Foods Containing Arginine
The table below shows how much Arginine and Lysine is contained within many popular foods. To get a more accurate measurement of the amount of Arginine present within any food, one must subtract the amount of Lysine also present, as Arginine and Lysine are antagonists within the body. That means that the individual benefits associated with both Arginine and Lysine will be diminished if both are present in the bloodstream at the same time.
For example, in the case of Pine nuts, there are 4750 mg of Arginine and 914 mg Lysine for every 100 gm of Pine nuts. To get the amount of free Arginine that the body can actually utilize, the amount of Lysine is subtracted from the amount of Arginine to give 3836 mg of free Arginine, as indicated in the highlighted column.
Food | Weight (gm) | Lys (mg) | Arg (mg) | Free Arg | Ratio Lys/Arg |
Pine nuts | 100 | 914 | 4,750 | 3,836 | 0.192 |
Peanut butter | 100 | 1,173 | 4,087 | 2,913 | 0.287 |
Sesame seeds | 100 | 827 | 3,327 | 2,500 | 0.248 |
Peanuts | 100 | 1,007 | 3,507 | 2,500 | 0.287 |
Pumpkin seeds & squash |
100 | 1,807 | 3,979 | 2,171 | 0.454 |
Walnuts | 100 | 466 | 2,520 | 2,054 | 0.185 |
Tahini | 100 | 547 | 2,520 | 1,973 | 0.217 |
Brazil nuts | 100 | 541 | 2,393 | 1,852 | 0.226 |
Almonds | 100 | 666 | 2,493 | 1,827 | 0.267 |
Hickory nuts | 100 | 467 | 1,987 | 1,520 | 0.235 |
Hazelnuts | 100 | 340 | 1,837 | 1,497 | 0.185 |
Snails | 100 | 1,471 | 2,471 | 1,000 | 0.595 |
Chicken liver | 100 | 109 | 1,100 | 991 | 0.099 |
Pistachios, shelled | 100 | 1,281 | 2,180 | 898 | 0.588 |
Pecans | 100 | 292 | 1,102 | 810 | 0.265 |
Macadamia nuts | 100 | 324 | 896 | 572 | 0.362 |
Oats, puffed | 100 | 616 | 1,127 | 511 | 0.547 |
Coconut, shredded | 100 | 148 | 546 | 399 | 0.270 |
Garlic | 100 | 267 | 633 | 367 | 0.421 |
Squash, winter | 100 | 440 | 776 | 336 | 0.567 |
Wheat, puffed | 100 | 408 | 708 | 300 | 0.576 |
Bran flakes | 100 | 377 | 668 | 291 | 0.564 |
Wheat germ | 100 | 739 | 994 | 256 | 0.743 |
Rice, puffed | 100 | 271 | 521 | 250 | 0.521 |
Wheat granules | 100 | 356 | 595 | 239 | 0.598 |
Wheat, shredded | 100 | 335 | 564 | 229 | 0.594 |
Wheat flakes | 100 | 306 | 518 | 212 | 0.591 |
Corn, puffed | 100 | 229 | 394 | 165 | 0.580 |
Cashews | 100 | 154 | 294 | 140 | 0.523 |
Chestnuts, fresh | 100 | 154 | 294 | 140 | 0.523 |
Peas, green | 100 | 317 | 428 | 111 | 0.741 |
Rutabaga | 100 | 39 | 148 | 109 | 0.266 |
Onions, mature | 100 | 56 | 164 | 108 | 0.344 |
Brussels sprouts | 100 | 148 | 202 | 55 | 0.730 |
Chicken gizzard | 100 | 1,257 | 1,308 | 51 | 0.961 |
Yams | 100 | 45 | 96 | 51 | 0.466 |
