5 High-Lysine Smoothies for Managing Herpes Outbreaks

High-lysine smoothies can be an effective dietary addition for preventing cold sores and herpes outbreaks.
Lysine, an essential amino acid, plays a crucial role in growth and development and is known to suppress the availability of another amino acid, arginine, which aids the replication of the herpes simplex virus.
In other words, consuming more lysine than arginine can help prevent herpes outbreaks and fight its symptoms, including cold sores.
Preparing smoothies that have a high lysine/arginine ratio is fairly simple, but there are a few tips and guidelines you should follow:

Add dairy: Incorporating dairy products into your smoothies is an easy way to increase the lysine to arginine ratio in your diet.
Yogurt, milk and cream cheese are all popular options that are packed with lysine and will make your smoothie tasty and creamy.
Unfortunately, dairy-free alternatives are not as good in terms of improving the lysine-arginine ratio, but there are other options.

Add Low-Arginine Protein Powders: Protein powders are rich in aminoacids, but make sure to pick one that contains more lysine than arginine. Natreve MOOLESS Animal-Free Whey Protein Powder is a viable option that is suitable for vegans and individuals with a lactose intolerance. Despite being a dairy product, it is animal- and cruelty-free as it is harvested from microflora rather than animals. It contains approximately 7.41g of lysine and 1.48g of arginine per 100g, providing a favorable lysine to arginine ratio.

Pack it with fruits: Fruits such as apples, mangoes, papaya, apricot, pears, and avocados have a high lysine/arginine ratio and are recommended. Bananas and strawberries have a neutral ratio which means you can also add them without any problems. It is however best to avoid some fruits like goji berries, grapes, and coconut, due to their unfavorable lysine/arginine ratio. If you are worried about cold sore outbreaks you should also stay away from acidic fruits like lemons, oranges and citrus in general.

Choose your toppings carefully: Oats can be used as a topping for added texture. If you'd like to add some seeds, opt for fenugreek seeds, which are a lysine powerhouse. But it is better to stay away from nuts and chocolate, which are high in arginine.

1. Tropical High Lysine Smoothie

Experience a tropical delight with this smoothie that's high in lysine. The ingredients include fruits like mango, papaya, apple, and banana, which are known for their high lysine/arginine ratio. This makes them beneficial for managing herpes outbreaks. The smoothie also includes plain yogurt or condensed milk, which are dairy products known to be high in lysine. For a dairy-free alternative, you can add a scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder or an L-Lysine supplement.

• 1 ripe mango
• 1/2 ripe papaya
• 1 ripe apple
• 1/2 ripe banana
• 1 cup of plain yogurt or condensed milk OR dairy-free alternative with added lysine
• (optional) scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder
• (optional) scoop of L-Lysine supplement

2. Berry Apricot Lysine Smoothie

This smoothie combines the sweetness of apricots and strawberries with the subtle flavor of a ripe pear. Apricots are especially recommended as they have a high lysine/arginine ratio. Strawberries have a neutral lysine/arginine ratio, making them a safe addition to your smoothie. The smoothie also includes plain yogurt or condensed milk to enhance the creaminess and increase its lysine content. For a dairy-free version, a scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder or an L-Lysine supplement can be used instead.

• 5 ripe apricots
• 1 cup of strawberries
• 1 ripe pear
• 1 cup of plain yogurt or condensed milk OR dairy-free alternative with added lysine
• (optional) scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder
• (optional) scoop of L-Lysine supplement

3. High Lysine Sinh Tố Bơ

This Vietnamese-inspired smoothie, Sinh Tố Bơ, is made with a ripe and sweet avocado and condensed milk. Avocado is a fruit with a high lysine/arginine ratio, making it beneficial for managing herpes outbreaks. This version of the smoothie also includes half a banana, and whole milk to achieve a smooth and liquid consistency. For those who are dairy-free, a scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder or an L-Lysine supplement can be used as a substitute.

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1/2 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup of condensed milk
• 1/2 cup of whole milk (to make more smooth and liquid)
• OR dairy-free alternative with added lysine
• (optional) scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder
• (optional) scoop of L-Lysine supplement

4. Carrot Kale Lysine Booster

This smoothie is a powerhouse of nutrients. It includes two large carrots, a cup of kale leaves, and a ripe apple. Carrots and kale are known for their high lysine/arginine ratio, making them beneficial for managing herpes outbreaks. A pinch of ginger adds a kick of flavor. The smoothie also includes plain yogurt or skim milk. For a dairy-free alternative, you can use a scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder or an L-Lysine supplement.

• 2 large carrots
• 1 cup of kale leaves
• 1 ripe apple
• A pinch of ginger for added flavor
• 1 cup of plain yogurt or skim milk OR dairy-free alternative with added lysine
• (optional) scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder
• (optional) scoop of L-Lysine supplement

5. Green Smoothie Lysine Powerhouse

This green smoothie is a nutrition powerhouse packed with lysine thanks to the addition of fenugreek seeds. It includes nutrient-dense leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and pears as fruits. A sprinkle of fenugreek seeds adds a nutritional boost and a significant amount of lysine. The smoothie also includes plain yogurt or skim milk. For a dairy-free alternative, you can use a scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder or an L-Lysine supplement.

• 1 cup of spinach leaves
• 1 cup of kale leaves
• 1 ripe pear
• A sprinkle of fenugreek seeds for a nutrition and large amounts of lysine
• 1 cup of plain yogurt or skim milk OR dairy-free alternative with added lysine
• (optional) scoop of Low Arginine Protein Powder
• (optional) scoop of L-Lysine supplement