What Really Causes Cold Sores?

What causes cold sores in only two-thirds of those who are infected?

In a couple minutes, you will discover the top three causes of cold sores and what you can do now to prevent future cold sore occurances.

Cold sores are caused by the replication process of the herpes simplex virus. Most of your life the virus is dormant and hibernating in the nerve cell roots - called the nerve ganglia. When the cold sore virus senses a change in your immune system and will take the opportunity to causing yet another cold sore.

Fact is, the cold sore virus can quickly sense any change in your body because it lives in the nerve cells. To understand what causes cold sores, what we really want to know are the physical events and changes to our body that triggers the activity of the cold sore virus.

These are the top three cold sore triggers that you should know about.

1. YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. If you are normal and healthy, your immune system can keep the virus that causes cold sores asleep indefinitely. The quality and quantity of vitamins and minerals that you obtain from food and supplements will determine, in a large degree, how resistant you will be to cold sore outbreaks.

If you are bothered with reoccurring cold sores, this is a sign you need to upgrade your nutritional efforts. Even if you have an excellent diet, you should still be taking a good vitamin and mineral supplement. Today's vegetables and fruits are being grown on depleted soils and contain only a fraction of the nutrients of 50 years ago.

2. LYSINE AND ARGININE. These two protein fractions (amino acids) play a major role in the process of replication of the herpes simplex virus. Low levels of lysine and high levels of arginine create a situation within your nerve cells that causes cold sores. Arginine is the primary protein used in the replication of new virus. By the same token, high levels of lysine discourage the cold sore replicating process because it prevents the arginine from being used.

In your nerve cells, arginine is stored in special receptor areas. Lysine is always in competition for the same spot. Lysine is not used in the creation of new virus particles. Increased lysine intake will cause more lysine to be stored and less arginine. That is the simple truth as to why increasing lysine helps reduce cold sore outbreaks.

3. HOW ACID OR ALKALINE ARE YOU? The herpes virus prefers an acid area for the creation of new virus. The pH scale runs from 1 through 14 with 7 being neutral. Less than 7 and your body starts to become acidified. The ideal pH your body strives for is 7.4 which is slightly alkaline. If you could keep it there, you likely never get sick from any viral or bacterial infection.

Your body usually keeps your pH in a very tight range of 6.5 to 7.4. Do not go crazy on this but keep in mind that most vegetables and fruits will help your body maintain a good pH balance. Do not use this as an excuse to go vegetarian. Carbonated soda and beer are strong contributors to an acid situation in your body - often causing cold sores.

Have you heard that stress causes cold sores? Well it is true.

I have not mentioned it until now for good reason. Stress causes cold sores by what it does to the body and knowing that you will better able to prevent cold sores. Primarily any stress will cause the body to go toward the acid side, which in turn causes cold sores.

Also, the body in stress starts using large quantities of certain nutrients such as the B and C vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and potassium. Additional quantities of these vitamins and minerals during stressful situations will help cut down on the instances of cold sores.

Mental and physical stress are equal in causing cold sores. Mental stress sometimes is even worse. It is amazing how many brides, or soon to be mothers, will come down with cold sores. Other stresses that create cold sores fast are head colds, fevers, problems with people in your life and too much sun on that part of the face.

You now know that the actual causes of cold sores are based, primarily, on your level of health. You also now know the true reasons stress is blamed for causing cold sores. Armed with this information, you will, hopefully, be better equipped to banish cold sores in your future.

Article Source: Free Articles - http://www.articlesworldonline.com

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