Plantain | 100 | 60 | 108 | 48 | 0.556 |
Orange juice | 100 | 9 | 47 | 38 | 0.188 |
Grape juice | 100 | 10 | 47 | 37 | 0.210 |
Mushrooms | 100 | 69 | 103 | 34 | 0.667 |
Grapes, adherent skin | 100 | 15 | 49 | 34 | 0.308 |
Oatmeal | 100 | 33 | 63 | 29 | 0.531 |
Tangerine juice | 100 | 7 | 34 | 27 | 0.202 |
Cream of wheat | 100 | 39 | 66 | 27 | 0.590 |
Watercress | 100 | 165 | 192 | 27 | 0.860 |
Egg Yolk | 100 | 1,112 | 1,135 | 24 | 0.979 |
Blackberries | 100 | 12 | 34 | 22 | 0.347 |
Blueberries | 100 | 12 | 34 | 22 | 0.347 |
Elderberries | 100 | 26 | 47 | 21 | 0.559 |
Corn grits | 100 | 28 | 47 | 19 | 0.596 |
Grapes, slip skin | 100 | 8 | 27 | 19 | 0.310 |
Swiss chard | 100 | 100 | 117 | 17 | 0.857 |
Cucumber | 100 | 21 | 35 | 13 | 0.611 |
Orange | 100 | 34 | 47 | 13 | 0.729 |
Shrimp | 100 | 1,765 | 1,776 | 12 | 0.993 |
Crab | 100 | 1,588 | 1,600 | 12 | 0.993 |
Cabbage, common | 100 | 57 | 69 | 11 | 0.833 |
Eggplant | 100 | 51 | 61 | 10 | 0.840 |
Tangerine | 100 | 23 | 32 | 9 | 0.730 |
Minestrone soup | 100 | 76 | 82 | 6 | 0.924 |
Dates | 100 | 60 | 66 | 6 | 0.909 |
Lima beans, cooked | 100 | 450 | 456 | 6 | 0.987 |
Broccoli | 100 | 141 | 145 | 5 | 0.969 |
Radish | 100 | 36 | 40 | 4 | 0.889 |
Tomato soup | 100 | 21 | 25 | 4 | 0.836 |
Peppers, sweet | 100 | 38 | 42 | 4 | 0.905 |
Carrots | 100 | 40 | 44 | 4 | 0.917 |
pea soup w/ham | 100 | 275 | 278 | 3 | 0.990 |
Okra | 100 | 82 | 84 | 2 | 0.976 |
Onions, green | 100 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0.667 |
Strawberries | 100 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 0.949 |
Mayonnaise | 100 | 757 | 757 | 0 | 1.000 |
Vegetarian vegetable soup | 100 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 1.000 |
Beet greens | 100 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 1.000 |
Endive | 100 | 64 | 64 | 0 | 1.000 |
Leeks | 100 | 78 | 78 | 0 | 1.000 |
Pumpkin | 100 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 1.000 |
Banana | 100 | 31 | 31 | -1 | 1.019 |
Asparagus | 100 | 145 | 143 | -1 | 1.010 |
Guava | 100 | 19 | 17 | -2 | 1.105 |
Cream of potato soup | 100 | 34 | 31 | -3 | 1.092 |
Watermelon | 100 | 62 | 59 | -3 | 1.053 |
Peach | 100 | 17 | 14 | -3 | 1.250 |
Turnip greens | 100 | 98 | 95 | -4 | 1.038 |
Sweet potato | 100 | 81 | 77 | -4 | 1.050 |
Cabbage, chinese | 100 | 89 | 84 | -4 | 1.051 |
Applesauce, unsweetened | 100 | 10 | 5 | -5 | 2.000 |
Cream of celery soup | 100 | 30 | 24 | -6 | 1.237 |
Apple | 100 | 11 | 5 | -6 | 2.125 |
Pear | 100 | 13 | 7 | -6 | 1.917 |
Loquat | 100 | 13 | 6 | -6 | 2.000 |
Corn | 100 | 136 | 130 | -6 | 1.050 |
