What foods should you avoid when you have shingles?

Foods to Avoid During a Shingles Outbreak
The core goal of dietary management during a shingles episode is to reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and avoid aggravating nerve pain and skin discomfort.
Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern nutrition, the following are categories of foods you should try to avoid or reduce during shingles, with detailed explanations to help you understand the reasons.
Key Food Categories to Avoid:
1. Foods High in Arginine
Examples:​ Chocolate, nuts (e.g., peanuts, almonds), seeds (e.g., pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), chickpeas, lentils, gelatin.
Reason to Avoid:​ The shingles virus (varicella-zoster virus) uses the amino acid arginine​ to replicate. While it’s impossible and unnecessary to eliminate it completely, reducing intake of high-arginine foods while increasing foods rich in lysine​ (e.g., fish, chicken, eggs, dairy) may help suppress viral replication. This is not a mainstream medical treatment but is widely discussed as a supportive dietary strategy.
2. Pro-Inflammatory Foods
Examples:
High-sugar foods and refined carbohydrates:​ Pastries, cakes, sugary drinks, white bread. These foods can increase inflammation levels in the body.
Unhealthy fats:​ Fried foods, processed snacks (containing trans fats), excessive red meat.
Reason to Avoid:​ Inflammation is a primary cause of shingles pain and rash severity. Eating pro-inflammatory foods can “add fuel to the fire,” potentially worsening redness, swelling, heat, pain, and slowing down the healing process.
3. Stimulating Foods
Examples:
Spicy foods:​ Chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, mustard, curry.
Alcohol:​ All types of liquor, beer, etc.
Caffeine:​ Strong tea, coffee (especially in excess).
Reason to Avoid:​ The shingles virus attacks nerves, causing nerve inflammation and leading to severe pain or unusual sensations (like burning, tingling). These stimulating foods can excite the nervous system​ and may directly worsen nerve pain. Additionally, alcohol can weaken the immune system, hindering the body’s ability to fight the virus.
4. “Hair Objects” (发物) in TCM Theory
In TCM, shingles (known as “snake-like sores” or “cincture gem”) is often related to dampness, heat, and toxic fire. Therefore, it’s advised to avoid “Hair Objects” – foods that can exacerbate these conditions by promoting dampness, heat, or triggering reactions.
Warm-natured ‘Hair Objects’:
Seafood:​ Shrimp, crab, shellfish (especially for those with allergic tendencies, as they can trigger stronger immune responses).
Meats:​ Mutton, dog meat, venison, and other warming meats.
Dampness-promoting ‘Hair Objects’:
Greasy and fried foods:​ Like deep-fried dough sticks and fatty meats, which are hard to digest, burden the spleen and stomach, and promote dampness and heat in the body.
Recommended Foods to Prioritize:
To support recovery, focus your diet on:
Foods Rich in Lysine:​ Fish (especially salmon, tuna), chicken, turkey, eggs, yogurt, cheese.
Immune-Boosting Nutrients:
Vitamin C:​ Citrus fruits (in moderation, as sour foods might irritate mouth ulcers for some), kiwi, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers.
Zinc:​ Lean meats, oysters, legumes, pumpkin seeds.
Vitamins A and E:​ Carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, nuts (if not allergic, e.g., almonds in small amounts), avocado.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods:
Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids:​ Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), flaxseeds, chia seeds.
Colorful vegetables and fruits:​ Rich in antioxidants, which help fight inflammation.