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Question:
A friend of mine told me that taking lysine will help prevent cold sores. What exactly is lysine and does it really work?
Answer:
Lysine is an amino acid that has become a popular nutritional treatment for cold sores and genital herpes. This approach originally came from research showing that lysine has anti-viral activity against the Herpes simplex virus in test tube studies. Lysine works to inhibit the growth of the virus by blocking its use of another amino acid - arginine.
In order for lysine therapy to really be effective in preventing cold sores and outbreaks of genital herpes it is important that the diet also is low in arginine. Avoid foods high in arginine like chocolate, peanuts, almonds and other nuts, and seeds. It is also a good idea to focus on foods that are high in lysine such as most vegetables, legumes, fish, turkey, and chicken. Follow these dietary guidelines and take one gram of L-lysine three times daily with meals for maximum benefit. In one double-blind study, after 6 months, lysine was rated as effective or very effective in 74% of cases compared to only 28% for those receiving the placebo.
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