Persimmon | 100 | 28 | 21 | -7 | 1.310 |
Celery | 100 | 27 | 20 | -7 | 1.333 |
Chicken rice soup | 100 | 104 | 97 | -7 | 1.073 |
Pineapple | 100 | 25 | 18 | -7 | 1.393 |
Tomato juice | 100 | 22 | 15 | -7 | 1.500 |
Oat flakes | 100 | 1,215 | 1,206 | -8 | 1.007 |
New England Clam Chowder | 100 | 103 | 94 | -9 | 1.096 |
Papaya | 100 | 17 | 7 | -10 | 2.533 |
Lettuce, iceberg | 100 | 80 | 69 | -11 | 1.154 |
Cream of Asparagus soup | 100 | 46 | 35 | -11 | 1.318 |
Tomato | 100 | 33 | 22 | -11 | 1.519 |
Cauliflower | 100 | 108 | 96 | -12 | 1.125 |
Fig | 100 | 29 | 17 | -12 | 1.727 |
Turnips | 100 | 36 | 24 | -12 | 1.516 |
Crabapple, slices | 100 | 25 | 13 | -13 | 2.000 |
Oysters | 100 | 529 | 515 | -13 | 1.025 |
Cream of Mushroom soup | 100 | 52 | 39 | -13 | 1.337 |
Kale | 100 | 197 | 184 | -13 | 1.073 |
Lettuce, romaine | 100 | 104 | 89 | -14 | 1.160 |
Spinach | 100 | 178 | 164 | -15 | 1.089 |
Mango | 100 | 28 | 13 | -15 | 2.179 |
Squash, summer | 100 | 65 | 50 | -15 | 1.308 |
Green beans | 100 | 88 | 73 | -15 | 1.213 |
Chicken gumbo | 100 | 66 | 50 | -16 | 1.320 |
Cream of chicken soup | 100 | 88 | 68 | -20 | 1.295 |
Turkey noodle soup | 100 | 87 | 65 | -22 | 1.333 |
Chicken noodle soup | 100 | 91 | 69 | -22 | 1.319 |
Clams | 100 | 956 | 933 | -22 | 1.024 |
Scallops | 100 | 1,247 | 1,224 | -24 | 1.019 |
Peach, dried | 100 | 116 | 92 | -24 | 1.258 |
Human Milk | 100 | 68 | 43 | -26 | 1.600 |
Avocado | 100 | 69 | 44 | -26 | 1.588 |
Beef noodle soup | 100 | 107 | 81 | -26 | 1.318 |
Apple, dried | 100 | 58 | 30 | -28 | 1.947 |
Beets | 100 | 53 | 22 | -31 | 2.400 |
Tomato paste | 100 | 108 | 76 | -31 | 1.410 |
Potato | 100 | 127 | 93 | -33 | 1.357 |
Egg White | 100 | 624 | 591 | -33 | 1.056 |
Bean w/ frankfurters soup | 100 | 166 | 132 | -34 | 1.254 |
Black bean soup | 100 | 168 | 134 | -34 | 1.254 |
Vegetable w/beef soup | 100 | 141 | 107 | -34 | 1.318 |
Potato, baking | 100 | 140 | 106 | -34 | 1.322 |
Pear, dried | 100 | 66 | 32 | -34 | 2.071 |
Abalone | 100 | 1,282 | 1,247 | -35 | 1.028 |
Butter | 100 | 64 | 28 | -35 | 2.250 |
Collards | 100 | 75 | 39 | -37 | 1.944 |
Margarine | 100 | 64 | 21 | -43 | 3.000 |
Whole Egg | 100 | 820 | 776 | -44 | 1.057 |
Sherbet | 100 | 89 | 40 | -48 | 2.192 |
Apricot | 100 | 90 | 42 | -48 | 2.146 |
Fig, dried | 100 | 121 | 69 | -51 | 1.740 |
Frankfurter, beef and por | 100 | 904 | 849 | -56 | 1.065 |
Kielbasa | 100 | 1,021 | 954 | -68 | 1.071 |
Vienna sausage | 100 | 794 | 706 | -88 | 1.124 |
Whipping Cream, heavy | 100 | 163 | 74 | -88 | 2.186 |
Whipping Cream, light | 100 | 172 | 79 | -93 | 2.186 |
Lentil sprouts | 100 | 712 | 610 | -101 | 1.166 |
