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Foods rich in phenylalanine are all those that contain a high or medium protein content such as meat, fish, milk and dairy products, in addition to being found in grains, vegetables and some fruits, such as pine cones.
Phenylalanine is an amino acid that the human body does not produce, but it is necessary for maintaining he alth, and therefore must be consumed through food. However, people with the genetic disease phenylketonuria, need to control their intake, as the body cannot digest it, and when phenylalanine accumulates in the body, it leads to problems such as delays in mental development and seizures. Understand better what phenylketonuria is and what the diet is like.
List of foods that contain phenylalanine
The main foods rich in phenylalanine are:
- Red meats: such as beef, lamb, sheep, pork, rabbit;
- White meat: fish, shellfish, poultry such as chicken, turkey, goose, duck;
- Meat products: sausage, bacon, ham, sausage, salami;
- Animal offal: heart, guts, gizzard, liver, kidneys;
- Milk and dairy products: yogurts, cheeses;
- Eggs: and products that have it in the recipe;
- Oilseeds: almonds, peanuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts;
- Wheat flour: foods containing it as an ingredient;
- Grain: soy and derivatives, chickpeas, beans, peas, lentils;
- Industrialized foods: chocolate milk, gelatin, cookies, bread, ice cream;
- Fruits: tamarind, sweet passion fruit, raisin banana.
In cases of people with phenylketonuria, it is advised that the amount ingested or the exclusion of foods from the diet, be regulated according to the severity of the disease and should follow the guidance of the doctor and nutritionist, who will indicate the appropriate treatment. See an example of how phenylketonuria can be fed.
Amount of phenylalanine in foods
The table below shows some foods from the highest to lowest amount of phenylalanine in 100 g:
Food |
Amount of phenylalanine |
| Green smell | 862 mg |
| Chamomile | 612 mg |
| Die de leche | 416 mg |
| Dehydrated rosemary | 320 mg |
| Turmeric | 259 mg |
| Red garlic | 236 mg |
| UHT milk cream | 177 mg |
| Stuffed Biscuit | 172 mg |
| Pea (pod) | 120 mg |
| Arugula | 97 mg |
| Pequi | 85 mg |
| Yam | 75 mg |
| Spinach | 74 mg |
| Beetroot | 72 mg |
| Carrot | 50 mg |
| Jaca | 52 mg |
| Eggplant | 45 mg |
| Cassava | 42 mg |
| Jiló | 40 mg |
| Chuchu | 40 mg |
| Pimentão | 38 mg |
| Caju | 36 mg |
| Cucumber | 33 mg |
| Pitanga | 33 mg |
| Persimmon | 28 mg |
| Grape | 26 mg |
| Pomegranate | 21 mg |
| Gala apple | 10 mg |
