Did you know that there is one amino acid that could possibly improve the symptoms of ADHD? And are you aware that the same amino acid also help combat skin infections?
Well, we are talking about phenylalanine here, which is an essential amino acid that has many health benefits.
Would you like to know more? Read on!
What Is Phenylalanine?
Phenylalanine is an amino acid that occurs in three forms. L-phenylalanine, D-phenylalanine and a laboratory mix called DL-phenylalanine. Out of these forms, D-phenylalanine isn’t an essential amino acid, while L-phenylalanine is. The role of D-phenylalanine isn’t quite understood and L-phenylalanine is what is usually found in proteins (1).
Benefits Of Phenylalanine:
There are many benefits of phenylalanine. Some of them include:
Treating Vitiligo:
The amino acid helps in treating a skin condition called vitiligo. Studies concluded that oral dosage of L-phenylalanine, along with UVA exposure, helps treat cases of vitiligo in children and adults (2).
Analgesic:
There have been many studies on the efficacy of D-phenylalanine as an analgesic. In one study, D-phenylalanine was shown to increase the pain threshold in animals. However, in terms of preventing or alleviating chronic pain, D-phenylalanine had no notable effect (3), and further studies are required to be done in this area.
So, what foods can help you derive these amazing benefits? Look no further! Listed here are some of the richest food sources of phenylalanine.
1. Parmesan Cheese (Raw):
You can’t go wrong with a block of parmesan; tasty, healthy, and wholesome. Parmesan cheese is also high on the list of phenylalanine rich foods, with a whopping 220% of the recommended daily dietary intake of phenylalanine, which makes it a superb source of phenylalanine.
2. Soy beans (Roasted):
Soybeans have many health benefits and are rich in antioxidants. They are also crammed with phenylalanine, with a phenomenal 236% of the recommended daily dietary intake of the amino acid, making it its richest source.
3. Lean Red Meat (Lamb Or Beef):
Lean red meat is not only delicious and healthy, but it also contains a high amount of phenylalanine, at 167% of the recommended daily dietary intake of the amino acid.
4. Pumpkin Seeds:
Pumpkin seeds contain many chemicals that are essential for good health. They are also rich in phenylalanine with 198% of the recommended daily dietary intake of phenylalanine.
5. Tuna (Cooked):
Perhaps the most popular fish in the world, tuna is a regular feature in many sandwiches and is crammed with many nutrients. Tuna boasts of 126% of the recommended daily dietary intake of phenylalanine.
6. Chicken Breast (Cooked):
Chicken breast is quite popular and is probably used in many dishes around the world. Apart from being protein rich, chicken breast is also rich in phenylalanine and it contains close to 148% of the recommended daily dietary intake of the amino acid.
7. Eggs:
Eggs are a primary source of protein and contain different kinds of amino acids. Eggs are also rich in phenylalanine and contain around 78% of the recommended daily dietary intake of it.
8. Pork (Cooked):
Having too much pork only causes blocked arteries. However, pork does have many health benefits and contains around 147% of the recommended daily dietary intake of phenylalanine.
9. Wholegrains (Cooked):
You can also consider eating whole (organic) grains that haven’t been excessively processed. They also contain good amounts of phenylalanine.
10. Beans (Cooked):
Another great source of phenylalanine is beans; you can opt for white beans, pinto beans or lentils. Pinto beans usually contain 69% of the recommended daily dietary intake of phenylalanine.
So, include these foods in your diet today and get the benefits of this amino acid! To tell us about any other benefits of this amino acid you know of, leave a comment below.
