Foods Containing the Amino Acid Lysine

Meat and Poultry

The richest sources of lysine are the foods highest in protein. One serving of beef, pork or poultry provides all the lysine you need for the day. A 6-ounce porterhouse steak has 3.8 grams of lysine. A 5-ounce pork chop has 2.2 grams of lysine, while half of a cooked chicken breast has 2.3 grams of lysine. Each of these foods provides more than the recommended 51 milligrams of lysine per gram of protein. Fish also contains lysine. A 3-ounce serving of baked cod has 1.8 grams of lysine, providing 78 percent of your daily requirement.

Eggs and Dairy

If you do not eat meat, but eat dairy, you can get lysine from eggs and dairy products. A poached egg has about 0.5 gram of lysine, while a cup of low-fat yogurt has more than a gram. An 8-ounce glass of skim milk provides about 0.7 gram of lysine, so an egg, a yogurt parfait or a bowl of cereal can help you get an adequate amount of this amino acid.

Nuts and Beans

You can also get lysine from nuts and legumes. Soybeans are rich in protein and provide ample lysine, so soy products are reliable sources. About 3.25 ounces of tofu have nearly 0.5 gram of lysine. An ounce of roasted pistachios has 0.35 gram of lysine, and an ounce of almonds or walnuts contains a little more than 0.1 gram of lysine. Snacking on nuts and legumes can supplement your diet with lysine and help you increase your overall protein intake.

Fruits and Vegetables

Because fruits and vegetables are generally low in protein, they don't contain much lysine, but you can get supplemental amounts of this amino acid from them. A 2-cup bowl of cantaloupe cubes has about 3 grams of protein and 100 milligrams of lysine, providing less than 5 percent of the lysine you need daily. A sliced avocado has 4 grams of protein and more than twice as much lysine as 2 cups of cantaloupe, with 265 milligrams.