Feta Cheese And Tyramine: What's The Connection?

Feta cheese is a soft, white-coloured cheese made from the milk of sheep and goats. It is one of the oldest cheeses in the world and is known for its rich aroma and slightly sour taste. Feta is a fermented food that contains tyramine, a natural compound found in many foods. Tyramine occurs naturally in the body, and high levels of it are associated with adverse health effects such as headaches, migraines, and high blood pressure. People prone to migraines and those taking certain medications may need to follow a low-tyramine diet. This raises the question: does feta cheese contain enough tyramine to be a concern for those sensitive to it?

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Feta is a fermented cheese

Feta is traditionally made by warming unpasteurized sheep's milk (sometimes mixed with goat's milk) and adding rennet to separate the curds from the whey. After the dry-salting process, feta is aged or matured in brine (a 7% salt in water solution) for several weeks at room temperature and a further minimum of 2 months in a refrigerated, high-humidity environment. The more traditional barrel ageing is said to impart a unique flavour.

Feta is a good source of nutrients like calcium and protein, but it also contains tyramine, a natural compound found in many different types of food. Tyramine occurs widely in plants and animals and is produced by the decarboxylation of tyrosine during fermentation or decay. Foods that are fermented, cured, pickled, aged, or spoiled tend to have high amounts of tyramine. Tyramine levels also increase when food is aged or fermented.

High levels of tyramine are associated with headaches, migraines, and high blood pressure. People who take certain medications and are prone to migraines may need to follow a low-tyramine diet. Foods high in tyramine include aged cheeses, chocolate, cured meats, and fermented foods.

Tyramine is a natural compound

Tyramine is commonly found in fermented foods and drinks, such as wine, beer, red wine, vermouth, sherry, and some liqueurs. It is also present in aged cheeses, chocolate, cured meats, and fermented foods. Feta cheese, in particular, is a fermented cheese that contains tyramine. While feta cheese offers various nutritional benefits, such as probiotics and calcium, its tyramine content may be a concern for individuals sensitive to tyramine or taking MAOIs.

The presence of tyramine in foods like feta cheese can be attributed to the fermentation process. During fermentation, the amino acid tyrosine undergoes decarboxylation, resulting in the production of tyramine. This process is facilitated by bacteria, contributing to the tyramine content in fermented products.

It is important to note that tyramine levels can vary among different types of cheeses. Generally, cheeses made from pasteurized milk tend to have lower levels of tyramine compared to aged cheeses. For example, American cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese are considered safer alternatives with lower tyramine levels. However, some aged cheeses, such as Stilton, have been found to contain higher levels of tyramine.

While tyramine can be beneficial for certain individuals, it is crucial to be mindful of its potential health risks. For those taking MAOIs or prone to migraines, excessive tyramine intake can lead to adverse effects, including headaches, blurry vision, chest pain, and palpitations. In severe cases, high levels of tyramine can cause a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency characterized by a sudden and dangerous rise in blood pressure. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare provider to determine one's specific dietary needs and restrictions regarding tyramine consumption.

High tyramine levels cause migraines

Feta cheese is a soft, white-coloured cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk. It is one of the oldest cheeses in the world and is known for its rich aroma and slightly sour taste. Feta contains probiotics, which are good bacteria that promote a healthy gut and support immune system function. It is also a good source of calcium and protein.

Tyramine is a natural compound found in the body and in many foods, including feta cheese. While tyramine occurs naturally in the body, high levels of it are associated with several health issues, the most common being migraine headaches. Tyramine is a type of compound known as a monoamine, and the body relies on an enzyme called monoamine oxidase to break it down. However, some people do not produce enough of this enzyme to process tyramine effectively, resulting in high tyramine levels. Certain medications can also interfere with monoamine oxidase production, making the consumption of tyramine dangerous.

High tyramine levels can cause nerve cells to release norepinephrine, a hormone that increases blood pressure and heart rate. This change in chemical levels in the brain leads to pain, resulting in migraines. For people taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), the enzyme that breaks down tyramine is blocked, increasing tyramine levels in the blood. As a result, people taking MAOIs may experience more migraines when consuming high-tyramine foods.

To manage tyramine levels and prevent migraines, those prone to migraines may need to follow a low-tyramine diet. This typically includes foods such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, fresh chicken, nuts, and seeds. Foods high in tyramine include aged cheeses, chocolate, cured meats, and fermented foods. It is important to discuss any dietary changes with a healthcare provider to ensure a balanced and safe approach to managing migraine triggers.

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Feta is made from goat/sheep milk

Feta cheese is traditionally made from sheep's milk, or a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. In Greece, where feta originated, it is made with 100% sheep milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk. This is the case for all authentic feta cheese, which is protected by a European legislation called PDO (protected designation of origin). This means that for a cheese to be called feta, it must be made in a specific area, with specific ingredients, and with a defined process.

However, in the US, feta cheese is often made with cow's milk, which some consider to be inferior in taste. US labeling rules state that cow's milk can be listed in the ingredients as simply "milk", whereas goat and sheep milk must be identified by their animal source. Therefore, if a feta cheese product does not explicitly state that it is made from goat or sheep milk, it is likely made from cow's milk.

Feta cheese is considered an aged cheese, and as such, it may contain high levels of tyramine. Tyramine is a natural compound found in many foods, particularly fermented foods, cured meats, and other aged cheeses. High levels of tyramine can cause headaches, migraines, and high blood pressure, especially in those taking MAOIs. Therefore, those prone to migraines or taking certain medications may need to follow a low tyramine diet and choose other sources of dairy.

Tyramine is a controlled substance

Tyramine is a Schedule I controlled substance, categorized as a hallucinogen. This means that it is illegal to buy, sell, or possess in the state of Florida without a license, regardless of its purity level or form. The language in the Florida statute specifically mentions tyramine as being illegal in "any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of [tyramine] or that contains any of [its] salts, isomers, including optical, positional, or geometric isomers, and salts of isomers, if the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation.".

This strict ban came about due to lawmakers' eagerness to ban substituted phenethylamines, which tyramine is a type of. The belief was that ring-substituted phenethylamines are hallucinogenic drugs, similar to the 2C series of psychedelic substituted phenethylamines. However, tyramine itself is not a hallucinogenic drug and is instead a natural compound found in many different types of foods, such as wine, cheese, and chocolate. It also occurs naturally in the body.

The issue with tyramine arises when it is consumed in high amounts, particularly by those taking MAOIs. MAOIs are a type of medication used to treat symptoms such as anxiety disorder, depression, and early-stage Parkinson's disease. When taken with MAOIs, tyramine can cause a range of negative side effects, including headaches, blurry vision, chest pain, palpitations, and increased blood pressure. This is known as the "cheese reaction" or "cheese crisis," as it was first discovered when a British pharmacist noticed that his wife, who was taking MAOI medication, experienced severe headaches when eating cheese.

Due to the natural occurrence of tyramine in many foods and the body, Florida's total ban on the substance may be challenging to enforce. It is important for individuals taking MAOIs to be aware of the potential risks associated with consuming high-tyramine foods and to discuss their dietary needs with a healthcare provider.

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