Initially, what causes cold sores in everyone is the herpes simplex virus, either type 1 or type 2. Both types produce identical sores.



Usually the herpes virus is dormant, hiding deep in the ganglia of your facial nerves. For about 30% of infected folks it never becomes active. The other 70% will experience at least one cold sore within 9.5 months.

Because it lives in your nerves, herpes simplex virus can quickly sense conditions that are favorable for it to replicate. It will move to the surface and enter nerve cells there. The herpes simplex virus then forces the cells to create new virus.

Once the cell is filled to capacity, or is exhausted, it is eliminated. The new virus spills out. The destruction of a huge number of adjacent cells creates the open ulcer-like wound.

Basically, the herpes simplex virus is what causes cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes sores. But, we really need to focus on is what conditions we can avoid to keep the virus from becoming active.

These are the three main triggers that produce the right conditions to activate the herpes simplex virus.

1. IMMUNE SYSTEM WEAKNESS.

Good immunity depends on strong antibodies. This keeps the herpes simplex virus from taking control of your surface nerve cells. Building powerful antibodies depends on certain factors.

The most important elements needed for strong antibodies are the nutrients you gain from diet and supplements.

Do you have frequent cold sore bouts? It is an obvious sign of weakness in your immune defenses. Consume more vegetables - preferably organically grown. They provide you with the very best quality vitamins and minerals.

You should start taking a multiple vitamin every day. For many people, this is the only extra thing they do for success in preventing cold sores. But use caution. There are many drug store rip-off vitamins that are totally worthless.

Go to a vitamin store and buy a good quality product - or you will be unhappy. The B and C vitamins are important for stress situations, but burn up quickly. You need to replenish these water-soluble vitamins every day.

2. ARGININE AND LYSINE NOT WELL BALANCED.

Arginine and lysine are two very important amino acids critical to your good health. The also are important when it comes to cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes.

Arginine does many good things. But it also is the primary protein used by your cells to create herpes simplex virus. Without plenty of arginine readily available, it cannot build new virus (and a new cold sore).

Lysine, on the other hand, is a protein that cannot be used to create herpes simplex virus. The cells have a shared storage area for lysine and arginine. More of one leaves less room for the other.

Flooding your body with lysine by eating high lysine foods will help push arginine out of the cells. Lysine supplements are great for this also. Many people swear by this high lysine treatment for preventing a cold sore.

3. YOUR BODY IS NOT ALKALINE LIKE IT SHOULD BE.

To remain in perfect health, your body needs to be on the alkaline side of the pH scale. The pH scale has 14 points. 7 is neutral. Below 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline.

Your system will usually range between 6.5 to 7.35 pH. Any drop below 7 moves you into the acid range and creates the right conditions for activating the herpes simplex virus and causing cold sores.

The herpes virus loves an acid environment. This also means lower oxygen levels and weak immune defense. Contributing factors that acidify your body include coffee, carbonated drinks, sugar and tobacco. Surprisingly, citrus fruits do not.

Other causes of cold sores are created during the winter season. Cold air, reduced outdoor activity, less fresh vegetables, and lower exercise levels all create acid in your body. That is why cold sores are more common in the winter.

Keeping you pH balance in the healthy alkaline range is not hard at all. Avoid acid creating food and drink. Eat more green vegetables for the calcium they provide. Also, vitamin stores have great kits for raising you pH level quickly and safely.

There a few other causes of cold sores to share with you. But, hopefully, this short article has helped you toward answering the question of what causes cold sores in your life.