To find out what these potential dietary options are, and what tyramine is, we turned to Dani Lebovitz, MS, RDN, a Franklin, Tennessee-based food education expert and founder of Kid Food Explorers.
What is tyramine?
“Tyramine, a natural substance in our bodies, helps manage blood pressure and brain signals,” explains Lebovitz. It is derived from the amino acid tyrosine and is also found in common foods and drinks. (It belongs to the same chemical group as the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.)
Tyramine plays an important role in the body, but things can get dangerous if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a type of drug used to treat depression and anxiety. MAOIs help regulate mood by blocking monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that removes neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (substances needed for stable mood levels) from the brain. But MAOI also Prevents the breakdown of excess tyramine in the body. Because remember, tyramine is related to these neurotransmitters.
There is no need to exclude foods high in tyramine from your diet unless you suspect or know for sure that tyramine is the trigger.
Excess tyramine can cause headaches, chest pain, blurred vision, as well as increased blood pressure, which may require immediate medical attention. People taking MAOIs may avoid specific foodOne, the same goes for people prone to migraines. And while taking tyramine In May Experts caution against changing your diet without consulting an experienced nutritionist or doctor. “It’s about how the body processes tyramine,” she explains. “Reducing foods high in tyramine can make a big difference in managing this condition.” However, there are no guarantees, so before you stop drinking red wine or ramen noodles for no reason, talk to your health care provider about foods rich in tyramine.
What foods contain tyramine?
Speaking of which: Many foods contain tyramine, but fermented or aged foods and beverages tend to contain the most tyramine. The reason is microorganisms. As food ages, tyrosine (an amino acid) is converted to tyramine.2. Therefore, the more “aged” or fermented the product, the more likely it is to contain tyramine.
Foods high in tyramine
Lebovitz says the following foods are typically very high in tyramine:
- Aged cheese (e.g. Parmesan, Swiss, Stilton, Gorgonzola)
- Dry cured meats (such as salami or pepperoni)
- Pickled foods (e.g. kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles)
- salted seafood
- liver
- Certain beans (such as kidney beans)
- fish sauce
- Soybeans, tofu and other soybean products
- soybean paste
Alcohol is also high in tyramine thanks to its production method. “Alcoholic beverages like beer, especially draft and craft beer, are known to have high tyramine levels, along with red wine,” says Lebovitz.
If you're trying to avoid foods and drinks high in tyramine, Lebovitz says you should reduce your coffee intake, as the effects of consuming too much caffeine (headaches and faster heart rate) can be similar to the effects of tyramine. “So people who are sensitive to tyramine may benefit from moderating their caffeine intake,” she says.
“Alcoholic beverages like beer, especially draft and craft beer, are known to have high tyramine levels, along with red wine,” says Lebovitz.
Foods Low in Tyramine
If you and your healthcare team determine that you may benefit from a diet low in tyramine, there is no shortage of healthy foods you can enjoy. According to Lebovitz, these include:
- fruit: Not overripe apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, bananas
- vegetable: Leaf vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkin, turnips
- dairy: Non-fermented cheese such as raw milk, yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, etc.
- protein: Fresh meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, canned legumes (excluding broad beans and fava beans)
- whole grains: Rice, pasta, bread
In general, Lebovitz says you can have success following a low-tyramine diet by eating the above foods quickly and paying attention to how they are stored and prepared. “For fresh produce, consume within a few days of purchase. “Use canned or frozen foods immediately after opening,” he advised. For fresh animal proteins, we suggest eating them the day you buy them or freezing them.
Should everyone limit tyramine?
No, not everyone needs to stress about tyramine. Some people may need to take special care to limit their intake of tyramine foods, depending on their medical condition and medications. Different people may be more sensitive to it than others, and some may handle it better. There is no need to exclude foods high in tyramine from your diet unless you suspect or know for sure that tyramine is the trigger.
It is always best to consult with your healthcare provider before making any major changes to your diet, especially if you are managing a medical condition. “If you think you may have a tyramine sensitivity, keeping a food diary can be a tool to help you identify patterns and potential triggers,” says Lebovitz. “Meeting with a nutritionist [who can] Providing personalized guidance can also be helpful.”
Well+Good articles reference scientific, credible, recent and robust research to support the information we share. You can trust us on your wellness journey.
- Van den Eynde, Vincent et al. “A Prescriber’s Guide to the MAOI Diet – Thinking Through the Tyramine Problem.” Psychopharmacology Bulletin Board volume. 52,2(2022): 73-116.
- Anderegg, Janine et al. “Effect of sodium chloride on tyramine production and inhibition by tyrosine degradation by Lactobacillus plantarum JA-1199 in a fermented food model.” chemistry Volume 74.5 (2020): 391-397. doi:10.2533/chimia.2020.391