Healthy & wellbeing

Great advice to keep you happy and healthy

- Alison Cullen

Q. I dread this time of year as I always seem to suffer from cold sores. Is there anything I can do to try to prevent these unsightly sores?

Alison Cullen, A. Vogel Nutritional Practitioner and Education Manager, is here to help.

Cold sores are triggered by stress, both physical and mental, and the onset of winter can cause this!

Supporting your immune system with healthy, nourishing food is important, as well as keeping an eye on the nutrients that your immune system needs, such as vitamins C and D, and zinc.

Steer clear of immune-challenging dietary items such as alcohol, caffeine and refined sugar.

Sadly, chocolate shouldn't feature too highly on your winter menu, because it contains arginine, an amino acid that supports the cold sore virus.