Poppy seeds Lysine and Arginine Info Sheet
Overview
Poppy seeds are tiny, black, edible seeds that have a nutty and slightly sweet taste.They are often used as a topping or filling for pastries, breads, and cakes, as well as in salads, sauces, and dressings.
Poppy seeds are a good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
Poppy seeds may have health benefits such as improving sleep quality, relieving pain, enhancing mood, and preventing constipation.
| Name | Lysine (mg/100g) | Arginine (mg/100g) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poppy seeds | 952mg | 1945mg | 0.489 |
Poppy seeds contains 952mg of Lysine and 1945mg of Arginine per 100g of product.
This means Poppy seeds has a low Lysine-Arginine ratio of 0.489.
Because Poppy seeds 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
Poppy seeds have a moderate amount of lysine, which is close to your daily needs.
Lysine is essential for protein synthesis, tissue repair, and immune function.
Lysine is also involved in the production of collagen, a protein that supports the skin, bones, and joints.
Lysine is essential for human health, and must be obtained from the diet or supplements.
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 different high-protein foods like dairy products, fish, eggs, meat and poultry.
Arginine Considerations
Poppy seeds have a high amount of arginine, which is more than enough to meet your daily needs.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is involved in various metabolic processes, such as nitric oxide synthesis, urea cycle, and wound healing.
Arginine also plays a role in blood pressure regulation, immune response, and sexual function.
Arginine is semi-essential for human health, and can be synthesized by the body under normal conditions.
However, some situations may increase the need for arginine, such as stress, injury, or infection.
Arginine can improve your wellbeing and performance, such as lowering your blood pressure, healing your wounds, and boosting your exercise endurance.
Arginine can be made by the 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
Poppy seeds have a low lysine-arginine ratio, which means they have less lysine than arginine.
This may affect the balance of these amino acids in the body, and may have implications for viral infections, such as HSV.
Some studies suggest that a low lysine-arginine ratio may cause or worsen HSV outbreaks, while a high ratio may prevent or treat them, and a moderate ratio may have a neutral effect on them.
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 flare ups.
Foods that have a high lysine-arginine ratio include milk and cheese 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 flare ups.
Dietary Considerations
Seeds are edible kernels that are enclosed in a protective outer covering, such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds.
Seeds are abundant in protein, fiber, healthy fats, and minerals.
That said, seeds also have high levels of arginine compared to lysine, which can be problematic for people with herpes.
Arginine can stimulate the replication of the herpes virus, leading to more frequent and severe outbreaks.
Lysine can counteract the effects of arginine, but it is not abundant in seeds.
Because of this, seeds should be consumed sparingly or with caution by people with herpes.
Some seeds that have very high amounts of arginine are sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.
For example:
A diverse and nutritious diet that supports your immune system and fights inflammation is essential.
This means you should eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, and steer clear of processed foods, added sugars, alcohol, and caffeine, which can harm your health.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine which can overstimulate your body, leave you dehydrated, and compromise your immune system.Consider taking l-lysine supplements, which can help prevent herpes outbreaks and stop a cold sore before it emerges by limiting the availability of arginine for the virus, which it requires to produce a cold sore.
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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