About this page: Data is drawn from Nutriofia's structured database of published sources (CoFID, USDA, and published analytical literature). The coverage bar shows what percentage of our 1126 foods have been measured for Lysine. This is a research tool — nothing here constitutes medical advice.

About Lysine

An essential amino acid important for protein synthesis and collagen cross-linking; often highlighted in plant-based diets because some grains are relatively low in lysine.

⚠️ Too little

Low lysine intake can occur if diets rely heavily on low-lysine staples without variety; ensuring varied plant proteins helps.

🚫 Too much

Excess from food is generally handled by normal metabolism; high-dose single-amino-acid supplements may cause side effects or be inappropriate for some conditions.

Sources: MedlinePlus · WHO/FAO/UNU
⚠️ Partial database coverage (15.7%)
Only 177 of 1126 foods in the database have a recorded value for Lysine. The ranked list below shows what we have — foods not in the list simply haven't been measured yet rather than containing none.

Foods Containing Lysine

177 foods with recorded data, ranked highest first. Showing 101–177 of 177. Values per 100g fresh weight.

# Food Per 100g Level
★ Nuts, pecans, halves, raw 0.32 g
★ Sorghum (Grain) 0.318 g
★ Rye (Grain) 0.309 g
4 Pecans (raw) 0.304 g
5 Barley (Pearled) 0.297 g
6 Mustard, prepared, yellow 0.29 g
7 Milk, skimmed, pasteurised 0.28 g
8 Milk, semi-skimmed, pasteurised 0.27 g
9 Bread, white, sliced 0.27 g
10 Rice (White, Basmati) 0.267 g
11 Broccoli 0.264 g
12 Macadamia nuts (raw) 0.261 g
13 Milk, whole, pasteurised 0.26 g
14 Polenta (Dry) 0.255 g
15 Cornmeal (Maize) 0.255 g
16 Rice (Brown, Long Grain) 0.225 g
17 Rice (Brown, Short Grain) 0.222 g
18 Rice (White, Long Grain) 0.213 g
19 Rice (White, Jasmine) 0.21 g
20 Sweetcorn, frozen, boiled 0.204 g
21 Soy milk, sweetened, plain, refrigerated 0.2 g
22 Cheese, cream 0.196 g
23 Mushrooms, closed cup, raw 0.186 g
24 Juniper “seeds” 0.175 g
25 Spinach, baby, raw 0.156 g
26 Cauliflower, raw 0.114 g
27 Potatoes, boiled (unsalted) 0.114 g
28 Green Beans 0.114 g
29 Cream, double 0.082 g
30 Figs, dried, uncooked 0.081 g
31 Carrots, frozen, unprepared 0.075 g
32 Lettuce, average, raw 0.072 g
33 Courgette, raw 0.072 g
34 Cabbage, white, raw 0.072 g
35 Tomatoes, cherry, raw 0.066 g
36 Onion, red, raw 0.066 g
37 Chestnuts, roasted (no added fat/salt) 0.066 g
38 Aubergine, raw 0.06 g
39 Bananas, raw, flesh only 0.06 g
40 Cherries, flesh and skin, raw 0.06 g
41 Kiwifruit, green, raw 0.055 g
42 Tomato 0.054 g
43 Peaches, raw, flesh and skin 0.05 g
44 Nectarines, flesh and skin, raw 0.05 g
45 Blueberries 0.045 g
46 Apricots, raw, flesh and skin 0.045 g
47 Blueberries, raw 0.045 g
48 Grapefruit, flesh only, raw 0.044 g
49 Celery, raw 0.042 g
50 Clementine 0.04 g
51 Satsuma 0.04 g
52 Lemons, whole, without pips 0.04 g
53 Tangerine 0.04 g
54 Kiwi fruit, flesh only, raw 0.04 g
55 Oranges, flesh only 0.04 g
56 Cucumber 0.036 g
57 Limes, flesh only 0.035 g
58 Pineapple, raw 0.035 g
59 Mangoes, ripe, flesh only, raw 0.035 g
60 Melon, Honeydew, flesh only, weighed whole 0.035 g
61 Pomegranate seeds (arils) 0.032 g
62 Strawberries, raw 0.03 g
63 Plums, Victoria, flesh and skin, raw 0.03 g
64 Apples, eating, raw (flesh + skin) 0.03 g
65 Peaches, yellow, raw 0.028 g
66 Melon, Galia, flesh only 0.025 g
67 Pineapple, flesh only, raw 0.025 g
68 Blackberries, raw 0.025 g
69 Pears, raw, bartlett 0.021 g
70 Butter, salted 0.018 g
71 Pears, raw, flesh and skin 0.015 g
72 Nectarines, raw 0.015 g
73 Grapes, red 0.01 g
74 Grapes, green 0.01 g
75 Pears, raw 0.01 g
76 Grapes, raw 0.01 g
77 Raspberries, raw 0.005 g

* Values are per 100g fresh weight. % NRV = percentage of EU Nutrient Reference Value. Bar shows relative level compared to the highest value across all foods in the database.

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Data sources: Standard nutrients: McCance & Widdowson's Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset (CoFID), Public Health England. EU Nutrient Reference Values: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Annex XIII). All values per 100g fresh weight unless stated. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. Nutriofia database · Argarth Collective Ltd · Company No. 16864945.