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Cold Sore Prevention Foods

Although there are different kinds of medications that can be used to treat the outbreak of cold sores, perhaps the most effective way to prevent cold sores from appearing in the first place is to change your diet to include the proper foods that combat cold sores.

  1. Understanding the Science

    • The amino acid lysine is effective in not only treating cold sores, but also in preventing the cold sores from appearing in the first place. The amino acid arginine contributes to the creation of cold sores, therefore replacing arginine with lysine can be an effective way of avoiding cold sores.

      When looking for foods that prevent cold sores, the lysine-to-arginine ratio should be considered. A 2-to-1 lysine to arginine ratio is effective at preventing cold sores.

    Foods to Eat

    • Cheddar cheese is one food that is effective in decreasing the probability of getting cold sores. One ounce of cheddar cheese contains 588 mg of lysine and 267 mg of arginine. Because this is better than a 2-to-1 ratio, cheddar cheese works well in decreasing cold sores.

      There are a number of different kinds of foods that help prevent cold sores. Meats are generally effective, particularly meats such as chicken, turkey, fish and beef.

      If you are a fish eater, try to eat more flounder. One pound of flounder gives the body about 12 grams of lysine. Although there are lysine capsules, the lysine taken from foods such as flounder are much more effective. You would need to take around 50 lysine capsules to equal the amount of lysine included in one normal-sized flounder.

      Likewise, dairy products do a good job in decreasing the risk of cold sores. Cheese, yogurt and milk all have high lysine counts. Ricotta cheese is one of the foods that has a very high lysine level.

      Soy products also are effective. Soy beans and brewer's yeast can help increase the amount of lysine in your body.

    Foods to Avoid

    • If you want to avoid cold sores, it is important that you avoid the foods that are high in arginine. Peanuts, cashews, walnuts and almonds all have high arginine levels.

      Grains that are found in wheat and oats also have high arginine levels. Vegetables do not have particularly high arginine levels, but vegetables such as eggplant, cabbage and carrots all have higher levels of arginine than lysine.

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