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Want to know the primary causes of cold sores? Read this quick article. You will uncover the top three sources and you will likely learn what the causes of cold sores are in your life.

Many claim that stress, illness and injury are the causes of cold sores. These are not the true causes of cold sores that you need to know about right now.

They are cold sore triggers. People believe these are causes of cold sores because you will generally get an outbreak soon after you experience one of these triggers.

These triggers cause your body to change and be less resistant to the cold sore virus.

The herpes simplex virus brings about any cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes event. Normally this virus hides deep in the root cells of your facial nerves.

If the herpes virus activates it moves to the surface quickly. It then infects the nerve cells and begins replicating - destroying those cells in the process.

Because the herpes simplex virus hides in the nerve cells, it can pick up on the slightest change in your physical condition. The triggers mentioned earlier cause these changes.

Here are the top three causes of cold sores. These conditions of your body will encourage cold sore virus activity.

1. ACID pH.

The acid or alkaline state of your body is its pH balance. The pH scale runs from 1 through 14 - below 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline. Your optimal pH is 7.35, which is slightly alkaline.

As long as your body is alkaline (above 7pH) you will rarely get a cold sore. Should your pH drop into the acid zone, the herpes virus could easily activate. Of all the causes of cold sores, this is the top one.

Stress causes cold sores because it causes an acid change in your body. Illness, injury and winter weather also can lower your pH level. These triggers cause hormone and protein changes that create an acid environment.

Your diet can also be a cause of cold sores. Carbonated drinks and high intake of beef and pork are popular offenders that will push you into an acid pH. Most vegetables will raise your pH to the alkaline side. Balance your diet.

Although an acid pH may be the main cause of cold sores, the next two triggers are also causes of cold sores - especially when combined with a low pH.

2. LYSINE AND ARGININE OUT OF BALANCE.

Arginine is the main protein building block for the herpes simplex virus. If arginine is not available, your cells cannot create new herpes virus - and no cold sore will occur. This is true even if you have an acid pH balance.

Your cells have a special area within the cell to store arginine. Lysine is also stored in the same area. If you take in high levels of lysine, your cells will make room for it by getting rid of some arginine.

Lysine will not work for creating new herpes virus. Lysine cannot cause cold sores. Replacing arginine with lysine in your cells will greatly reduce cold sore frequency and duration.

Most people who use lysine for preventing and healing cold sore eruptions use handy lysine supplements. They are cheap, easy to find and safe.

3. VITAMINS AND MINERALS.

The spark plugs of life are the vitamins and minerals you consume each day. Your immunity to disease critically depends on these nutrients.

A weak immune system causes cold sores. Getting high levels of vitamins and minerals from both diet and supplements is the wise choice in preventing oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.

Even the American Medical Association agrees that today we do not get optimum quantities of essential vitamins and minerals from food alone. You should also be taking a premium quality multi-vitamin supplement every day.

Calcium is very high importance in cold sore avoidance. It is the main mineral used by your body to keep your body alkaline. Cold sore victims should take large doses of calcium.

Of all the causes of cold sores, an acid pH is number one. A lot of arginine in your cells, along with a weakened immune system contributes even more to the problem.

Stress of any sort lowers your pH balance to an acid environment. And stress, both physical and mental, will burn up large amount of vitamins thus weakening your immune system.

There is more you should know but hopefully, this article has helped you discover, and eliminate, the main causes of cold sores in your life.