Chicken back | 100 | 616 | 508 | -107 | 1.211 |
Chicken neck | 100 | 377 | 268 | -109 | 1.406 |
Pork Bacon | 100 | 639 | 529 | -110 | 1.208 |
Coffee Cream | 100 | 213 | 100 | -113 | 2.133 |
Apricot, dried | 100 | 254 | 140 | -114 | 1.816 |
Ice Cream, rich | 100 | 221 | 101 | -120 | 2.180 |
Chicken wing | 100 | 776 | 650 | -126 | 1.193 |
Half and Half Cream | 100 | 235 | 107 | -128 | 2.193 |
Liver | 100 | 1,389 | 1,257 | -133 | 1.106 |
Whipped Cream, pressurize | 100 | 253 | 117 | -137 | 2.171 |
Chocolate Milk | 100 | 252 | 115 | -137 | 2.192 |
Duck, domesticated | 100 | 909 | 770 | -139 | 1.181 |
Whole Milk | 100 | 261 | 119 | -142 | 2.189 |
Lowfat Milk, 2% | 100 | 264 | 120 | -143 | 2.190 |
Braunschweiger | 100 | 921 | 775 | -146 | 1.189 |
Skim Milk | 100 | 271 | 123 | -147 | 2.195 |
Eggnog | 100 | 298 | 149 | -150 | 2.005 |
Buttermilk | 100 | 277 | 126 | -151 | 2.197 |
Ice Cream | 100 | 286 | 131 | -156 | 2.190 |
Whole Egg, dried | 100 | 3,100 | 2,940 | -160 | 1.054 |
Frankfurter, beef | 100 | 864 | 698 | -167 | 1.239 |
Ice Milk | 100 | 312 | 143 | -169 | 2.187 |
Goat Milk | 100 | 290 | 119 | -171 | 2.433 |
Soybean sprouts | 100 | 551 | 380 | -171 | 1.451 |
Bologna, beef | 100 | 907 | 732 | -175 | 1.239 |
Bologna, beef and pork | 100 | 893 | 707 | -186 | 1.263 |
Polish sausage | 100 | 1,125 | 936 | -189 | 1.202 |
Brotwurst | 100 | 1,154 | 957 | -196 | 1.205 |
Pork sausage | 100 | 900 | 700 | -200 | 1.286 |
Bologna, pork | 100 | 1,218 | 1,018 | -200 | 1.196 |
Plain Yogurt | 100 | 311 | 104 | -207 | 2.979 |
Corned Beef, brisket | 100 | 1,123 | 903 | -220 | 1.244 |
Knockwurst | 100 | 932 | 709 | -224 | 1.315 |
Pork and beef sausage | 100 | 1,085 | 854 | -231 | 1.270 |
Goose liver | 100 | 1,234 | 1,003 | -231 | 1.230 |
Fruit Yogurt, lowfat | 100 | 357 | 120 | -237 | 2.978 |
Mortadella | 100 | 1,279 | 1,039 | -239 | 1.230 |
Bratwurst, ckd | 100 | 1,071 | 831 | -240 | 1.289 |
Chicken thigh | 100 | 1,092 | 850 | -242 | 1.284 |
Caviar, black and red | 100 | 1,831 | 1,588 | -244 | 1.154 |
Chicken leg | 100 | 1,069 | 818 | -251 | 1.307 |
Pastrami | 100 | 1,339 | 1,079 | -261 | 1.242 |
Chicken drumstick | 100 | 1,055 | 793 | -262 | 1.330 |
Ground beef, regular | 100 | 1,381 | 1,115 | -265 | 1.238 |
Goose, domesticated | 100 | 1,253 | 984 | -269 | 1.273 |
Duck liver | 100 | 1,418 | 1,148 | -270 | 1.236 |
Ground beef, lean | 100 | 1,478 | 1,195 | -283 | 1.237 |
Turkey liver | 100 | 1,510 | 1,225 | -284 | 1.232 |
Beef Short ribs | 100 | 1,196 | 910 | -286 | 1.315 |
Beef smoked, chopped | 100 | 1,668 | 1,379 | -289 | 1.210 |
