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

Magnesium

Magnesium: The “iron” of the plant world

Magnesium - Mg is the central atom of chlorophyll
It is an important intracellular mineral, involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions.

Helpful for:
PMS
Stress
Tension (relaxes skeletal and smooth muscles)
Migraines
Asthma
Prevention of coronary artery spasm (angina) and MI (Myocardial Infarction)

Deficiency leads to:
Insomnia
Cramping
Palpitations
Headaches
Hypertension
Osteoporosis
Poor fatty acid metabolism
Kidney and/or gall stones

Negative Interactions:
Oral contraceptives, diuretics, excess trans and saturated fat, too much calcium, chocolate, alcohol, sugar and caffeine all deplete magnesium.

Dosage:
Supplement usually a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium
For best absorption, use Magnesium Citrate, Aspartate or Glycinate, or chelated to amino acids.

Avoid Carbonate or Sulfate forms as too much may lead to diarrhea

Sources:
Dark leafy greens
Nuts
Seeds
Legumes
Whole grains
Avocado
Apricot

Mg can leach into cooking water so use it for your soups...