Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are medicines that treat mood disorders, such as depression, by preventing enzymes that break down neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors cause a buildup of tyramine, a substance that elevates your blood pressure to levels that may require urgent treatment. A diet menu for monoamine oxidase inhibitors avoids tyramine-containing foods, such as cured meats, aged cheeses, soy sauce, beer, wine, sauerkraut, and improperly stored or spoiled foods.
Breakfast
Begin your day with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, a cup of mixed fruit and two scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast. Orange juice and mixed fruit, such as strawberries, bananas, peaches, melon and apples, contain high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants called phytochemicals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends eating a wide variety of colors of fruits each day to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Eat fresh fruit and eggs and avoid fruit that is overripe, moldy or spoiled. Spread your toast with fresh butter or cream cheese and avoid any processed margarines or spreads. Also avoid aged cheeses, such as cheddar or Muenster.
Lunch
For lunch, start off with a bowl of vegetable soup and enjoy a fresh roasted turkey sandwich on yeast-free multigrain bread with lettuce, tomato and alfalfa sprouts. Avoid any processed meat that is aged or dried. Do not eat foods that are fermented or pickled. Yeast contains tyramine and should be avoided. Do not add mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue or hot sauce to your sandwich, since these foods can contain tyramine. If you are vegetarian, you must avoid tyramine-containing soy products, such as tofu and soy sauce. You can eat pizza from large commercial outlets but not small outlets, according to research by scientists at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, published in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" in March 1999.
Dinner
A salad made with an assortment of fresh baby lettuces, tomato, cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, celery and zucchini is a healthy appetizer for dinner. Avoid eating avocado, since it may contain tyramine. Make your own salad dressing using fresh ingredients and avoid any processed dressings that may contain tyramine. For your entrée, enjoy grilled or baked halibut, provided the fish is fresh. For side dishes, enjoy a baked sweet potato and steamed asparagus.
Dessert
For dessert, select from a cup of fresh melon, ice cream, sherbet or pies made with fresh fruits. Fresh baked cookies and cakes, custard and pudding are good too. However, avoid eating ice cream made from soy, cheesecake or imported chocolates that often contain high amounts of tyramine.
References
- MayoClinic.com; MAOIs and Diet: Is It Necessary to Restrict Tyramine?; Daniel Hall-Flavin; September 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How Many Fruits and Vegetables Do You Need?
- The Ohio State University Medical Center: Low Tyramine Diet
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Refining the MAOI Diet: Tyramine Content of Pizzas and Soy Products; K.I. Shulman; March 1999
- FDNow: Tyramine-Free Food List
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