Okra Lysine and Arginine Info Sheet
Overview
Okra, also known as Lady's Finger, is a green pod vegetable that is slimy and crunchy.It is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium. It is widely used in African, Asian, and Southern American cuisines.
Okra can be eaten raw, cooked, or pickled. It can also be used to make soups, stews, curries, or salads.
| Name | Lysine (mg/100g) | Arginine (mg/100g) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okra | 82mg | 84mg | 0.98 |
Okra contains 82mg of Lysine and 84mg of Arginine per 100g of product.
This means Okra has a neutral Lysine-Arginine ratio of 0.98.
Because Okra has a neutral ratio of lysine and arginine, it does not have a significant impact on people who suffer from herpes, as it does not affect the viral activity.
Lysine Considerations
Okra has a moderate amount of lysine, which is an essential amino acid that the body cannot produce.
Lysine is important for protein synthesis, collagen formation, and immune function.
It is one of the nine amino acids that your body cannot make by itself, so it has to come from the food we eat.
Lysine has a variety of functions in the body, such as helping with growth, healing, energy, immunity, and collagen production.
Lysine may also have some effects on the herpes virus, which causes cold sores and genital sores.
Studies have suggested that taking lysine supplements or applying lysine cream may help prevent or treat these infections by blocking the amino acid arginine, which the virus needs to grow.
Arginine Considerations
Okra also has a moderate amount of arginine, which is a semi-essential amino acid that the body can produce in limited amounts.
Arginine is important for nitric oxide production, blood vessel dilation, and wound healing.
Arginine can promote your wellbeing and performance, such as lowering your blood pressure, healing your wounds, and boosting your exercise endurance.
Arginine can be made by the human body or obtained from foods like meat, dairy, nuts, and soy.
Unfortunately, the herpes virus is known to "feed" on arginine, and having a diet higher in arginine than lysine may increase the occurrence and severity of cold sores and herpes outbreaks.
Lysine-Arginine Ratio
Okra has a very low lysine-arginine ratio, which means that it has almost the same amount of lysine and arginine.
This ratio may affect the balance of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the body, as lysine inhibits and arginine promotes HSV replication.
A very low lysine-arginine ratio may increase the risk of HSV infections.
Both lysine and arginine are essential for protein synthesis and various other bodily functions.
They, however, have opposing effects on the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes.
Lysine can stunt the replication of the virus, whereas arginine can stimulate it.
Thus, a diet rich in foods with a high lysine to arginine ratio may help reduce the occurrence and severity of herpes symptoms.
Foods that have a high lysine-arginine ratio include milk, cheese and yogurt products, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
These foods can provide the body with enough lysine to compete with arginine and inhibit the virus from replicating and causing symptoms.
Dietary Considerations
Most vegetables are scarce in in calories and a great source of in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Many vegetables have more lysine than arginine, such as beets, turnips, tomatoes, soybean sprouts, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, squash, and green beans.
These vegetables can help prevent or treat herpes outbreaks, as lysine can suppress the herpes virus.
Other vegetables have more arginine than lysine, such as peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and mushrooms.
These vegetables can still be consumed in moderation, as they have other health benefits.
For example:
Eating a balanced and nutritious diet that supports your immune system and reduces inflammation.
This means consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, and avoiding processed foods, added sugars, alcohol, and caffeine.
Drinking enough water to keep yourself hydrated and remove toxins from your body.
Water can also help prevent dryness and irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, which can result in fewer outbreaks.
You may want to take l-lysine supplements.
L-lysine is known to prevent herpes outbreaks and it can help stop a cold sore in its initial stages by "starving" the virus of arginine before it has a chance to cause 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.
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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