Why Should I Eat This Way?
People who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may need to be on a low tyramine diet. This is found in some medicines that treat problems like depression, Parkinson disease, and infection. Taking these and eating foods that are high in tyramine can cause health problems. Some of these are high blood pressure, headaches, and chest pain.
Eating Plan
Food Type | Foods to Eat | Foods Not to Eat |
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Grains |
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Veggies |
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Fruits |
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Milk |
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Meat and Beans |
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Oils |
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Drinks |
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Other |
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Tips
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Fresh food is less likely to have high levels of tyramine.
- Cool or freeze foods right away.
- Use or throw away leftovers within 48 hours.
- Eat fresh meats within 3 days.
- Eat cheese within 3 to 4 weeks.
- People taking MAOIs should stay on this plan for 4 weeks after they stop taking it. Ask your doctor how long you should stay on it.
RESOURCES
Eat Right—Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics http://www.eatright.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Dietitians of Canada http://www.dietitians.ca
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
References
Low tyramine diet. Queensland Government website. Available at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0020/145802/oncol%5Fmaoi.pdf. Updated October 2016. Accessed March 12, 2019.
Medication errors: preventing—general principles. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center . Updated May 18, 2018. Accessed March 13, 2019.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review BoardDianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN
- Review Date: 03/2019
- Update Date: 03/13/2019