What It Is

What causes cold sores (or oral herpes and fever blisters) in most folks? By the time you are done reading this article, you will know for sure what causes cold sores in nearly all situations.

What causes cold sores? The short answer is the herpes simplex virus. About 80% of the sores are caused by herpes simplex type 1 - the rest by type 2.

The herpes virus, most of your life, is inactive - hiding deep in the nerves, where your facial nerves connect. About a third of those infected will never know they are infected because their body will keep it from activating.

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.

An effective immune response is directly related to the quality of your antibodies. Certain factors must be available for your body to build great antibodies.

Building powerful antibodies is dependent on the nutritional value of the food you eat and the vitamin supplements you use.

Frequent cold sore events mean your immune system is too weak to protect you. You should begin eating more vegetables - especially those grown organically. Your best quality nutrients, by far, come from the foods you eat.

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 ACID-ALKLINE BALANCE IS TOWARD THE ACID SIDE.

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 body tries to maintain pH levels of 6.5 to 7.4. When you drop below 6.5, you are becoming acid. This is inviting illness - and responsible for causing cold sores.

The more acid your body, the lower your oxygen levels. This hampers your immune defenses. The herpes simplex virus finds this a perfect environment for activating. Pop - diet or regular - and sugar are acid producing products to avoid.

Also, winter causes cold sores because it causes your body to move toward an unhealthy acid level. Cold, less exercise, lower intake of vegetables and limited outdoor activity all play a big part in acidifying your system.

Avoid acid producing products mentioned above. Eating more green vegetables, like asparagus, will help raise your pH levels. And, you can get excellent alkalizing supplements at the vitamin store.

What causes cold sores has many answers. I have just given you the big three that will help you determine what causes cold sores in your life.