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Lysine is an essential amino acid that is needed for the development of our bodies and for resistance against diseases and infection.
Generally Lysine is safe to take long term if used as directed.
Lysine is necessary for a range of body processes including:
- Immune function
- Helping the body create antibodies to fight illness
- Resistance against diseases and infection
- Healing of skin tissue and wound healing
- Building collagen in the skin
- The function of the heart muscle
- Lowing ‘bad’ cholesterol levels
- Assisting bone problems such as osteoporosis
Arginine and Herpes Myths Revealed
You do not have to take a pill to take advantage of the Lysine factor
You can do the same thing by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that you eat, which are high in Lysine, and reducing foods like chocolate, nuts and gelatin which are rich in Arginine. Taking a Lysine supplement just helps to take away some of the guess work and counteract foods that may potentially trigger an outbreak, an option that might be helpful for those people who get outbreaks.
Lysine’s role in managing herpes has been studied in numerous trials since the 1960s.
There are many Clinical Trials which have demonstrated the effectiveness and mode of action of the amino acid Lysine against the Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2. Have a read of some of the articles on the left and note the references in the foot notes, or do a search via PubMed or other online scientific research databases.
Pure Lysine vs Manufactured Lysine
Taking a Lysine supplement is virtually the same as eating Lysine rich foods. And if the amino acid in the tablet is a pure Lysine taken directly from a food source it will be even closer to nature. If you are unsure why not contact the manufacturer of the product you are using to confirm this information. Note that “free form” does not mean it is pure or naturally occurring Lysine.
Would you like some Gelatin with that Lysine?
Gelatin is rich in Arginine, the same amino acid that can aggravate herpes in some people. So it maybe an idea to ditch any supplements that contain this ingredient. It is not required by law to list gelatin on labels so you may need to inquire about it.
Lysine works with your body’s natural processes, not against it
Lysine does not eliminate Arginine from the body and there have never been any studies which have shown a link between taking a Lysine supplement and having an Arginine deficiency. The idea is to balance the arginine level, not to deplete it.
The human body makes plenty of Arginine to function perfectly
Arginine is not an essential amino acid, which means it is manufactured by the body and we don’t need to source it exclusively from our diet. We obtain extra amounts of this amino acid through foods. Unlike Lysine which is an essential amino acid that can only be obtained through the diet.
By taking a Lysine supplement we are only marginally affecting the balance of Arginine, not removing it or depleting it from your body. You can do a similar thing by avoiding arginine excessive foods.
How Balancing Amino Acids Can Reduce Herpes Outbreaks
What is Arginine?
Arginine is an amino acid that is necessary for the human body to function properly. It is also what the herpes virus requires to replicate and to cause outbreaks or symptoms. This is because although Arginine is good for us, it is also essentially the “food source” for the herpes virus and HSV needs this food to cause symptoms and function.
What science has found is that foods that are rich in Arginine and low in Lysine can sometimes trigger an outbreak. So, cutting back or avoiding these particular foods (such as chocolate and nuts) may be helpful to prevent outbreaks for some people.
How does Lysine help?
Here is where Lysine supplements come into the picture. Lysine is an essential amino acid which means that is can only be obtained through the diet. It is essential to many of life’s processes and is found naturally in foods.
How Lysine helps with herpes is that it has the potential to counteract some of the body’s production of Arginine. This is a natural process that happens when you eat foods that contain Lysine. This is the way the body works.
You can take advantage of this natural chemistry by taking a Lysine supplement which will help cancel out foods that you eat that contain excessive amounts of Arginine and not much Lysine. It only makes a mild difference by delicately balancing out foods that can tip the scale in favor of Arginine, which have the potential to provoke an outbreak for some people.
The facts about Lysine supplementation and the immune system
Lysine has many benefits not just the ability to suppress herpes. As mentioned above, it is also crucial in helping the immune system to manufacture antibodies, for healthy function of the heart, lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, assisting bone problems such as osteoporosis and to maintain the integrity of the skin.
Some people have been concerned about the safety of Lysine due to the fact that it naturally counteracts the body’s production of Arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that is both manufactured by the body and obtained through food sources. Unlike Lysine which can only be obtained through the diet.
The good news is that balancing these amino acids doesn’t mean eliminating one or the other, even if you avoid foods that are rich in Arginine and take a Lysine supplement you will not be eliminating Arginine from your diet. You are only helping to moderately reduce the level of Arginine in your body so that it has less potential to influence the herpes virus.
From our many years of experience and extensive research on this topic, our support team have never found any credible references to support a claim that Lysine negatively affects the immune system. To the contrary, there is a large amount of clinical data and literature demonstrating the safety of Lysine as a natural method to help guard against HSV symptoms and it is in fact an integral part of a healthy, functioning immune system.
As with all supplements, please read the label and take only as directed. Excessive amounts of anything is never good for you. Please only ever take the recommended dose of any nutrient.
