What Causes Cold Sores – Preventing Cold Sore Outbreaks

What causes cold sores? In this article, you will discover what causes cold sores in the majority of folks already infected with the herpes virus. The short answer to what causes cold sores is the herpes simplex virus.

About 33% of those infected will never get a cold sore as the virus will remain dormant. The other 66% will get at least a couple outbreaks a year. If the herpes virus wakens, it will move through the nerve fiber to the surface. The virus enters nerve and skin cells and forces them to replicate new virus particles.

Once the cells are full of new virus, they burst open and the virus spills out. The annihilation of all these cells creates the ulcer-like wound.

Yes – the herpes simplex virus is the common cause of all cold sores. But, if you want to prevent them, you must know what causes cold sores in some infected folks but not others.

Here are three main conditions that trigger herpes replication and your cold sore events – triggers that you can easily avoid.

Your immune system is too weak

A vigorous immune response requires strong antibodies. Certain materials must be on hand for your body to build potent antibodies.

Your body needs optimal intake of vitamins and minerals from food and supplementation to create robust antibodies.

Cold sores are a warning your immune system is not strong enough to protect you properly. Eat more raw vegetables for the high quality nutrients needed to strengthen your immunity.

Also, you really should begin a high-quality daily vitamin supplement plan. But don’t waste your money on worthless one-a-day pills.

If you do not buy a high quality vitamin supplement, you will not get good results. You want high vitamin B and C content. These vitamins help reduce stress.

High arginine to lysine ratio

There is much news about arginine and lysine in relation to cold sore herpes activity. They are common amino acids important for good health.

Arginine offers many cardiac benefits. But it also is the primary protein used to create new herpes simplex virus. Without sufficient arginine, a cold sore will not happen.

Herpes virus cannot be built using lysine. Your cells store both these amino acids in the same area. The more of one means less of the other.

Saturating your cells with lysine will reduce the stored arginine. Eating high lysine food, such as dairy, works but lysine capsules are easy, cheap and effective cold sore prevention.

Your pH balance is too acid

You are at peak health when your pH level is alkaline. The pH scale measures 1 through 14 with 7 being neutral. Above 7 is alkaline and below 7 is acid.

Your body works hard to maintain pH levels around 7.4. When you drop below 6.5, you are inviting illness – and creating the right conditions for another cold sore.

The more acidic, the lower your oxygen levels. This creates the perfect breeding ground for the herpes simplex virus. Soda pop and white sugar are acid causing foods to be avoided.

Cold sore outbreaks are most frequent during winter because of the many acid-causing factors. These include cold temperatures, spending more time indoors and drinks like coffee and cocoa.

Keeping your pH level in the alkaline range is easy. Eat calcium-rich green vegetables, preferably cabbage and asparagus. Health stores have alkaline-raising kits that work very well too.

If you want to know what causes cold sores, there is much more we could talk about if we had the time and space here.

Hopefully, however, this short article will help you in finding an answer to the question of what causes cold sores for your particular situation and give you the knowledge to defeat the cold sore in your life.