What Is Lysine & What Foods Can I Find It In?

3D-model of Lysine (src)

Lysine stands out among the nine essential amino acids vital for human growth and tissue repair.

Its significance extends to various key functions within the human body.

The term "essential" indicates that lysine must be obtained through our diet, as our bodies cannot produce it naturally.

Lysine is predominantly found in protein-rich foods, notably in meat and dairy products.

Table of Contents

Benefits Of Lysine

Lysine offers a plethora of health benefits:

1. Calcium Absorption: Lysine plays a pivotal role in the absorption of calcium, contributing to bone health.

2. Amino Acid Synthesis: Essential for the synthesis of amino acids such as proline, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and threonine.

3. Carnosine Production: Lysine is a key component in the synthesis of carnosine, an anti-aging compound found in muscle tissue.

Lysine For Building Muscles

As an essential amino acid and a fundamental building block for protein, lysine plays a direct role in muscle development.

It is believed to enhance athletic performance and aid in post-exercise recovery.

Uses Of Lysine

Beyond its dietary role, lysine finds applications in various products:

Foods You Can Find Lysine In

You find Lysine mostly in American Indian and Alaska native food, dairy and egg, seafood, and legume products.

Examples of food sources include

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated top-ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most Lysine, we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top-ranked list of foods that contain Lysine.

Sara Niemelä

co-founder Care Omnia, Head Content Creator

Author Image of Sara Niemelä

Nutrition is my passion. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading, analyzing, categorizing and comparing research studies.

I’m a wife and a mother of three. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my family.