Polylysine

Why You Need It

• Supports Collagen Production: L-Lysine is essential for creating collagen, the protein that keeps your skin, bones, and joints healthy and strong.
• Boosts Immune Health: It plays a key role in the production of antibodies and enzymes that help your body fight off infections.
• Aids in Calcium Absorption: L-Lysine helps your body absorb calcium, which is vital for maintaining strong bones and preventing osteoporosis.
• Essential for Muscle Repair: As a building block of protein, it is crucial for repairing tissue and building muscle mass after exercise.

Deep Dive

L-Lysine is classified as an 'essential' amino acid, meaning you must get it from food or supplements. It is a precursor to carnitine, a substance that helps convert fatty acids into energy. This makes it important not just for structure, but for your body's energy metabolism as well. Research suggests that adequate lysine intake can help reduce the severity and frequency of cold sores (herpes simplex virus) by blocking arginine, another amino acid the virus needs to replicate.

Natural Food Sources

Getting L-Lysine from food is the best approach. Animal proteins are the richest sources, but plant-based options are available too.

Supplementation

While most people get enough lysine from their diet, some may benefit from a supplement. A common dosage for general health is 1,000 mg per day. For specific therapeutic uses (like managing cold sores), dosages up to 3,000 mg per day may be used, but always under medical guidance. It is best absorbed when taken with a meal, preferably with carbohydrates to stimulate insulin release, which aids amino acid transport.