Once you get cold sores, it’s very much likely for you to encounter them many times in the future. That’s because the reason behind them, which is the herpes simplex virus, tends to stay with you for the rest of your life — they can be easily activated by things such as stress, sun exposure, hormonal changes and a weakened immune system.

The moment that cold sores show up, you have no other option but to put up with the pain and embarrassment they tend to bring. OTC medications available for them are not cures but rather remedies for the signs and symptoms. Definitely, it’s a much better idea for you to focus on preventing cold sores than getting rid of them once they’re already around.

Minding what you eat is one of the most important preventive steps that you may take. Certain foods are known to considerably increase a person’s risk of having cold sores. So without further ado, keep on reading to come across some of the foods that you should steer clear of in order to keep those cold sores at bay.

Arginine-Containing Foods

There is a type of amino acid that’s known to activate dormant herpes simplex virus and cause cold sores to appear, and that’s called arginine. Unfortunately, there are so many different foods that have arginine in them. Needless to say, it’s very important for you to familiarize yourself with arginine-containing foods so that you may dodge them.

Even though they are absolutely healthy, nuts and seeds are bad for someone who gets cold sores. It’s because of the fact that they contain arginine. Any food product that’s made from nuts and seeds (peanut butter, almond milk, etc.) should also be avoided as well.

Whole grains are good for you, especially for your digestive system — not if you get cold sores because many of them are high in arginine. This may seem like a big surprise, but spinach and many dark green leafy vegetables contain arginine as well. Oh, and make sure that you resist every urge to snack on chocolates as they have arginine, too.

Processed Food Products

There’s only one thing that can suppress the herpes simplex virus, and that’s your very own immune system. It’s exactly for this reason why having an immune system that’s functioning optimally is a definite must for anybody who develops cold sores. Certainly, you should carefully mind what you put in your mouth to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

Some of the foods that can certainly wreak havoc on your immune system are processed ones. Certain chemicals in them can cause inflammation, which is something that can significantly weaken your immunity. Processed foods that contain tons of sugar are some of those that can definitely cause your immune system to deteriorate.

Generally speaking, you should focus on consuming foods that look very close to their appearance as they’re found in nature. Otherwise, it’s very much likely for them to contain chemicals that can harm your body. Most of them are also devoid of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your immune system needs to stay strong.

JUST BEFORE YOU GO: It’s also important for you to avoid other well-known triggers of cold sores. They include fatigue, stress, trauma to the mouth, too much sun and cold weather. Avoiding them as well as the types of foods stated above can help keep your risk of having cold sores to a minimum.

Got family members and friends who get cold sores, too? Feel free to share this article on your various social media sites to get them acquainted with some of the foods they should avoid if they want to live free of cold sores.