Colder weather has arrived in Kansas City, and it is here for the season. These temperature changes can affect the immune system, but also the change from being active and the increase in stress can decrease the immune response as well.
Some individuals experience cold sores more frequently in the winter time with the colder weather. While everyone doesn't get them, most people have the antibodies to the virus that causes cold sores. These cold sores, otherwise known as oral herpes simplex, can cause painful sores on the lips, or inside the mouth and is often associated with swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches.
While the best way to keep these cold sores from recurring is to have a robust immune system, there are some other ways to keep these sores at bay.
Change the Lysine to Arginine Ratio
The herpes simplex virus needs arginine to thrive, while lysine causes disruption in the virus's replication.
Eating foods high in lysine decrease its ability to replicate.
These include:
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- fish
- yogurt
- kefir
- cottage cheese
- papaya
- beets
- apples
- apricots
Avoid foods high in arginine:
- wheat
- soy
- lentils
- oats
- corn
- barley
- eggplant
- tomato
- chocolate
- peanuts
- almonds
- cashews
- most other nuts and seeds
Also, some vitamins, including vitamin E, have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of these cold sores.
Stay tuned for the next article which will give easy health tips for keeping your immune system in tip-top shape!
Come visit Kansas City Integrative Health to learn more about how you can beat the cold without getting sick all the time, we are conveniently located in the heart of Overland Park.