Cold sores: an incredibly painful and socially awkward experience that prevents you from enjoying your meal or showing your face in public. Cold sore outbreaks are usually triggered by exposure to sun, wind, a low immune system, or stress. Although there is no quick solution, there are certain foods one can avoid during a cold sore break to help alleviate the discomfort and prevent further aggravating your sores.
Acidic Food
Acidic foods can aggravate cold sores when they form scabs and reopen. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, fruit juices, wine, soda, pickles, and vinegar-based salad dressings are some ingredients to avoid, as they may cause a burning sensation on contact with blisters.
Spicy Food
If you love spicy food, it may be best to stay clear of them while you’re managing a cold sore outbreak. Highly spiced meals could irritate the sensitive cold sore area in or around your mouth. Hold off on the spices and reduce your salt consumption until your mouth is healed.
Processed Food
Some foods suppress your immune system, which may lead to a cold sore outbreak when you don’t feel well. Avoid processed foods, such as sugary breakfast cereals, canned foods, pasta meals, and high-calorie snacks.
Arginine-Rich Food
Cold sores require arginine (an amino acid) to replicate and thrive in your body. Thus, depriving the virus of arginine can reduce the duration and severity of an outbreak. When you start to feel symptoms, avoid eating foods that contain arginine, including certain meats, nuts and seeds, legumes, whole grains, spinach, and chocolate.
What Should I Eat Instead?
Cold sores cannot be stopped once you have them. But, what you can do is eat food that helps to prevent the outbreaks. Lysine (another amino acid) blocks arginine and reduces the replication of the virus. Strengthen your immune system to prevent cold sores by eating lysine-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, milk, cheese, and fish.
Sources of lysine are food rich in protein:
- Meat, specifically beef, chicken, and pork.
- Cheese, especially parmesan.
- Fish, particularly cod and sardines.
- Soybeans.
As for during cold sore outbreaks, certain foods may boost your body’s ability to fight off the virus more quickly. Cold foods, vegetable juices, and warm soups will satisfy your hunger while preventing the sores from being aggravated.
Instead of acidic fruit, choose milder alternatives like bananas and grapes and pick non-pickled vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber, and carrots. Also, stick to mild casseroles, stews, and mashed potatoes that don’t have too much spice.
[RECIPE] Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: under 10 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients (use organic/grassfed whenever possible):
- 3 T. unsalted butter, divided
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 c. frozen riced cauliflower
- 1/2 c. frozen peas and carrots
- 2 large green onions, sliced
- 1 1/2 t. fresh ginger, finely minced
- 1/2 t. garlic powder
- 1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 T. tamari or coconut aminos
- 2 T. toasted sesame oil
Optional extra:
Additional sliced green onions
Directions:
- Heat one tablespoon butter in a wok or large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggs and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes or until eggs are cooked through. Transfer eggs to a plate and set aside.
- Add remaining butter, frozen cauliflower, peas and carrots, green onions, fresh ginger, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring constantly until frozen veggies are heated through and tender (approximately 5-6 minutes).
- Add tamari, sesame oil, and scrambled eggs to the wok or skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, or until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and heated through. Remove from heat and top with additional green onion, if desired, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
To Your Health,
Patti
