Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by a contagious virus called herpes simplex 1. When you have an outbreak, you will see a small painful blister filled with fluid that can appear on your lips, chin, nostrils or inside your mouth. These sores usually last over a week and can reappear at any time. If you believe you have been infected with the herpes virus, visit your physician.
Meat and Poultry
Beef, turkey, chicken and pork all contain high amounts of lysine as well as arginine, which is known to increase cold sore breakouts, According to Herpes.Com informational website, you should eat foods that are low in arginine and higher in lysine to reduce the herpes virus' ability to replicate. There is research published in the June 2009, issue of "Journal of Virology.", conducted by S.K. Souki, P.D. Gershon and R.M. Sandri-Golden, that showed arginine contains a component that is required by the herpes simplex type 1 virus to reproduce. Therefore, you should limit your intake of meat and poultry products.
Fruits
Fruits and juices that contain high amounts of arginine and low quantities of lysine will "feed" the virus that contributes to cold sores. These fruits include blueberries with 49mg of argnine, blackberries with 49mg, orange juice with 117mg, grape juice with 119mg and strawberries with 39mg. Most fruits will not "feed" the virus, but you should avoid those that have a high acid content.
Vegetables
Vegetables that are believed to bring about cold sores because of their chemical composition include lima beans, okra, collard greens, carrots, broccoli, sweet peppers, radishes, eggplant, cabbage, green peas, onions and winter squash, which all contain high amounts of arginine. They also contain very low amounts of lysine, the chemical that can reduce breakouts.
Nuts and Seeds
Many seeds, nuts and nut butters have large amounts of arginine. The worst offender belongs to pumpkin seeds which contain 5,570mg of arginine per every 140mg. peanuts contain 5,050mg and sesame seeds come next with 4,990mg. Also avoid almonds, brazil nuts, pistachios, wheat germ. macadamia and pine nuts. Not only do these contain a high arginine content, but they also have very little lysine.
References
- Herpes.Com: Herpes-Nutrition
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Herpes Simplex Virus
- Herpes-Coldsores.Com: Herpes Diet and Foods Information
- MayoClinic.Com: Cold Sore
- PubMed.Gov: Arginine Methylation of the ICP27 RGG Box Regulates ICP27 Export and is Required for Efficient Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Replication
