Lysine Arginine Ratio vs. Quantity

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The Lysine Arginine ratio vs. quantity can confuse Herpes patients. It’s not hard to understand!

The key to managing Herpes is the quantity of Arginine you eat, NOT the ratio of Lysine to Arginine alone.

Lysine, Arginine and Herpes

1). What is Lysine?

• Lysine is one of 23 Amino Acids in food. Amino acids are proteins which combine to make hundreds of substances in the body . They also perform many jobs on their own.
• Lysine is one of 9 essential amino acids – we cannot make these. We must consume them in food or supplements.
• We use Lysine for sleep, bone-building, immune support, and antiviral defense, especially for conditions like Herpes, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Shingles.

2). What is Arginine?

• Arginine is an amino acid that we CAN make on our own. It is especially high in seeds, grains, beans, coconut meat and most protein powders.

3). Lysine, Arginine & Herpes

• Arginine feeds the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Arginine can also stimulate Epstein-Barr Virus activity and may worsen flare-ups of Shingles in some individuals.
• Reducing Arginine helps you gain control of HSV.
• Lysine acts in opposition to Arginine and helps suppress it. My 90 minute Herpes Relief Guide covers all of this, plus supplement info.

Lysine Arginine Ratio vs. Quantity

• Many charts and graphs show the calculated ratios of Lysine to Arginine in foods for Herpes and Epstein-Barr management.
  • For example, if a serving of wheat has 1000 mg Lysine and 3000 mg Arginine, the ratio is 0.33 (very bad).
  • If a serving of beef has 2000 mg Lysine and 1000 mg Arginine, the ratio is 2:1 (good!).
• By looking at ratios, you find abundant Lysine (more than 1:1 ratio) in animal protein and dairy.
• Vegetables may have high or low ratios, but all have minimal quantities (except peas, beans and lentils).
• Grains, nuts, seeds and coconut meat have lots of Arginine and contain ratios less than 1 to 1.

Do not be confused! The ratio is of some help in HSV but it’s not the main story.

Lysine and Arginine Quantities in Foods

The key to Herpes management is reducing the AMOUNT of Arginine you eat.

It’s misleading to worry about a poor ratio in vegetables when the Arginine content is low. For example:

• 1 cup Brussels sprouts has 130 mg Lysine and 178 mg Arginine (a poor ratio). The difference is only 48 mg.
• A 4 oz serving of beef has 1820 mg Lysine and 1425 mg Arginine — a net Lysine gain of 400 mg, similar to taking one 500 mg Lysine supplement.

If you eat the way I teach Paleo for Herpes with animal proteins, fats, vegetables and a small amount of tubers, your Lysine to Arginine balance will change VERY quickly. I have seen many Clients permanently reduce chronic outbreaks in 2 weeks of higher Lysine quantity foods.

Examples of Lysine and Arginine Quantities in Food

• 4 oz Meat: 2450 mg Lysine / 1730 mg Arginine — a major Lysine boost, ideal for anyone managing viral conditions like Epstein-Barr or Herpes.
• 1 cup Yogurt: 700 mg Lysine / 235 mg Arginine — high Lysine food.
  (Note: Some with Epstein-Barr or Herpes have dairy sensitivities.)
• 1 slice Cheese: 500–700 mg Lysine / 200–300 mg Arginine.
  (Again, may be hard for some to digest.)
• Butter and oils: Almost zero Lysine or Arginine — they’re fat, not protein.
• 3 oz Fish (deck of cards size): 1550 mg Lysine / 1000 mg Arginine — an excellent choice for Herpes, EBV and Shingles.

Lysine and Arginine in Fruits and Vegetables

Most fruits and vegetables have very little protein, and therefore minimal Lysine or Arginine. Green peas and lentils are exceptions.

• 1 cup Green Peas: 460 mg Lysine / 625 mg Arginine — higher Arginine load, so limit if Herpes or Epstein-Barr is active.
• 1 cup Green Beans: 97 mg Lysine / 80 mg Arginine — ratio is good, and Arginine quantity is low.

Questions on the Lysine-Arginine Ratio

1. What foods have the most Arginine? Grains, seeds, nuts, bone broth, gelatin, collagen and coconut meat. And most protein powders.
2. Is the Paleo Diet the best place to start? Yes! Paleo eliminates grains. We did not evolve to graze on grass seed. Here is the Paleo Diet Adapted for Herpes article and Podcast.
3. Once I stop grains and increase animals, fats and veggies, will my outbreaks stop? That depends on many factors: stress levels, skin friction; your overall health and immune status.
4. Why can I eat coconut oil or almond oil but not coconut meat or almonds? Fats have no protein.
5. Are gelatin capsules OK? Yes. There is only a tiny amount of protein in gel caps. This potent anti-viral made for HSV has an anti-viral herb and traces of gelatin. It’s a great product!
6. Can’t I take lots of Lysine and eat what I want? A band-aid approach does not help the inflammation from eating grains. Here’s a quality Lysine in my Online Store.
7. When is the best time to take Lysine? On an empty stomach is best but it won’t hurt to take with food. It just doesn’t work as well when mixed with protein in the meal.
8. Is there a free chart of the quantities and ratios? Yes, here is a good one.

Conclusion

Managing Herpes, Epstein-Barr and Shingles through diet means focusing on high-Lysine, low-Arginine foods, especially from animal protein. Reducing grains, seeds, and processed protein powders can dramatically change how often symptoms appear. With the right nutrition, many people find lasting relief from chronic outbreaks. For deeper help, check out my Herpes Relief Guide and free food charts.