If you get cold sores, fever blisters or oral herpes events, the herpes simplex virus is hiding in your body. Nearly everybody worldwide is infected with this parasite virus. Most people are infected with the herpes simplex virus before they are 12 years old.

When latent, this virus sleeps deep below the surface - in the roots of your facial nerves. If it senses a weakness in your immune defenses, it becomes active and moves along the nerves to the surface. There it replicates and creates a new sore.

Your body creates targeted antibodies, whenever an active virus is present. With each cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes outbreak your body will build more antibodies targeting the herpes virus.

Preventing cold sores requires strong antibodies. This can happen only if the proper nutrients - in sufficient quantities - are available to build the antibodies. Otherwise you will likely not have the immunity you need.

First, begin taking a top-quality vitamin and mineral supplement. This will provide most of the nutrients you will need for preventing cold sores. Vitamins have a big impact fighting oral herpes. Plus the minerals zinc, magnesium and calcium can help make you virus proof.

Those who suffer reoccurring cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes outbreaks are usually found short of calcium. Calcium keeps our bodies alkaline. The herpes virus cannot activate in an alkaline environment. Take plenty of calcium.

Get plenty of the stress vitamins B and C. They reduce the physical effects of stress. Stress, as you know, is the main trigger that activates herpes simplex virus. You need to replenish B and C every day because they are used up quickly.

Vitamins D and E are oil-based vitamins that heal and protect your skin. Along with the help of vitamin A, your skin will be more resistant to damage and heal much faster if you do get a cold sore.

Why take a vitamin supplement? Shouldn't we get all the vitamins we need from our diet?

There is no doubt the vitamins and minerals from food are the best absorbed and utilized. Many years ago our food was grown on rich, virgin soil. Then the food we grew was abundant and packed with nutrients.

After many years of commercial farming, we have continually taken out and put very little back. Our soils are very depleted today. Science has found ways to grow beautiful vegetables, but has not been concerned with the nutrients inside.

Researchers today have shown, for example, that you would have to eat 55 ounces of spinach to get the same nutrition as one ounce back in 1949. Other vegetables were tested with the same results.

Even the American Medical Association made a statement in their January 2002 publication endorsing the use of supplements for reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Nearly everyone today is lacking in nutrients - and rampant viruses such as herpes are the result.

One important step in preventing cold sores would be to eat more green vegetables. Organically or homegrown will have much higher nutrient levels for building super antibodies. And greens contain a lot of great calcium you need.

Preventing cold sores by boosting your diet with nutritional supplements daily is wise and very effective. There really is no other way for the average person to get the necessary nutrition to fight off herpes simplex virus.

There are other tips and tactics you can use that work quite well. Right now, though, this should be the first step you need to take if you are serious about preventing cold sores.