Arginine, an amino acid found naturally in many different types of food, converts into a chemical called nitric oxide and promotes blood flow, according to Medline Plus. It is typically not necessary to avoid certain foods with arginine, unless recommended by your doctor. However, if you're trying avoid foods with arginine, seek the help of a registered dietitian for a full list of foods to avoid based on your specific condition.
Dairy Products
Food sources of arginine are typically high-protein foods. Dairy products are known for their sources of protein, vitamins and minerals as well as the amino acid arginine, according to Medline Plus. Dairy products includes foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese. Whey protein drinks also provide sources of arginine.
Beef, Poultry & Fish
Animal-based foods that contain sources of protein also provide high amounts of arginine, including beef, pork, chicken and turkey. A 3.5-oz of pork, for example, provides approximately 2.31 g of arginine, according to Top200Foods.com. Arginine is also found in different types of seafood, such as salmon, cod, tuna, lobster and shrimp. A 3.5-oz serving of cod fish provides 3.75 g of the amino acid.
Nuts and Seeds
Arginine is found in high-protein vegetarian food sources as well. Nuts and seeds provide high sources of arginine and should be avoided if you're eliminating arginine from your diet. Nuts that contain arginine include peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews and almonds. A 3.5-oz serving of dried walnuts, for example, provides 3.61 g of arginine, according to Top200Foods.com. Seeds such as sesame, cottonseed, pumpkin, squash and safflower also contain high concentrations of the amino acid. Other high-protein vegetarian food sources of arginine include soybeans, chick peas and wheat germ.
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