Sour Cream Lysine and Arginine Info Sheet
Overview
Sour cream is a dairy product obtained by fermenting regular cream with certain kinds of lactic acid bacteria.Sour cream is rich in vitamin A, calcium, and phosphorus. It also contains a good amount of vitamin D.
| Name | Lysine (mg/100g) | Arginine (mg/100g) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sour Cream | 275mg | 117mg | 2.35 |
Sour Cream contains 275mg of Lysine and 117mg of Arginine per 100g of product.
This means Sour Cream has a very high Lysine-Arginine ratio of 2.35.
Because Sour Cream contains much higher levels of lysine than arginine, it is highly recommended for people who suffer from herpes, as it may prevent outbreaks.
Lysine Considerations
Sour cream is an excellent source of lysine, providing about 2% of the RDI per 100 grams.
Lysine can help prevent or treat cold sores, which are blisters caused by the virus HSV-1, also known as herpes.
Lysine works by blocking the growth of HSV-1, which needs another amino acid called arginine to multiply and infect cells.
Lysine can only be obtained through diet, and can be found in many high-protein foods like milk, cheese and yogurt, fish, eggs, meat and poultry.
Arginine Considerations
Sour cream is a low source of arginine, providing only about 1% of the RDI per 100 grams.
Arginine has different benefits for our wellbeing and performance, such as lowering blood pressure, enhancing wound healing, and increasing exercise endurance.
Arginine can also affect the herpes virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes.
Studies suggest that arginine may help the virus grow and cause outbreaks, so people with herpes may want to avoid foods that are high in arginine or take lysine supplements to block its effects.
Lysine-Arginine Ratio
Sour cream has a very high lysine-arginine ratio, which means it has more lysine relative to arginine.
This may be beneficial for people with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, as lysine may inhibit the replication of HSV.
Both lysine and arginine are essential for protein synthesis and various other bodily functions.
They, however, have opposing effects on the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes.
Lysine can prevent the replication of the virus, whereas arginine can stimulate it.
Thus, a diet rich in foods with a high lysine to arginine ratio may help reduce the occurrence and severity of herpes flare ups.
Foods that have a high lysine-arginine ratio include dairy products, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
These foods can provide the body with enough lysine to compete with arginine and inhibit the virus from replicating and causing flare ups.
Dietary Considerations
Dairy is a broad term that includes milk and any of the foods made from milk, such as butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and condensed and dried milk.
Dairy is a good source of lysine, an amino acid that can help to prevent herpes outbreaks.
Milk has a high lysine-arginine ratio, which means it has more lysine than arginine, another amino acid that can stimulate the replication of the herpes virus.
Products that contain milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese also have high levels of lysine and can benefit herpes flare up prevention.
That said, some dairy and dessert products may also contain high levels of sugar, fat, and calories, which can weaken the immune system and trigger outbreaks.
These products should be consumed in moderation and with caution by people with herpes.
Some dairy products that are rich in lysine and low in sugar, fat, and calories are skim milk, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, and frozen yogurt.
Dairy-free alternatives to milk, such as oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk, may not contain such high levels of lysine as dairy products.
For example:
Avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine which can overstimulate your body, leave you dehydrated, and compromise your immune system.You may want to take l-lysine supplements.
L-lysine is known to prevent herpes outbreaks and it can help stop a cold sore in its initial stages by "starving" the virus of arginine before it has a chance to cause a cold sore.
Avoiding foods that can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities, such as gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, or shellfish.
These foods can trigger inflammation and weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to outbreaks.
Try eating foods that can enhance your immune system and reduce inflammation to avoid outbreaks.
Some of these foods are honey, yogurt, aloe vera, and chamomile.
They can also help you with your symptoms by easing pain, swelling, and itching, and accelerating your recovery.
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