Seven out of every 10 Americans suffer from cold sores, caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, according to the University of Washington. Once you've contracted the virus and have suffered your first sore, you are unfortunately doomed to more. The HSV-1 virus remains in your body, waiting for the right circumstances to help it begin multiplying and break out into a blister again. One of the circumstances that can cause HSV-1 to bloom is the amino acid content in your diet.
Arginine
The HSV-1 virus needs arginine to replicate and to gather its cells so they can burst into a cold sore. An amino acid, arginine is classified as semi-essential. Your body produces some, but it also needs more from food sources. Arginine serves some good purposes. It's a vasodilator that can help in the treatment of coronary artery disease. But if you're carrying the HSV-1 virus, supplementing your arginine levels can prompt an outbreak of cold sores.
Lysine
Your body cannot make its own lysine. It's an essential amino acid that you can only get from supplements and your diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some research indicates that lysine can inhibit cold sores. Lysine and arginine compete with each other in your body. Higher levels of one can reduce the levels of the other. If you give your body lysine, it may crowd out the arginine to some extent, effectively "starving" the HSV-1 virus into submission.
Foods High in Arginine and Lysine
Foods that are high in arginine and that can potentially trigger a cold sore include nuts, gelatin, whole-grain products and chocolate. Some protein supplements also contain it. Lysine is available in supplement form and in a cream that you can apply directly to your cold sore to hasten recovery. Legumes such as peas and beans contain lysine. The amino acid is also found in corn, beets, dairy products, eggs, brewer's yeast, chicken, beef, lamb and some fish. Fruits that have some lysine content include papaya, avocados, figs, mangos, pears, tomatoes, apricots and apples.
Tips
The University of Maryland Medical Center cites some research that indicates that increasing lysine levels after a cold sore has already started may not be effective, so it might be more helpful to make sure you have adequate lysine in your diet on a regular basis. This might diminish the levels of arginine in your body and may be preventative.
References
- Ask Dr. Gott; Cold Sores Send Reader Into Hiding; Peter H. Gott, M.D.; June 2010
- WholeHealth Chicago; Cold Sores; 2011
- University of Washington; Herpes Questions and Answers; June 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Arginine
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Lysine; 2011
- "Cold Sore Free Diet Guide"; A Guide to Reducing Cold Sores Through Diet and Lifestyle Changes; Dr. John Spurge, N.D.; 2010 (PDF)
