Tyramine is present in foods such as meats, poultry, fish, cheeses and fruits, and is found in larger amounts in fermented and aged foods.
The main foods rich in tyramine are:
- Drinks: beer, red wine, sherry and vermouth;
- Breads : Made with yeast extracts or with cheeses and aged meats, and homemade breads or yeast-rich breads;
- Aged and processed cheeses : cheddar, blue cheese, cheese pastes, Swiss, gouda, gorgonzola, parmesan, roman, feta and brie;
- Fruits : banana peel, dried fruit and very ripe fruit;
- Vegetables : green beans, fava beans, fermented cabbage, lentils, sauerkraut;
- Meats : aged meat, dried or cured meat, dried fish, cured or in pickle sauce, liver, meat extracts, salami, bacon, pepperoni, ham, smoked;
- Others : brewer's yeast, yeast broths, industrialized sauces, crackers with cheese, yeast pastes, soy sauce, yeast extracts.
Tyramine is a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine, and participates in the production of catecholamines, neurotransmitters that act to control blood pressure. High levels of tyrosine in the body cause blood pressure to rise and is especially dangerous for people who have high blood pressure.
Foods with moderate amounts of tyramide
Foods that have moderate amounts of tyramide are:
- Beverages : wines, distilled liquor, light red wine, white wine and port wine;
- Unleavened or low-fermenting commercial breads ;
- Yoghurt and unpasteurized dairy products;
- Fruits : avocado, raspberry, red plum;
- Vegetables : Chinese beans, spinach, peanuts;
- Meats : fish roes and meat pates.
In addition to these, foods such as coffee, teas, cola-based soft drinks and chocolates also have moderate levels of tyramide.
Care and contraindications
Foods rich in tyramide should not be over-consumed by people using MAO inhibitor medicines, also known as MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, as migraine or blood pressure may occur.
These medications are mainly used to treat problems such as depression and high blood pressure.
