Lysine is an important amino acid that is a building block for protein. Because your body can’t make it, you need to take it from foods. This amino acid plays an important role in human health that supports calcium absorption and collagen formation. While a lot of people consume enough lysine in their daily diets, others like vegans or athletes need to eat more. If you don’t get enough lysine, you may experience fatigue, anemia, nausea and appetite loss. Keep reading this useful writing to understand why lysine is important for the body.

Why Lysine Is Important for the Body

Lysine has amazing health benefits for the body. Besides treating infections, it helps boost the healing process and reduce anxiety. Here’re top 4 reasons why lysine is important for the body.

1. Lysine Is Important for Cold Sores

Cold sores are a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They often appear as fluid- filled blisters on the corners of your mouth or on the lips. When contracted this virus, you may experience tingling, itching, pain and burning sensations. These symptoms cause discomfort and can stress you out. Along with that, they make you feel self- conscious about your appearance.

Moreover, the herpes virus stays dormant in your body and can be reactivated by certain triggers. When your immune system becomes weak, this virus will become active, causing other outbreaks. Fortunately, lysine supplements can help reduce the number cold sore or herpes outbreaks. It’s believed that lysine blocks arginine- another amino acid that triggers HSV. Studies showed that a daily supplement of 1,000mg of lysine gave fewer cold sores in 26 people who were susceptible to recurrent oral herpes. Another study in 30 other people found that using herbs or creams with lysine also resulted in good results. Although lysine is effective in reducing cold sore outbreaks, not all studies show its good effects.

Besides taking lysine supplements, you can apply other treatments at the same time. ProsurX is one of the best topical creams for herpes. The natural ingredients approved by the FDA in this cream are effective in killing the herpes virus. It also helps prevent cold sore outbreaks effectively.

Related: Prevent Cold Sores From Coming Back

2. Lysine Is Important for Reducing Anxiety

You may not know that lysine can help to reduce anxiety by blocked stress response receptors. One study showed that this amino acid blocked receptors involved in stress response. This is also proven by another one- week study in 50 healthy people. Specifically, anxiety caused by stress was reduced by supplementing with 2.64grams of lysine and arginine.

Plus, this reduced the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Lysine can be helpful for people with mental disorder or schizophrenia. It lowers the negative impacts of these conditions on the patients. Though research is still in the early stages, lysine may improve them in combination with prescribed medications.

Related: How to Get Rid of Anxiety with Natural Remedies

3. Lysine Is Important for Boosting Wound Healing

Lysine is essential for the formation of collagen that supports and builds a structure to skin and bones. Also, lysine itself works as a binding agent that can increase the new cells as a wound. It even boosts the formation of new blood vessels. According to studies in animal tissue, lysine becomes more active at the site of the wound. This helps speed up the healing wound in the animal.

Besides, the combination of arginine and lysine can promote the healing process of wound fast. While wound healing is a complex process that needs vitamins, minerals, and others, lysine is very crucial. Without enough lysine, wound healing is slower. Thus, you should eat more lysine rich foods to boost the healing process and reduce recovery time.

4. Lysine Is Important for Improving Calcium Absorption

Lysine can raise calcium absorption and help your kidneys to maintain the minerals. A study was conducted in 30 women, including 15 healthy and 15 with osteoporosis. It found that increasing lysine and calcium lowered the loss of calcium in the urine. In fact, lysine is important in controlling the calcium in your body and considered to protect your bones. It has been proven to stop the formation of calcium in the blood vessel in rats. This plays an important part in preventing heart disease.

Related: 10 Common Causes of Muscle Pain and Solutions

Other Important Benefits of Lysine

Lysine is a building block for protein in the body. These proteins can help release hormones, enzymes and immune cells. Besides the above benefits of lysine, this amino acid has other benefits:

• Reducing the growth of cancer cells
• Preventing the development of cataract
• Lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes
• Reducing blood pressure

Consuming enough lysine is necessary for maintaining overall health. It also has benefits for people with some conditions.  

Where Is Lysine Found?

As mentioned above, your body can’t make lysine, you must take it from foods. Lysine is typically rich in foods. Here’s a list of some great sources of lysine:

• Seafood: shrimps, mussels, and oysters
• Fish: salmon, tuna, and cod
• Meat: lamb, chicken, and beef
• Vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers
• Fruits: avocados, pears, and mangoes
• Dairy products: yogurt and cheese
• Nuts and seeds: pumpkin seeds, cashew, and macadamia nuts
• Legumes: soybeans, chickpeas, and kidney beans

Lysine is important for the body as it’s a building block of proteins for the body. This amino acid is helpful to prevent cold sores, reduce anxiety, boost healing wound, and improve calcium absorption. Without enough lysine, you may suffer from abnormal signs in the body. Thus, you should consume more lysine rich foods.