Top 10 Foods Highest in Tyrosine

Tyrosine is a conditionally essential amino acid involved in creating brain signaling molecules such as dopamine, and stress hormones like norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline). (1)

For most people, tyrosine is not classified as essential, since it can be made by the body if a person consumes enough of the amino acid phenylalanine. (2)

However, people with a genetic condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU) typically take tyrosine supplements. This is because their bodies cannot metabolize excess phenylalanine, and so they need to limit their intake of this amino acid in order to avoid serious health consequences. (3) Note that many high tyrosine foods also contain phenylalanine, and so are not a good substitute for people with PKU.

High tyrosine foods include beef, pork, fish, chicken, tofu, milk, cheese, beans, seeds, nuts, and whole grains.

The reference dietary intake (RDI) of phenylalanine and tyrosine is 25mg per kilogram of body weight or 11mg per pound. (4) Assuming a person gets half their requirement from each amino acid, a person can then consume 12.5mg per kg or 5.5mg per pound. As such, a person weighing 70kg (~154 pounds) should consume around 875mg of tyrosine per day, and this is the amount used to calculate the reference dietary intake (RDI).

Below is a list of the top 10 foods highest in tyrosine, for more high tyrosine foods see the extended list of tyrosine rich foods.

• 1. Beef (Skirt Steak) + Add

  Tyrosine per 6oz Steak	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  2174mg (248% RDI)	1279mg (146% RDI)	954mg (109% RDI)

• 2. Lean Pork Chops + Add

  Tyrosine in a 6oz Chop	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  2088mg (239% RDI)	1228mg (140% RDI)	1259mg (144% RDI)

• 3. Fish (Salmon) + Add

  Tyrosine per 6oz Fillet	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  2052mg (235% RDI)	1207mg (138% RDI)	1547mg (177% RDI)

• 4. Lean Chicken Breast + Add

  Tyrosine in a 6oz Breast	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  1964mg (224% RDI)	1155mg (132% RDI)	1471mg (168% RDI)

• 5. Firm Tofu + Add

  Tyrosine per Cup	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  1767mg (202% RDI)	701mg (80% RDI)	974mg (111% RDI)

• 6. Milk + Add

  Tyrosine per 16oz Glass	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  833mg (95% RDI)	170mg (19% RDI)	1000mg (114% RDI)

• 7. Low-Fat Ricotta Cheese + Add

  Tyrosine per 1/2 Cup	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  739mg (84% RDI)	596mg (68% RDI)	864mg (99% RDI)

• 8. Large White Beans + Add

  Tyrosine per Cup	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  490mg (56% RDI)	274mg (31% RDI)	394mg (45% RDI)

• 9. Squash and Pumpkin Seeds + Add

  Tyrosine per 1oz Handful	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  306mg (35% RDI)	1079mg (123% RDI)	376mg (43% RDI)

• 10. Wild Rice + Add

  Tyrosine per Cup	Tyrosine per 100g	Tyrosine per 200 Calories
  277mg (32% RDI)	169mg (19% RDI)	335mg (38% RDI)

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Even More Tyrosine Rich Foods

Use the ranking tool links below to select foods and create your own food list to share or print.

• Foods High in Tyrosine
• Foods Low in Tyrosine
• Vegetables High in Tyrosine
• Fruits High in Tyrosine
• Vegetarian Foods High in Tyrosine
• Nuts High in Tyrosine
• Grains High in Tyrosine
• Beans High in Tyrosine
• Dairy High in Tyrosine
• Breakfast Cereals High in Tyrosine
• Fast Foods High in Tyrosine

View more nutrients with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.

• Amino Acid Protein Calculator
• High Phenylalanine Foods
• High Valine Foods
• High Cysteine Foods
• High Methionine Foods
• High Threonine Foods
• High Leucine Foods
• High Tryptophan Foods
• High Protein Foods
• Vegetables Highest in Protein
• Fruits Highest in Protein
• Cheeses Highest in Protein
• Beans and Legumes Highest in Protein

Data Sources and References

1. Joseph B, Dyer CA. Dopamine precursors and brain function in phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency J Neurochem. 2003 Aug;86(3):615-26. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01887.x. 12859675
2. Rafii M, McKenzie JM, Roberts SA, Steiner G, Ball RO, Pencharz PB. An overview of phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics in humans Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Feb;294(2):E475-9. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00604.2007. Epub 2007 Nov 27. 18042668
3. Remmington T, Smith S. Tyrosine supplementation for phenylketonuria Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Jan 4;1(1):CD001507. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001507.pub4. 33427303
4. World Health Organization - Protein and Amino Acid Requirements In Human Nutrition