What Are The Primary Causes Of Cold Sores In Your Life?

By Denny Bodoh

What are the main causes of cold sores? In this short article you will discover the most common cold sore sources. What is the secret cause of cold sores for you?

You may have heard of these as causes of cold sores - physical and mental stress, fever, sun and cold weather. They are not the direct causes of cold sores however.

Think of these as cold sore triggers. They are not causes of cold sores but will bring one about - as explained in a minute.

These triggers cause your body to change and be less resistant to the cold sore virus.

The herpes simplex virus brings about any cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes event. Normally this virus hides deep in the root cells of your facial nerves.

Under the right conditions, the herpes virus becomes active, moving to the surface. There it enters the nerve cells - destroying them as it creates new virus.

Because the herpes simplex virus hides in the nerve cells, it can pick up on the slightest change in your physical condition. The triggers mentioned earlier cause these changes.

Here are the three main conditions of your body that will help activate the otherwise dormant cold sore virus. These are the basic causes of cold sores.

1. ACID pH.

The pH balance of your body is a measure of your acidity or alkalinity. This pH scale ranges from 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Below 7 is acid, above 7 is alkaline. Ideal pH for optimum health is 7.4 pH - slightly alkaline.

As long as you stay above 7 pH, you will not likely get a cold sore. When your pH dips into the acid range - below 7 - your tissue oxygen levels drop and you are ripe for a cold sore outbreak. This is what causes cold sores in most people.

Stress causes cold sores because it causes an acid change in your body. Illness, injury and winter weather also can lower your pH level. These triggers cause hormone and protein changes that create an acid environment.

What you eat also causes cold sores for you. Coffee, soda and beer will acidify your body. So does sugar, pork and white flour. Most vegetables help keep your body alkaline. The key here is to balance your diet.

Of all the causes of cold sores, an acid pH is top of the list. The next two are also key players in creating a cold sore.

2. IMBALANCE OF LYSINE AND ARGININE.

Arginine is the main protein building block for the herpes simplex virus. If arginine is not available, your cells cannot create new herpes virus - and no cold sore will occur. This is true even if you have an acid pH balance.

Your cells have a special area within the cell to store arginine. Lysine is also stored in the same area. If you take in high levels of lysine, your cells will make room for it by getting rid of some arginine.

Lysine is a protein that will not cause cold sores. The more lysine stored in your cells, the less arginine will be available. This prevents oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.

Lysine capsules are a cheap and convenient way to get the quantities of lysine needed for your cold sore healing and prevention.

3. VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS.

The power of your immune system - and the strength of your antibodies - is dependant on the nutrients you take in. In particular you need proper quantities of minerals and vitamins.

A weak immune system causes cold sores. Getting high levels of vitamins and minerals from both diet and supplements is the wise choice in preventing oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.

Even the American Medical Association agrees that today we do not get optimum quantities of essential vitamins and minerals from food alone. You should also be taking a premium quality multi-vitamin supplement every day.

Especially important is calcium. Cold sore victims are often calcium deficient. Your body uses calcium to help keep your body in an alkaline state.

Of all the causes of cold sores, an acid pH is number one. A lot of arginine in your cells, along with a weakened immune system contributes even more to the problem.

Stress, mental or physical, causes your body to go into an acid state. Stress also uses up a lot of vitamins and minerals, which weakens your immune system.

There may be many cold sore triggers, and much more you can do, but without a doubt these are the main causes of cold sores in most people. - 14018

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