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Foods to Avoid in a Tyramine-Free Diet

Tyramine is a naturally occurring substance found in aged, fermented and spoiled foods. People who suffer from migraines or those prescribed monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MOAIs, may need to follow a tyramine free diet, according to the PATH website. MOAIs inhibit the metabolism of tyramine leading to elevated blood levels causing headaches, nausea, vomiting and very high blood pressure.

  1. Dairy Foods

    • The longer a food ages, the higher the tyramine level, according to Vitacost.com. Most aged cheeses need to avoided on a tyramine-free diet. Dairy foods high in tyramine include blue cheese, brie, cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan, Roquefort, provolone, Swiss Gouda, Stilton and Colby.

    Alcoholic Beverages

    • Alcoholic beverages also go through an aging process and contain high amounts of tyramine. Alcoholic beverages to avoid on a tyramine-free diet include red and white wine, draft and ale beer, port, sherry and vermouth, according to PATH. Vitacost.com does say that some domestic wines and beers may be safe to consume. People following a tyramine-free diet should discuss alcohol consumption with their doctor if they want to include it in their diet.

    Meats and Fish

    • People on a tyramine-free diet need to be careful when eating out. At restaurants, people should inquire about the freshness of ingredients and meat to avoid foods high in tyramine. Meat and fish to avoid on a tyramine-free diet include canned meats, caviar, commercial gravies and meat extracts, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, fermented fish, game meat, liver, pickled herring, spoiled meat, salted dried fish, meat prepared with a meat tenderizer and shrimp paste. People following a tyramine-free diet should also avoid eating meats that have been sitting in the refrigerator for several days, according to Vitacost.com.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • A food item with 6 or more grams of tyramine is considered a high tyramine food, according to Vitacost.com. Overripe fruits and vegetables can also be a source of tyramine. Fruits and vegetables to avoid include avocados, bananas, fava beans, figs, red plums, sauerkraut and soybean products.

    Miscellaneous Foods

    • Additional foods to avoid on a tyramine-free diet include boullion cubes, breads and crackers with cheese, protein extracts, miso soup, tofu, soy sauce, marmite and Vegemite.

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