Lysine is an amino acid that has several roles throughout the body, such as the creation of proteins and a variety of additional biological processes. Unfortunately, this amino acid cannot be synthesized within your body, which means that your diet will need to introduce the acid to your system. In order for your body to receive enough lysine, you will need to consume around 5-6 milligrams of the substance for every two pounds of your body weight. You can consume this amino acid from supplements or from a variety of different foods.