Foods that prevent cold sores are determined based on how high their lysine content and/or how low their arginine content.
Lysine and arginine are two essential amino acids found in food. There are many different amino acids but these two seem to have a special effect on cold sore outbreaks.
This is how it works.
The normally latent herpes virus decides to move to the surface to reproduce. The tiny, sub-microscopic virus enters a nerve cell on your lip or nose. It then takes control of the cell and forces the cell to create copies.
One major building block for creating the new virus is arginine. Arginine, and many other amino acids, are normally stored in special locations within each cell called "receptors".
Lysine and arginine compete.
Lysine also likes to use the same receptors as arginine. There is always a bit of competition going on between the two.
They are both important to your good health so you want some of both in the cell. However, scientists have found the higher lysine to arginine content, the less likely the cell can be used for herpes virus replication.
That is why increasing your lysine intake can help prevent cold sores from happening.
Most foods, especially meats, contain both lysine and arginine. Foods that prevent cold sores will contain much higher amounts of lysine than arginine. These are judged by what is known as a "ratio" between lysine and arginine.
If there is an equal amount of both, the ratio would be 1 to 1. If there is twice as much lysine to arginine, then the ratio would be 2 to 1. The ratio in cheddar cheese, for example, is 2.2 to 1.
Here is a suggested list of high lysine ratio foods that prevent cold sores :
- Beef
- Fish, especially flounder
- Chicken
- Cheese
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Eggs
- Apples
- Pears
- Mangos
- Apricots
- Summer Squash
Many folks simply take a daily dose of lysine in capsule form, which greatly adds balance to their lysine and arginine intake.
Some time ago, I met a lady at a seminar who gave me the secret to eliminating cold sore outbreaks using stuff I already had in my home. I'm sure you have everything you need also.
If you will let me, I would love to tell you about this cold sore cure so you can enjoy the freedom you deserve.
By Denny Bodoh
