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Combines the amino acid lysine with vitamin C and zinc
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Supports the body’s natural defences against cold sore outbreaks
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Supports wound repair and skin healing
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Supports immunity and helps maintain resistance to infection
A cold sore develops when the Herpes simplex virus is active and replicating itself, a process that uses large amounts of the amino acid arginine.
Another amino acid called lysine competes with arginine for absorption into the cells and tissues, and so is one of the body’s natural methods of resisting cold sore outbreaks.
Increasing your consumption of lysine limits the amount of arginine available for the virus to use for replication, and consequently supports your body’s defences against cold sore outbreaks.
Lysine-rich foods include vegetables, legumes, fish, sprouts and dairy products. Foods containing arginine (which should be avoided by cold sore sufferers) include chocolate, nuts, oats, carob, coconut and soya beans.
Zinc and vitamin C are important for immunity, which may be impaired if dietary intake of these nutrients is inadequate. They are also involved in the production of collagen, which is a structural component of skin and are involved in the body’s skin healing and wound repairing processes.