Are you sick of getting cold sores?
Does your child suddenly erupt with 5 or 6 painful, tingly cold sores all at once?
Do they feel just as frustrated or embarrassed?
They’re not alone!
Why do we get cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which can hide in your spine. In times of stress or if your immune system is weakened, HSV-1 can trigger the development of a cold sore 1.
When we are emotionally or physically tired our immune systems become taxed. When we are dehydrated or fighting a bug, cold sores tend to emerge.
Lysine supplements may help prevent HSV-1 from replicating and reduce the duration of a cold sore. It’s thought that lysine blocks another amino acid called arginine, which HSV-1 needs in order to multiply 1, 2, 3.
Studies have shown L-Lysine may be a helpful supplement for preventing and addressing cold sores.
What is Lysine?
Lysine is a foundational amino acid or a building block of protein. It’s considered an Essential amino acid because our body cannot make it — so we need to obtain it from food or, if required, a supplement.
L-Lysine is a form of lysine which the body can
What does it do?
- Viruses hate lysine. L-lysine appears to enter the liver and acts as a viral retardant that deters viruses from proliferating or growing, reducing viral loads. There, it may influence liver disorders and diseases and viral neurotoxins which inflame the nervous system and autoimmune disorders.
- L-lysine acts as an anti-inflammatory to the entire nervous system, especially the central nervous system and the vagus and phrenic nerves.
- L-lysine appears to strengthen the immune system in the liver and aids in some of the organ’s most important functions.
- L-lysine is important for normal growth and muscle turnover and used to form carnitine, a substance found in most cells of your body.
- It helps transport fats across our cells to be burned for energy.
- Studies have shown L-lysine may help reduce feelings of anxiety and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in some people. Early research indicates that it may even help improve symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
- Without enough lysine, your body may be unable to produce sufficient or appropriate hormones and immune cells.
L-lysine supports the growth and quality of hair, skin
- Lysine itself may also act as a binding agent, thereby increasing the number of new cells at a wound. It may even promote the formation of new blood vessels 12.
- L-lysine can be used to improve athletic ability.
L-lysine doesn’t just fight the Herpes Simplex virus that causes cold sores according to #1 New York Times best-selling author of Medical Medium, Life-Changing Foods, Thyroid Healing, and Liver Rescue, Anthony Williams says that L-lysine hinders and stops all herpetic family viruses.
Anthony Williams goes as far as saying:
“If you or someone you love suffers with canker sores, cold sores, other mouth and tongue sores, chronic fatigue, cancer, eczema, multiple sclerosis, migraines, colitis, autoimmune conditions, insomnia, hot flashes, thyroid problems, aches and pains, rheumatoid arthritis, weight struggles, eye floaters, tingles, numbness, dizziness, burning pain, frozen shoulder, heart palpitations, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, goiters, twitches, muscle spasms, Raynaud’s syndrome, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, diminishing vision, Parkinson’s, ALS, neuropathy, joint pain, or hundreds of others, it means you have a virus inside your body that’s causing your health problems.
In order to heal and prevent future worsening of symptoms or the onset of other illnesses and symptoms, it’s critical you know how to lower your viral load in your body. L-lysine is one of the critical supplements that can help you do this. It impairs the ability of viral cells to move and reproduce.”
At this point in time, there are not enough clinical trials or research to demonstrate that L-Lysine works effectively on all Herpes viruses.
Where can I find it?
There are some foods that contain L-lysine:
- Steamed potatoes (without anything added)
- Kiwis,
- Cherries,
- Pears
Other food sources of lysine:
Meat: Beef, chicken, and lamb
Seafood: Mussels, prawns, and oysters
Fish: Salmon, cod, and tuna
Dairy: Milk, cheese and yogurt
Vegetables: Potatoes, peppers, and leek
Fruits: Avocado, dried apricots, and pears
Legumes: Soybeans, kidney beans, and chickpeas
Nuts and seeds: Macadamia, pumpkin seeds and cashews
Supplements:
If you’re dealing with a viral-related symptom or condition, you may wish to supplement with L-lysine too, not just eat foods with L-lysine.
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Precautions for supplements.
Lysine supplementation is generally considered very safe but requires some precautions.
Please check you are not allergic to any of the ingredients within the supplement. If you are currently taking any medications or have a kidney or liver condition please consult your doctor before taking. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the University of Maryland Medical Centre advises against taking lysine supplements without consulting your doctor.
Preventing a cold sore outbreak
There is no set cure for cold sores. The best suggestions are to:
- Avoid getting ill or run down.
- Pay attention to your general health and well-being
- Keep your stress levels low.
- Avoid known triggers, if possible.
References
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