EXPLORE A NUTRIENT
Histidine
Discover how amounts vary across foods, on a shared basis for comparison.
Understand this nutrient ↓What is it?
An individually reported amino acid. The reference depicts L-histidine. [1] [2]
This reference form does not represent every form included in the USDA quantity.
Description, source and attribution
Reference depiction: L-histidine. Formula C6H9N3O2; PubChem CID 6274; charge 0. This specified form does not represent every form or molecule included in the USDA quantity.
PubChem Compound 6274, 2D Structure. NCBI / National Library of Medicine. Source · Reuse terms
Source check:
A COMMON BASIS
Foods, per 100 g
148 foods with data 58 not reported, excluded from ranking
- Blue mussels
Blue mussels, cooked with moist heat.
0.457 g - Soybeans
Mature soybeans, boiled without salt.
0.449 g - Lupin beans
Lupins, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.443 g - Brazil nuts
Nuts, brazilnuts, dried, unblanched, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.409 g - Channel catfish
Fish, catfish, channel, farmed, cooked, dry heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.404 g - Feta cheese
Cheese, feta, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.397 g - Blue crab
Crustaceans, crab, blue, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.393 g - Oysters
Mollusks, oyster, Pacific, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.363 g - Squid
Mollusks, squid, mixed species, cooked, fried, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.348 g - Walnuts
English walnut halves, raw.
0.3433 g - Pine nuts
Nuts, pine nuts, dried, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.341 g - Unsweetened cocoa powder
Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened, exactly as identified by USDA.
0.339 g
All results are sorted before pagination. Bars compare amounts within this search; they do not indicate health benefits. Not reported does not mean zero.
UNDERSTAND THE DATA
What it means for your diet
This source explains dietary protein and amino acids as a group. The specific USDA identity above remains separate; protein advice is not an intake target or supplement recommendation for an individual amino acid.
Ranking amounts describe foods, not supplement doses. A high rank does not mean you should consume more. Source recommendations and cautions retain their original population and scope.
Dietary Proteins [1]
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Original health-topic summary, reproduced with attribution.
Protein is in every cell in the body. Our bodies need protein from the foods we eat to build and maintain bones, muscles and skin. We get proteins in our diet from meat, dairy products, nuts, and certain grains and beans. Proteins from meat and other animal products are complete proteins. This means they supply all of the amino acids the body can't make on its own. Most plant proteins are incomplete. You should eat different types of plant proteins every day to get all of the amino acids your body needs.
It is important to get enough dietary protein. You need to eat protein every day, because your body doesn't store it the way it stores fats or carbohydrates. How much you need depends on your age, sex, health, and level of physical activity. Most Americans eat enough protein in their diet.
Explanation bibliography
- . MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Last updated July 17, 2024. Accessed: 2026-09-16. .
Identity and structure sources
- PubChem Compound 6274: L-Histidine · Accessed 2026-09-13
- USDA FoodData Central: Foundation Foods Documentation · Accessed 2026-09-13