What Foods Should Be Avoided with Shingles?
May 19, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wan
Introduction
Foods to Avoid with Herpes Zoster:
1. Avoid high-fat, high-cholesterol, greasy foods, such as animal fat, organ meats, crab roe, egg yolks, and cream-based products.
2. Avoid spicy, stimulating, or cold foods and beverages, such as alcohol, chili peppers, mustard, ginger, cold drinks, and ice cream.
3. Avoid sticky, hard-to-digest foods, such as rice cakes, frozen desserts, and nuts.
Shingles is caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which typically remains latent in dorsal root ganglion neurons. It poses a threat to human health. So, what foods should be avoided during shingles?
Foods to Avoid with Shingles
The following foods should be avoided during shingles:
1. High-fat, high-cholesterol, greasy foods—such as animal fats, organ meats, crab roe, egg yolks, and cream-based products.
2. Spicy, stimulating, or cold foods—such as alcohol, chili peppers, mustard, ginger, chilled beverages, and ice cream.
3. Sticky, hard-to-digest foods—such as glutinous rice cakes (nian gao), tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), pickled vegetables, frozen desserts, and nuts.
4. Smoked, cured, or deep-fried foods—such as fried chicken, youtiao (Chinese fried dough sticks), fried pancakes, bacon, and ham.
If you develop shingles, there’s no need for excessive anxiety. Ensure adequate rest, consume easily digestible foods, and maintain sufficient hydration. If secondary bacterial infection occurs, avoid touching or rubbing the affected area with your hands. Appropriate medications should be used to prevent lesion rupture. In severe cases—especially among elderly patients with shingles affecting the head or face—hospitalization is recommended to prevent complications.
While managing diet, patients with shingles must also receive standardized medical treatment. If pain persists after cutaneous symptoms have resolved, acupuncture or physical therapy may help alleviate discomfort. Moreover, shingles onset is often closely associated with fatigue and compromised immunity; therefore, patients should prioritize rest, actively cooperate with treatment, enhance immune function, and promote rapid recovery. We hope this information is helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!
