L-Lysine??

[blessedbythree]

My dentist recommended I try taking L-Lysine to help prevent canker sores as I get them a lot. Anyone know if this is safe for breastfeeding? It's a amino acid. TIA

[whitnessforhim]

I don't know if its safe...but I just wanted to say that I use to get a lot of canker sores too before I figured out that I had a dairy allergy. My Dr. said this is common in people with food allergies...when you eat whatever it is it irritates the mouth and causes them.

[blessedbythree]

That's interesting Whitness. My naturopath told me over a year ago that I had a significant allergy to dairy. I was allergic to the casein in dairy products. Well I haven't really done anything to remove dairy from my diet as I didn't perceive my symptoms to be that problematic. I was diagnosed with dairy allergy as a child but I thought I had out grown it until my naturopath told me otherwise. I suppose I really should get more serious about eliminating dairy. It just feels so overwhelming to do so.

[whitnessforhim]

I never had an allergy to dairy until later in life...or maybe I always had it but it never manifested itself in such annoying ways as canker sores.

I won't lie being allergic to dairy really sucks! However, it is completely possible to enjoy eating and be dairy free. You just have to be creative and seek out other alternatives. I can give you many of suggestions as I am sure others can here too.

Personally, the biggest change I have made is using rice milk products in place of milk products. I thinik it is better tasting than soy and not so heavy as soy products. But you can find everything you can possibly imagine made from rice milk...i.e. ice cream, cheese, sour cream, even chocolates. Do you have a health food store around you like Whole Foods or Central Market?! Those places are my best friend.

The switch is hard at first but just like anything else, once your use to it, its very easy. Let me know if I can help you in anyway.

[KerryS]

Yes, it's safe. I've heard of L-Lysine to prevent cold sores, but not canker sores.

[whitnessforhim]

oh and here is a great website for some good dairy free recipe's, product recommendations and dairy information.

http://www.godairyfree.org/

[blessedbythree]

Thanks for the info ladies.

Thank-you for the link Whitness. I will look through it later today. I too am not a fan of soy products but I will give Rice milk a try. Did it take a long time for your taste buds to adjust to it? I don't drink glasses of milk or anything but love cheese, ice cream and milk on my cereal. What type of butter substitute do you use? I'm open to hearing any advice you may have for me.

I told my husband last night about the canker sores and allergies etc and he really wants me to give it a try for a few months to see what type of changes I notice in the way I feel.

Thanks again.

[whitnessforhim]

I'm the same way. I could never stand to drink milk straight, unless it was chocolate milk but I love cheese and ice cream. I will admit that there is no alternative product out there that taste exactly like the real thing but its close enough to satisfy my taste buds. The first time I used rice milk on my cereal it took two bites for me to get use to the change in flavor. Personally, I think it has a nice light flavor to it and I now prefer it to regular milk. I also love the chocolate rice milk...I use that for shakes and smoothies and also drink it straight.

I use this for butter. Its great for cooking, frying, baking and anything else you would use butter for... http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/#/products/vegan-sticks/

So Delicious came out with a new product...its yogurt and ice cream made with coconut milk...they are yummy! http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/coconut_yogurt.html
http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/purely_decadent_Coconut_Milk.html

[madelsmama]

I also prefer rice milk (original flavor) for cereal over cow's.

Also, in recent months I bought Tom's original natural care (alcohol-free) mouth wash. In using it I've noticed that it seems effective in helping my cankers heal more quickly and helps with pain (more than applying oragel, etc.). Ingredients are: water, glycerin, witch hazel water, organic aloe leaf juice, poloxamer 335, spearmint leaf oil, and vitamin C.

[blessedbythree]

Thanks for all the help. It looks like I'll be making a trip to the local health food store soon. The good thing is we have several near by. I'll try that mouthwash Madelsmama.

I actually tried a locally made coconut milk ice cream at a natural food health fair last summer and it really was delicious.

[whitnessforhim]

I've used that mouthwash as well. I like it a lot.

[ima062002]

Lysine is rated L2 which makes it safe.