Your body needs essential amino acids to function correctly. Lysine is just one of those macronutrients that are important for your health. You might not be familiar with the name, but you can find it in a variety of proteins and supplements. These amino acids have long-reaching effects on the body. You need to have the right balance of lysine to stay fit and healthy.
What is Lysine?
Lysine is one of those essential amino acids that play a vital role in many bodily functions. You need it for tissue growth and repair. This amino acid is a building block of protein. However, unlike other amino acids, your body cannot produce it on its own. If you are looking to add more lysine to your diet, you can eat food containing it or add it as a micronutrient supplement.
A lack of lysine can lead to fatty acid metabolism, anemia, or defective connective tissues. A body with too much lysine can experience ineffective catabolism that can lead to neurological issues. Lysine is vital for building muscle protein, recovering from injuries, calcium absorption, and the production of enzymes, antibodies, and hormones. As you can tell, it is vital to have the right amount of lysine in your body.
If you need more lysine, you can always add it with a dietary supplement. Lysine supplements are available in liquid or tablet form. In addition to supplements, you can find ways other ways to add it to your diet. Lysine is commonly found in fish, red meat, dairy, eggs, and legumes.
Benefits of Lysine
Many people use lysine to improve their athletic performance or reduce cold sores. Lysine can be applied to the skin to help heal bed sores. This macronutrient is known to lower triglyceride levels in the blood, reduce stress, and build muscle strength.
Cold Sore Busters
The treatment of cold sores is one of the primary uses of lysine supplements. You might get a cold sore or fever blister after an infection, and they can be quite unsightly around your mouth. Not only do they look bad, but cold sores can be painful as well. If you have one, your mouth might feel a burning or tingling sensation when you talk or eat.
Lysine can treat these sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. The supplements help to prevent the infection from reproducing and reduce the duration of the wound. Lysine blocks another amino acid called arginine, which the cold sore needs to replicate. Some studies have recommended a supplement of 1,000mg of lysine to reduce cold sores. If you are looking for a topical solution, you can apply a cream made with lysine for even faster relief.
Anxiety Reducer
Anxiety seems to be on the rise for both men and women. Lysine has been shown to play a role in reducing anxiety in adults. It works to reduce the receptors in the body’s stress response. Some studies have shown that 2.6 grams of lysine and arginine can reduce the level of the stress hormone known as cortisol. In recent years, lysine has shown some effectiveness against schizophrenia. This mental disorder often disrupts a person’s perception of the world and can cause long-term psychological effects. Tests are still in the early stages, but lysine and a combination of prescribed medication have the potential to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Improves Wound Healing
You already know about the benefits of cold sore relief, but lysine can promote wound healing in other parts of your body. Studies on animal tissue have shown that lysine can help speed up the tissue’s repair process. Lysine is needed to form collagen, and that critical protein is used to give structure to bones and skin. As a binding agent, lysine can increase the number of new cells at the wound. In some studies, lysine can even help create new blood vessels.
Helps the Muscle Repair Process
If you are an athlete, lysine can be very beneficial for you. A combination of arginine and lysine can help to speed up the healing process for muscle tears and bone fractures. In some cases, this combination of amino acids can cut the healing time by half. You can see the vital role that lysine plays in the healing process for your skin and bones.
Hold On To That Calcium
For years, we have been told that calcium is essential for healthy bones. However, some people cannot get enough calcium in their diets. Lysine may help you to hold on to that vital calcium as it increases absorption in your guts and kidneys. A study has shown that women with osteoporosis can reduce calcium loss with a lysine supplement. With just 400mg of lysine, these women lost less calcium in their urine than those not using the supplements. Lysine can also control the transportation of calcium in the body. Calcium buildup in the blood vessels can lead to heart disease. However, lysine can increase the movement of calcium out of the cells.
Other Benefits of Lysine
In addition to the above benefits, lysine can help your body in many different ways. Many people with diabetes are turning to lysine to reduce the amount of sugar in the blood. Blood pressure may be improved by adding lysine supplements. In one study, there was a correlation between high blood pressure and a lysine deficiency. Lysine supplements have shown to reduce the development of cataracts in a study with rats. Finally, another animal study found that the combination of catechin and lysine reduces the cancer cell growth rate in mice.
Lysine is the building block of protein in your body. Many studies are showing the benefits of adding lysine to your supplement routine. This amino acid has been shown to relieve cold sores, reduce anxiety, and even speed up wound healing. You need an adequate amount of lysine to maintain a healthy body.
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