About this page: Data is drawn from Nutriofia's structured database of published sources (CoFID, USDA, and published analytical literature). The coverage bar shows what percentage of our 1014 foods have been measured for Cysteine. This is a research tool — nothing here constitutes medical advice.

About Cysteine

A sulphur-containing amino acid important for glutathione (antioxidant defence), protein structure (disulphide bonds) and keratin formation.

⚠️ Too little

Isolated deficiency is uncommon with adequate dietary protein; issues are more likely in severe undernutrition or certain medical conditions.

🚫 Too much

Excess from food is generally handled by normal metabolism; high-dose single-amino-acid supplements may cause side effects or be inappropriate for some conditions.

Sources: WHO/FAO/UNU · NHS (patient leaflet)
⚠️ Partial database coverage (16.8%)
Only 170 of 1014 foods in the database have a recorded value for Cysteine. The ranked list below shows what we have — foods not in the list simply haven't been measured yet rather than containing none.

Foods Containing Cysteine

170 foods with recorded data, ranked highest first. Showing 1–100 of 170. Values per 100g fresh weight.

# Food Per 100g Level
★ Eggs, chicken, white, raw 322 g
★ Eggs, chicken, whole, raw 311 g
★ Eggs, chicken, whole, boiled 309 g
4 Eggs, chicken, yolk, raw 282 g
5 Lupin Beans 0.543 g
6 Soybeans (Dry) 0.539 g
7 Peanuts, dry roasted, unsalted 0.514 g
8 Melon seeds 0.509 g
9 Cress seeds 0.45 g
10 Almonds (raw) 0.424 g
11 Broad Beans (Fava) 0.392 g
12 Red Lentils (Split, Dry) 0.384 g
13 Nigella seeds (kalonji) 0.376 g
14 Poppy seeds 0.371 g
15 Brown Lentils (Dry) 0.365 g
16 Green Lentils (Dry) 0.365 g
17 Mung Beans 0.359 g
18 Pistachios (raw) 0.358 g
19 Caraway seeds 0.356 g
20 Cashew nuts, raw 0.354 g
21 Black-eyed Beans/Peas 0.353 g
22 Puy/French Green Lentils 0.345 g
23 Yellow Split Peas (Dry) 0.332 g
24 Kidney Beans (Red) 0.332 g
25 Green Split Peas (Dry) 0.332 g
26 Great Northern Beans 0.33 g
27 Flaxseed (linseed), ground 0.329 g
28 Golden linseed (flax) 0.329 g
29 Sesame seeds 0.328 g
30 Haricot/Navy Beans 0.321 g
31 Navy Beans (Haricot) 0.321 g
32 Cheese, Parmesan 0.32 g
33 Chickpeas (Dry) 0.32 g
34 Pinto Beans 0.317 g
35 Black Beans 0.315 g
36 Borlotti Beans 0.315 g
37 Tempeh (Soy) 0.311 g
38 Oat Bran 0.306 g
39 Oat Groats 0.304 g
40 Flageolet Beans 0.3 g
41 Carlin/Black Peas 0.3 g
42 Adzuki Beans 0.299 g
43 Chia seeds, dried 0.297 g
44 Walnuts (raw) 0.294 g
45 Dill seeds 0.288 g
46 Butter Beans (Lima) 0.287 g
47 Brazil nuts (raw) 0.286 g
48 Ajwain (carom) seeds 0.286 g
49 Hazelnuts (raw) 0.282 g
50 Basil seeds 0.266 g
51 Wild Rice (Canoe Wild Rice) 0.265 g
52 Farro/Emmer (Grain) 0.265 g
53 Spelt (Grain) 0.263 g
54 Khorasan/Kamut (Grain) 0.261 g
55 Amaranth (Grain) 0.261 g
56 Tofu (Firm, Plain) 0.255 g
57 Quinoa (Grain) 0.254 g
58 Pine nuts (raw) 0.252 g
59 Freekeh (Roasted Green Wheat) 0.252 g
60 Wheat Berries (Wholegrain Kernels) 0.247 g
61 Rolled Oats 0.243 g
62 Teff (Grain) 0.239 g
63 Buckwheat Flour 0.239 g
64 Buckwheat Groats 0.238 g
65 Pasta (Durum, Dry) 0.234 g
66 Popcorn (Unpopped Kernels) 0.232 g
67 Couscous (Dry) 0.23 g
68 Semolina (Durum Wheat) 0.229 g
69 Barley (Hulled/Pot) 0.225 g
70 Bulgur Wheat 0.221 g
71 Cheese, Mozzarella 0.2 g
72 Millet (Grain) 0.198 g
73 Sorghum (Grain) 0.191 g
74 Rye (Grain) 0.185 g
75 Pecans (raw) 0.184 g
76 Edamame (Green Soybeans) 0.183 g
77 Cheese, goat's, hard 0.18 g
78 Cheese, Red Leicester 0.18 g
79 Barley (Pearled) 0.178 g
80 Cheese, Wensleydale 0.17 g
81 Bread, white, sliced 0.162 g
82 Cheese, Stilton 0.16 g
83 Rice (White, Basmati) 0.16 g
84 Macadamia nuts (raw) 0.158 g
85 Cheese, Edam 0.155 g
86 Cornmeal (Maize) 0.153 g
87 Polenta (Dry) 0.153 g
88 Cheese, Cheddar 0.15 g
89 Cheese, Double Gloucester 0.15 g
90 Cheese, processed, plain 0.15 g
91 Cheese, Cheshire 0.14 g
92 Rice (Brown, Long Grain) 0.135 g
93 Rice (Brown, Short Grain) 0.133 g
94 Cheese, Camembert 0.13 g
95 Rice (White, Long Grain) 0.128 g
96 Chickpeas (Cooked, Drained) 0.126 g
97 Rice (White, Jasmine) 0.126 g
98 Cheese, Brie 0.12 g
99 Cannellini Beans 0.114 g
100 Marrowfat Peas (Dry) 0.104 g

* Values are per 100g fresh weight. % NRV = percentage of EU Nutrient Reference Value. Bar shows relative level compared to the highest value across all foods in the database.

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Data sources: Standard nutrients: McCance & Widdowson's Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset (CoFID), Public Health England. EU Nutrient Reference Values: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Annex XIII). All values per 100g fresh weight unless stated. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. Nutriofia database · Argarth Collective Ltd · Company No. 16864945.