Plum | 100 | 1,636 | 1,345 | -291 | 1.216 |
Evaporated Milk | 100 | 540 | 247 | -294 | 2.190 |
Chicken, dark meat | 100 | 1,344 | 1,050 | -294 | 1.280 |
Chicken heart | 100 | 1,295 | 1,000 | -295 | 1.295 |
Salami, hard | 100 | 1,820 | 1,520 | -300 | 1.197 |
Pork Spareribs | 100 | 1,042 | 736 | -306 | 1.416 |
Plain Yogurt, lowfat | 100 | 467 | 158 | -309 | 2.953 |
Beef Rib roast | 100 | 1,333 | 1,013 | -319 | 1.315 |
Evaporated Milk, skim | 100 | 596 | 273 | -323 | 2.186 |
Beef T-bone steak | 100 | 1,394 | 1,059 | -335 | 1.316 |
Plain Yogurt, skim | 100 | 511 | 172 | -339 | 2.967 |
Italian sausage, ckd | 100 | 1,522 | 1,182 | -340 | 1.288 |
Condensed Milk, sweetened | 100 | 627 | 286 | -341 | 2.192 |
Pork loin chop | 100 | 1,291 | 947 | -344 | 1.364 |
Liver cheese | 100 | 1,193 | 846 | -346 | 1.409 |
Porterhouse steak | 100 | 1,445 | 1,097 | -348 | 1.317 |
Ham, boneless | 100 | 1,487 | 1,139 | -348 | 1.306 |
Chicken breast | 100 | 1,381 | 1,033 | -348 | 1.337 |
Beef Chuck roast | 100 | 1,520 | 1,156 | -363 | 1.314 |
Beef Sirloin steak | 100 | 1,515 | 1,152 | -363 | 1.315 |
Wild quail | 100 | 1,644 | 1,279 | -365 | 1.286 |
Beef Tenderloin | 100 | 1,540 | 1,172 | -368 | 1.314 |
Chicken, light meat | 100 | 1,655 | 1,267 | -388 | 1.306 |
Beef Flank steak | 100 | 1,601 | 1,211 | -390 | 1.322 |
Beef Round steak | 100 | 1,612 | 1,222 | -390 | 1.319 |
Summer sausage | 100 | 1,383 | 991 | -391 | 1.395 |
Turkey, dark meat | 100 | 1,724 | 1,329 | -395 | 1.297 |
Cream Cheese | 100 | 686 | 289 | -396 | 2.370 |
Chicken canned, boned | 100 | 1,761 | 1,352 | -408 | 1.302 |
Beef, dried | 100 | 2,404 | 1,989 | -414 | 1.208 |
Pork Shoulder | 100 | 1,573 | 1,154 | -419 | 1.363 |
Cottage Cheese, creamed | 100 | 1,010 | 567 | -443 | 1.782 |
Turkey, light meat | 100 | 1,967 | 1,522 | -444 | 1.292 |
Pork leg | 100 | 1,663 | 1,218 | -445 | 1.365 |
Turkey, canned boned | 100 | 2,141 | 1,662 | -479 | 1.288 |
Cottage Cheese, Lowfat 2% | 100 | 1,111 | 624 | -487 | 1.780 |
Gjetost Cheese | 100 | 825 | 332 | -493 | 2.484 |
Chicken, dark meat, w/o s | 100 | 1,706 | 1,211 | -495 | 1.409 |
Canadian Style Bacon | 100 | 1,623 | 1,123 | -500 | 1.445 |
Neufchatel Cheese | 100 | 904 | 382 | -521 | 2.364 |
Bass | 100 | 1,624 | 1,061 | -562 | 1.530 |
Chicken, light meat w/o s | 100 | 1,966 | 1,398 | -568 | 1.407 |
Smelt | 100 | 1,624 | 1,055 | -568 | 1.538 |
Carp | 100 | 1,635 | 1,067 | -568 | 1.533 |
Cod | 100 | 1,635 | 1,066 | -569 | 1.534 |
Herring | 100 | 1,647 | 1,075 | -572 | 1.532 |
Catfish | 100 | 1,671 | 1,088 | -582 | 1.535 |
Eel | 100 | 1,694 | 1,104 | -591 | 1.535 |
Perch | 100 | 1,706 | 1,115 | -591 | 1.530 |
