Cysteine Foods high in cysteine and how much you need · Amino acids

Cysteine is an amino acid, which plays a crucial role in the synthesis of proteins, detoxification, and the production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.

Most in a serving: Soy mince

There's no official daily target for cysteine.

Among plant foods, soy mince and cherry, sour, red have the most cysteine per serving.

Plant sources

Are you getting enough cysteine?

Knowing where cysteine comes from is one part of the puzzle. Nutriely adds it up across your day against your own targets, shows which foods it came from and how it fits with every other nutrient.

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Foods highest in cysteine

Ranked from 12 foods in our catalog, one entry per food.

1

Soy mince 0.23 g

serving (35 g) · Pulse products
2

Whey protein concentrate (75%) 0.18 g

scoop (28.7 g) · Miscellaneous ingredients
3

Skim Milk powder, lactose-free 0.04 g

serving (30 g) · Miscellaneous ingredients
4

Cherry, sour, red 0.02 g

serving (140 g) · Berries

Learn about cysteine

What does cysteine do for the body?

Cysteine is an important amino acid that plays a crucial role in the formation of proteins. It is a component of the antioxidant glutathione, which helps protect the body from oxidative stress and damage.

How much cysteine do I need?

Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning the body can produce it on its own. However, the recommended amount of methionine is usually expressed as the sum of methionine and cysteine in your diet. Generally, adults should aim to consume about 19 milligrams of methionine plus cysteine per kilogram of body weight per day.

How do vegans get their cysteine intake?

Vegans can obtain cysteine through plant-based sources. Plant-based foods such as legumes, lentils, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are excellent sources of protein for vegans. By including a diverse range of protein-rich foods in their diet, vegans can meet their protein and amino acid needs.

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