Friday, February 3, 2023

Cold sores, Herpes & L-Lysine

Are you prone to Cold sores? Do you have HSV 1 (oral) or HSV 2 (genital) Herpes? 

Daily supplementation with the free-form of Lysine, an Amino Acid, has shown to be beneficial in controlling herpes along with a diet high in Lysine and low in Arginine. 

L-Lysine appears to be an effective agent for the reduction of occurrence, severity and healing time of recurrent HSV infection. 

In studying the relationship of Lysine and Herpes, researchers have found that in order to replicate, the herpes virus needs Arginine, another common amino acid. 

Arginine (Bad *) is found in such foods as: 
Peanuts 
Chocolate 
Almonds 
Seeds 
Grains 
Gelatin 
Raisins 
*Arginine is fine in a regular Diet. 

However, avoid these foods when you feel an outbreak coming on. Lysine competes with Arginine for absorption and entry of tissue cells. When lysine is present, it prevents the growth of HSV by depleting the strength of Arginine. 

L-Lysine (Good) is particularly high in: 
Dairy (Especially Yogurt and cheese) 
Eggs 
Meats 
Wheat germ 
Legumes 
Yeast 

Added bonus: L-Lysine also helps with the absorption of calcium and the formation of collagen

Dosage: 

For Prevention: 500 mg 1x/day 

To treat an outbreak: 1000 mg 3x/day - up to 5x/day (max dosage: 5000 mg) 

After an outbreak: 
Reduce the dosage to 1500 mg / day for one week If you are prone to recurrent outbreaks, stay on a 1000 mg maintenance daily dose 

  * Whole Foods carries its own brand at competitive prices 

Caution: Very large doses of Lysine ( > 10,000 mg = 1 gr = Too much) can increase the toxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics (Ex: Gentamicin, Neomycin and Streptomycin) At such large doses, it may also cause cramping & diarrhea 

Helpful Link: http://www.herpes.com/Nutrition.shtml