Even though there are several food products that help in reducing cold like cloves and ginger, there are certain items that can trigger the attack of cold sores. These items usually contain amino acid which is known to cause cold sores. Here are some of the items that can trigger cold sores:
Acidic Foods
These foods could cause tissue damage which can hasten cold sore outbreak in people. Certain foods like lemon, pineapple, grapefruit, pomegranate and cranberries are highly acidic and can cause cold sore outbreak. Apart from these highly acidic fruits some medium acidic fruits like plums, berries, pears, cherries and berries can also cause cold sores.
If you are one of these who suffer from cold sores because of acidic fruits, it is best that you avoid fruits juices, puree and preserves as their concentration level is high. Even though vegetables are not known to cause tissue damage, some canned versions of vegetables like tomato can trigger cold sore because acids are added to these vegetables to increase their shelf life. You must also avoid eating pickles and foods that contain salad dressing as they contain vinegar which is known to contain acids.
Nuts and Seeds
Some seeds and nuts contain amino acid called arginine which is known to promote the growth of herpes simplex virus. A study conducted Craig S. Miller to find out the affect of amino acid on humans confirmed that arginine intake causes cold sores in people.
However, not all nuts and seeds are known to trigger cold sores. Certain nuts like Macadamia nuts that contain high levels of arginine can cause cold while pistachio nuts that have very low levels of arginine can cause cold sores. Some nuts and seeds that contain medium levels of arginine include pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds. If you plan to avoid seeds and nuts, you must also avoid foods like tahini and pesto that contain these nuts. However, oil that is extracted from these nuts and seeds can be safely taken as they don’t contain any seeds and nuts.
Hot Foods
If you eat food and beverages that is hot, it can burn some delicate tissues in your mouth which can cause cold sores. Hot beverages cause the maximum damage as they are known to cause severe damage to mouth tissues. Therefore it is important that you assess the temperature of the food before you eat it. If the food or beverage is excessively hot, allow it to cool before you consume it.
If you are interested in helping others prevent and treat issues such as cold sores, consider a health care management degree online and get started today.