Tyramine is present in foods such as meats, chicken, fish, cheeses and fruits, being found in greater quantities 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 aged cheeses and meats, and homemade 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 fruits and very ripe fruits; Vegetables: green beans, fava beans, fermented cabbage, lentils, sauerkraut; Meat: aged meat, dried or cured meat, dried fish, cured or in pickle sauce, liver, meat extracts, salami, bacon, peperoni, ham, smoked; Others: brewer's yeast, yeast broths, industrial sauces, cheese crackers, 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 in the control of blood pressure. High levels of tyrosine in the body cause blood pressure to rise, which is especially dangerous for people who have hypertension.
Foods with moderate amounts of tiramide
Foods that have moderate amounts of tiramide are:
- Drinks: broths, distilled liquor, light red wine, white wine and Port wine; Commercial breads without yeast or with low yeast content; Yogurt and unpasteurized dairy products; Fruits: avocado, raspberry, red plum; Vegetables: Chinese green beans, spinach, peanuts; Meat: fish roe and meat pates.
In addition to these, foods such as coffee, teas, cola-based soft drinks and chocolates also have moderate levels of tiramide.
Cautions and contraindications
Foods rich in tiramide should not be consumed in excess by people who use MAO-inhibiting drugs, also known as MAOIs or mono-amino oxidase inhibitors, as migraine or increased blood pressure may occur.
These drugs are mainly used to treat problems such as depression and high blood pressure.
