Tyramine is an amino acid found in some foods and inactivated in the bowel by the enzyme monoamine oxidase. MAO inhibitors inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase, allowing tyramine to build up in the body. When this happens symptoms can develop including elevated blood pressure, headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats, according to Drugs.com. Your doctor may prescribe MAO inhibitors for depression. In this case, discuss with him the high tyramine foods you need to avoid.
Aged or Preserved Food
The levels of tyramine in food increase as the food ages. Avoid food against once it has aged, this includes any leftovers more than 48 hours old, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Do not eat meat that is canned, processed, dried or salted. This includes hot dogs, ham, corned beef, sausage, pepperoni, packaged deli meat, bologna and jerky. Avoid frozen TV dinners including lasagna and pizza. Pickled foods are also in the preserved category and include pickles, picked beets, sauerkraut and any marinated food in a jar. Avoid canned soups, bouillon cubes and soup bases with autolytic yeast. On any packaged foods check the ingredients list for the nitrates or nitrites, these food preservatives are present with high tyramine levels.
Dairy Foods
Although white milk is safe to drink, stay away from buttermilk, sour cream and chocolate milk. A number of cheeses must be avoided including cheese in a jar, cheese sauce, macaroni and cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, Gouda, Swiss, Roquefort, bleu, Brie, Camembert, Stilton, provolone, Boursin and brick. Note that many of these cheeses are present on pizza, in cheese bread and in Italian recipes.
Fruits and Vegetables
Avoid any fruit that is overripe or moldy. Limit yourself to 1/2 banana, 2 oz. of raspberry jam and 1/2 cup of citrus fruits per day, according to the University of New Hampshire. Citrus fruits include oranges, lemons, limes, kumquats and grapefruit. Fruits that you must avoid include raisins, figs, avocados, papaya, red plums, banana peels and passion fruit. Avoid a number of beans including garbanzo, Italian, pinto, navy, broad, Lima, pole and fava. Avoid snow peas, green pea pods, guacamole and onions.
Snacks and Desserts
Unfortunately, you need to avoid all chocolate according to University of New Hampshire. This includes chocolate syrup, hot chocolate, chocolate pudding, chocolate candies, carob, chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream. Mincemeat pie is a dessert you must pass up. For all snack items, read the ingredient label to check for nitrates or nitrites.
Other Food Items
Avoid all alcoholic beverages including wine, beer and hard liquor, according to the University of New Hampshire. Avoid non-alcoholic beer; according to the Ohio State University. You need to avoid some spice mixes including seasoned salt, Accent, meat tenderizer and MSG in large amounts. Avoid brewer's yeast pills and foods made with yeast, autolytic yeast or yeast extract; according to Drugs.com. Avoid flavored or spiced peanuts, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds. Check the labels on all packaged foods for nitrates or nitrites.
Member Comments