12 Foods High in Tyrosine That Pack Protein

If you've been sleep-deprived lately and yearning to feel more alert, eating more tyrosine-rich foods may help. Tyrosine (also known as l-tyrosine) is an amino acid that produces dopamine, which helps keep your memory sharp and brain alert, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids. Amino acids are considered essential, non-essential or conditional. The differences lie in whether or not your body can produce these amino acids on its own. Your body can make amino acids considered non-essential but needs to get essential amino acids from food. Tyrosine is a ​conditionally​ essential amino acid, meaning that your body can usually produce enough, but not if there's an illness or condition that's keeping it from doing so, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Your body can make tyrosine if you consume enough phenylalanine, an essential amino acid. However, people with phenylketonuria (PKU) can't eat foods high in phenylalanine and must take supplements, per the Mayo Clinic. If you have PKU, it's crucial to know that many foods that contain tyrosine also have phenylalanine — and high-protein foods tend to be high in tyrosine.

Tyrosine is essential for many of your body's functions and without it, your body wouldn't be able to handle stress or make important hormones. It is involved in producing neurotransmitters such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, that your body needs to combat stress, per the NLM.

Tyrosine also keeps your adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands functioning normally. These glands make hormones like the thyroid hormone, which helps regulate metabolism. And as a necessary component of melanin, tyrosine helps determine the pigment of your hair and skin.

Check out this list of foods high in l-tyrosine below. Note that the RDI percentages are based on eating 875 milligrams of tyrosine per day.

Skirt steak, the cut typically used for fajitas (and Philly cheesesteaks), is a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. It's also one of the best food sources of tyrosine, packing 248 percent of the RDI per a 6-ounce grilled steak.

Skirt steak is high in protein (with 49 grams per serving), but it's also pretty high in fat and has 52 percent of the daily value (DV) for saturated fat. If you're looking for a leaner cut of steak that still contains plenty of tyrosine, consider choosing flank steak, which has 172 percent of the RDI for tyrosine and 30 percent of the DV for saturated fat per a 6-ounce serving.

Try these protein-packed steak recipes to get your daily fill of tyrosine.

Pork chops also top the list of tyrosine foods, providing 239 percent of the RDI per a 6-ounce cooked serving. In addition, they're higher in protein (with 52.7 grams per serving) and much lower in saturated fat (20 percent of the DV) than skirt steak.

Sockeye salmon is high in fat, but most of that fat comes from healthy, unsaturated fats — specifically omega-3 fatty acids. Along with healthy fats, salmon is an excellent source of vitamin D, niacin, selenium and vitamins B6 and B12.

A 6-ounce fillet of cooked sockeye salmon packs 45 grams of protein and 235 percent of the RDI for tyrosine. Try these tasty and healthy salmon recipes.

Ground turkey sometimes gets overlooked, but this high-quality protein source is extremely versatile, affordable and quick to prepare. You can throw it in just about anything from turkey burgers to an enchilada casserole to a breakfast scramble.

A 6-ounce serving of fat-free, cooked turkey gives you 218 percent of the RDI for tyrosine and over 53 grams of protein. It's also rich in selenium, phosphorus, zinc and choline. Try these creative ground turkey recipes that go beyond burgers and meatloaf.

Tofu is a popular plant-based meat alternative because it's nutrient-rich, has almost as much protein as meat and is a complete protein.

One cup of tofu has 202 percent of the RDI for tyrosine, 43.5 grams of protein and 21 percent of the DV for fiber. Tofu is also an excellent source of calcium (providing 132 percent of the DV), selenium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Try these protein-packed tofu recipes next time you're wondering what to make for dinner.

"Got milk?" might be forever imprinted into your mind from years of hearing this catchy slogan and you'll be relieved to hear that milk is a high-quality protein with ample amounts of all nine essential amino acids.

Knowing which milk to choose at the grocery store can be confusing, but all cow's milks have nearly the same amount of tyrosine. Skim milk contains the most, providing 95 percent of the RDI for tyrosine per 16-ounce serving.

You can't think of ricotta cheese without picturing delicious and hearty dishes like stuffed shells or lasagna. A 1/2-cup serving of low-fat ricotta cheese contributes 84 percent of the RDI for tyrosine.

Ricotta is rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and B12, riboflavin and zinc. But this creamy cheese is also high in saturated fat, with about 31 percent of the DV per serving. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of your daily calories.

Like other dairy products on this list, yogurt is also one of the top sources of tyrosine. A 1-cup serving of low-fat yogurt provides 74 percent of the RDI for tyrosine.

Yogurt contains probiotics that are great for your gut, digestion, weight and overall health, according to a December 2018 review published in ​Nutrition Reviews​. Also known as healthy bacteria, probiotics protect your gut from harmful bacteria, have an anti-inflammatory effect on your body and help reduce infections.

Try these high-protein savory yogurt recipes for a breakfast or lunch twist!

Lentils are one of the best vegan foods high in protein and 1 cup cooked lentils provides 55 percent of the RDI for tyrosine and 17.9 grams of protein.

Not only are lentils a great plant-based protein option, but they are also high in fiber (with 56 percent of the DV per serving) and many nutrients, including iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese. Eating legumes like lentils regularly is linked to helping manage or reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, according to an October 2015 study published in ​Clinical Diabetes​.

Try these cozy vegetarian lentil recipes.

Black beans are incredibly affordable, versatile and packed with nutrients. Like other legumes, they're high in plant-based protein and fiber, providing 53 percent of the DV for fiber and 15.2 grams of protein per 1 cup of cooked beans.

Black beans are an excellent source of tyrosine with 49 percent of the RDI per serving. They're also rich in magnesium, copper, iron, potassium and B vitamins such as thiamin and folate. Turn a can of black beans into something delicious with these easy bean recipes.

Thanks to their small size, pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are wonderfully snackable. They're quite satiating thanks to their fiber, protein and healthy, unsaturated fat content. A 1-ounce handful of roasted pumpkin and squash seeds packs 35 percent of the RDI for tyrosine. Try these pumpkin seed recipes to transform the tiny seeds into something special.

Wild rice has a nutty flavor and is usually mixed with other types of rice. It's higher in fiber and protein (including the amino acid tyrosine) than white and brown rice. Wild rice is also considered a complete protein because it contains all of the essential amino acids. One cooked cup of wild rice has 32 percent of the RDI for tyrosine.

This nutritious rice is also high in polyphenols and linked with many health-promoting benefits, such as lowering the risk of high blood pressure, plaque buildup, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, according to a November 2020 review published in ​Food Chemistry.​ Try the grain in these leftover rice dinner recipes.