cayenne
Herbs & Spices
Is cayenne high in tyramine?
Is cayenne high or low in tyramine? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why tyramine food checker matters
Tyramine is an amino acid that forms when proteins break down. It's found in aged, fermented, or spoiled foods. For people taking MAO inhibitors or those with tyramine sensitivity, it can cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, and other reactions.
- Choose fresh over aged, fermented, or preserved foods
- Eat protein foods fresh and store properly
- Be especially careful if taking MAO inhibitor medications
- Common high-tyramine foods include aged cheese, cured meats, and soy sauce
- Ripeness affects tyramine - choose less ripe fruits
Sensitivities
What cayenne contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where cayenne fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about cayenne
Cayenne is a nightshade, and for the fresh whole chili that is the one clear trigger: it grades high on the nightshade scale and is off-limits on AIP, so it can flare people who react to peppers, tomatoes, potatoes or eggplant. The interesting part is what it is not. Unlike the dried, ground cayenne pepper spice, the fresh pod is not concentrated, so it stays low in salicylates where the powder grades high. Its capsaicin heat can still aggravate reflux and an irritable gut.
Watch for
- A nightshade (Capsicum), so it is not AIP compliant and a trigger if you react to peppers, tomatoes or potatoes
- Unlike ground cayenne pepper, the fresh whole pod is not concentrated and stays low in salicylates
- Capsaicin heat can aggravate acid reflux, IBS and an already-irritated gut even when the pepper is otherwise clean
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Tyramine Guide
Everything you need to know about tyramine sensitivity and smart food choices.
Tyramine is an amino acid that forms when proteins break down. It's found in aged, fermented, or spoiled foods. For people taking MAO inhibitors or those with tyramine sensitivity, it can cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, and other reactions.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Tyramine sensitivity:
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These foods are high in tyramine and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Tyramine, consider these strategies:
- 1Choose fresh over aged, fermented, or preserved foods
- 2Eat protein foods fresh and store properly
- 3Be especially careful if taking MAO inhibitor medications
- 4Common high-tyramine foods include aged cheese, cured meats, and soy sauce
- 5Ripeness affects tyramine - choose less ripe fruits
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is cayenne high in Tyramine?
Tyramine: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat cayenne if I'm sensitive to Tyramine?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Spicy Foods, Nightshades, and AIP next for a fuller picture.