as papaya, mango, apricot, apple, pear, fig, and avocado.
These fruits can help stunt or soothe herpes outbreaks, as lysine can counteract the effects of arginine.
Other fruits have more arginine than lysine, such as oranges, tangerines, grapes, bananas, strawberries, and kiwis.
These fruits can still be consumed in moderation, as they have other health benefits.
For instance:
A well-balanced and healthy diet that strengthens your immune system and lowers inflammation is important.
This means you should eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and good fats, and avoid processed foods, added sugars, alcohol, and caffeine.
L-lysine supplementscan help you prevent herpes outbreaks and stop a cold sore before it develops by depriving the virus of arginine, which it needs to form a cold sore.
Taking other food supplements that can improve your immunity and protect your cells from oxidative stress, such as vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and antioxidants.
Your immune system can be weakened and inflammation can be increased by foods that can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities, such as gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, or shellfish.
Avoid these foods to avoid outbreaks.
Eating foods that can soothe your symptoms and speed up your healing process, such as honey, yogurt, aloe vera, and chamomile.
These foods have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties that can reduce pain, swelling, and itching, and promote tissue repair.
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