Mackerel | 100 | 1,706 | 1,113 | -593 | 1.533 |
Wild pheasant | 100 | 2,013 | 1,412 | -601 | 1.426 |
Flat fish, flounder and s | 100 | 1,729 | 1,128 | -601 | 1.533 |
Cottage Cheese, dry | 100 | 1,393 | 786 | -607 | 1.772 |
Haddock | 100 | 1,741 | 1,131 | -611 | 1.540 |
Whitefish | 100 | 1,753 | 1,142 | -611 | 1.535 |
Pike | 100 | 1,765 | 1,152 | -613 | 1.532 |
Pollock | 100 | 1,788 | 1,164 | -625 | 1.537 |
Bluefish | 100 | 1,835 | 1,200 | -635 | 1.529 |
Salmon | 100 | 1,824 | 1,176 | -647 | 1.550 |
Swordfish | 100 | 1,824 | 1,176 | -647 | 1.550 |
Whey, dry, sweet | 100 | 1,027 | 373 | -653 | 2.750 |
Snapper | 100 | 1,882 | 1,224 | -659 | 1.538 |
Halibut | 100 | 1,906 | 1,247 | -659 | 1.528 |
Shark | 100 | 1,929 | 1,259 | -671 | 1.533 |
Ricotta Cheese | 100 | 1,337 | 630 | -707 | 2.123 |
Ricotta Cheese, part skim | 100 | 1,350 | 638 | -711 | 2.115 |
Sardines, in oil, drained | 100 | 2,258 | 1,475 | -783 | 1.531 |
Anchovy, in oit, drained | 100 | 2,655 | 1,730 | -925 | 1.535 |
Tuna, in water | 100 | 2,715 | 1,770 | -945 | 1.534 |
American Cheese Spread | 100 | 1,525 | 554 | -971 | 2.755 |
Limburger Cheese | 100 | 1,696 | 707 | -989 | 2.399 |
Cheshire Cheese | 100 | 1,968 | 893 | -1,075 | 2.204 |
Camermbert Cheese | 100 | 1,789 | 711 | -1,079 | 2.518 |
Colby Cheese | 100 | 2,004 | 907 | -1,096 | 2.209 |
Monterey Jack Cheese | 100 | 2,064 | 936 | -1,129 | 2.206 |
Brie Cheese | 100 | 1,875 | 743 | -1,132 | 2.524 |
Whole Milk, dry | 100 | 2,086 | 953 | -1,133 | 2.189 |
Cheddar Cheese | 100 | 2,100 | 954 | -1,146 | 2.202 |
Mozzarella Cheese | 100 | 1,996 | 843 | -1,154 | 2.369 |
Blue Cheese | 100 | 1,879 | 721 | -1,157 | 2.604 |
Port du salut Cheese | 100 | 2,011 | 839 | -1,171 | 2.396 |
Tilsit Cheese | 100 | 2,064 | 861 | -1,204 | 2.398 |
Brick Cheese | 100 | 2,150 | 886 | -1,264 | 2.427 |
Muenster Cheese | 100 | 2,164 | 893 | -1,271 | 2.424 |
Processed American Cheese | 100 | 2,225 | 939 | -1,286 | 2.369 |
Processed Swiss Cheese | 100 | 2,486 | 1,046 | -1,439 | 2.375 |
Mozzarella Cheese, part s | 100 | 2,496 | 1,054 | -1,443 | 2.369 |
Nonfat Milk, dry, instant | 100 | 2,779 | 1,271 | -1,509 | 2.188 |
Nonfat Milk, dry | 100 | 2,867 | 1,308 | -1,558 | 2.191 |
Provolone Cheese | 100 | 2,679 | 1,036 | -1,643 | 2.586 |
Swiss Cheese | 100 | 2,618 | 939 | -1,679 | 2.787 |
Gouda Cheese | 100 | 2,686 | 975 | -1,711 | 2.755 |
Edam Cheese | 100 | 2,693 | 975 | -1,718 | 2.762 |
Gruyere Cheese | 100 | 2,743 | 986 | -1,757 | 2.783 |
Parmesan Cheese | 100 | 3,346 | 1,332 | -2,014 | 2.512 |
Parmesan Cheese, grated | 100 | 3,840 | 1,540 | -2,300 | 2.494 |