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Cold sore lysine - does it really help cold sores or is it just so much hype? Now you can know the truth. By the time you finish this article, you will discover some little known facts about cold sore lysine treatment options.
Cold sore lysine cures have been the subject of many studies and much news. Most of the research has been quite positive for using lysine as a treatment for all varieties of herpes sores. But, sadly, much of this information is incorrect.
FACT: Lysine quenches cold sores much like water extinguishes fire.
Water puts out a fire by starving it of the oxygen it needs to burn. Lysine works in a similar way - it represses cold sores by depriving the herpes virus of what it must have to create the sore.
But, before you use lysine to treat your sores, it will help you greatly to learn about what causes them and how lysine really works to stop them.
The herpes simplex virus moves to the surface for the sole purpose of creating new virus. This parasite virus enters a cell and forces that cell to produce new virus clones. When full, the cell is broken open to spill out the fresh virus.
The herpes virus, type 1 or 2, creates the open, ugly ulcer on your lip or nose by burning up thousands of nerve cells during this replication process.
FACT: Arginine is the main nutrient that feeds the herpes fire.
The herpes virus is made of protein. The main protein used by the cells to create this sub-microscopic virus is the amino acid arginine.
Lysine and arginine are essential to your good health. They are termed essential amino acids because they cannot be created within the body. They must come through food. Each of the 17 essential amino acids has a specific duty to keep you healthy.
Your body cells store arginine in a special area within the cell. If forced to create new herpes virus, your cell will draw on these stores until depleted. Without arginine readily available, new virus cannot be created.
FACT: Lysine smothers cold sores by making arginine unavailable.
Lysine is also stored within the cells, in the same storage area as arginine. The more lysine in your diet, the more of it is stored in the cells. And the more lysine, the less room there is for storing arginine. Basically, lysine and arginine fight for the same space.
Here is the best news. Lysine cannot be used to create new virus. Like water, it cannot burn. And because lysine forces arginine out of the cells, it removes the main building block for the virus.
FACT: Lysine must be taken orally to reach the cells and be absorbed.
The best way to flood your cells with cold sore lysine is by eating high lysine foods. Dairy products, meats, and fish are excellent sources of this amino acid.
Lysine capsules, although not as well absorbed, are much more convenient for many people. A special diet is often hard to keep, especially with your busy schedule. But, it would be best to combine dietary sources with these supplements.
There are several drug-store treatments that contain lysine. These treatments often contain other herpes fighting ingredients that will help - at least for comfort. Lysine sounds good on the label - but, as a topical remedy for cold sores, it has not been proven to work.
Lysine is a large molecule and is not able to be absorbed readily through the skin. Putting it on the skin, or on the sore, will be of no help. It cannot get through the skin to prevent the sore and, once it becomes an open ulcer, the damage is done.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - lysine is great for extinguishing, and preventing, cold sores. But keep in mind that lysine only works when it gets into the cells. This can only happen when it is taken by mouth and absorbed internally from food and supplements.
For treatment of a currently active sore, a common daily dosage would be about 4000 mg.. Between outbreaks, many people take 500 to 1000 mg. of supplemental lysine as a preventative.
Beating your cold sores may be as simple as eating high lysine foods, avoiding high arginine foods, and taking a booster dose of lysine in capsules. This is the very best way to get therapeutic levels of cold sore lysine.
Denny Bodoh knows COLD SORES! Be sure to read his great free articles before spending another dime on your cold sores. You will discover some incredibly easy COLD SORE facts and remedies you can use today.
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