Understanding What Foods Contain Benzodiazepines Naturally

October 31, 2025 •

4 min read

Scientific research has confirmed that trace amounts of pharmacologically active benzodiazepine-like compounds exist naturally in various plant and animal products. This fascinating discovery challenges the perception that these molecules are purely synthetic and raises the question of what foods contain benzodiazepines and in what capacity.

Quick Summary

Studies have detected trace amounts of natural benzodiazepine-like compounds, often called endozepines, in several common foods, including cereals, vegetables, and fruits. The concentrations are extremely low and hold no therapeutic or psychoactive significance for human health.

Key Points

Trace Amounts: Common foods contain only negligible amounts of naturally occurring benzodiazepine-like compounds, not synthetic ones.
No Pharmacological Effect: The quantities of these "endozepines" are too small to have any tranquilizing or sedative effect.
Widespread Presence: Studies have identified these compounds in a wide array of plant-based foods, including cereals, vegetables, and fruits.
Not a Drug Source: You cannot get a therapeutic or recreational effect from consuming foods that naturally contain benzodiazepines.
Different from Prescriptions: The naturally occurring compounds are chemically related to, but not the same as, pharmaceutical benzodiazepine drugs.
Biosynthetic Origin: Evidence suggests that some of these compounds are naturally biosynthesized within the plants themselves.
Food Safety: The trace levels found are completely safe and do not pose any health risks through normal dietary consumption.

The Unexpected Discovery of Natural Benzodiazepines

In the late 1980s, researchers made a surprising and groundbreaking discovery: molecules with a chemical structure similar to synthetic benzodiazepines were not just products of a laboratory, but also existed in nature. These naturally occurring substances, sometimes referred to as 'natural benzodiazepines' or 'endozepines', have been found in the tissues of animals and humans, leading scientists to investigate their origins. The trail led to common food sources, suggesting that a portion of these compounds could be incorporated into our bodies through our diet. This revelation opened up a new field of inquiry into the relationship between dietary intake and the body's natural chemistry.

Cereals and Grains

Some of the earliest evidence for naturally occurring benzodiazepines came from the analysis of staple crops. Grains, which form a major part of the human diet, were among the first foods identified as containing these trace compounds.

Wheat: Both wheat grains and sprouts have been shown to contain benzodiazepine compounds like diazepam and lormetazepam. Levels can increase during the germination process.
Rice: Research has also documented the presence of natural benzodiazepines in rice, contributing to the list of commonly consumed cereals with these compounds.
Maize: This widely grown crop is another source where trace quantities of benzodiazepine-like molecules have been identified.

Fruits and Vegetables

The presence of endozepines is not limited to grains; it extends across a variety of fresh produce, highlighting their widespread occurrence in the plant kingdom.

Potatoes: One of the most studied examples, potato tubers contain several types of natural benzodiazepines, including diazepam and lorazepam.
Tomatoes and Carrots: Extracts from these common vegetables have been found to contain molecules that bind to benzodiazepine receptors.
Cherries and Grapes: Fruits such as cherries and grapes, also contain small amounts of benzodiazepine-like substances.
Mushrooms: Edible fungi have been identified as another source of these natural compounds.

Other Food Sources

Beyond plant-based foods, benzodiazepine-like molecules have also been detected in animal products, suggesting a broader presence in the food chain.

Milk: Naturally occurring benzodiazepines have been identified in human breast milk, suggesting either dietary incorporation or endogenous biosynthesis in mammals.
Meat and Cheese: Studies have reported the detection of benzodiazepine-like compounds in meat and cheese products, albeit at low concentrations.
Legumes: Lentils and soybeans have been included in the list of plant products containing these compounds.
Carob: Extracts from the carob pod and leaves contain substances that act on benzodiazepine receptors, suggesting potential bioactive properties.

Natural vs. Pharmaceutical Benzodiazepines

It is crucial to differentiate between the trace compounds found in food and the synthetic benzodiazepines used as medications. The scientific significance of endozepines lies in understanding their biochemical origin, not in their dietary effects on the average person. The table below outlines the key differences.


Feature	Natural Benzodiazepine-like Compounds	Pharmaceutical Benzodiazepines
Source	Plants, animals, and gut bacteria	Synthesized in a laboratory
Concentration	Extremely low (nanograms per gram, or ppb)	High, therapeutic doses (milligrams per dose)
Pharmacological Effect	None, due to minuscule levels	Significant, designed for specific clinical effects
Purpose	Unknown biological role in nature; potentially signaling or defense	Treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and other conditions
Ingestion Route	Normal dietary consumption	Taken orally via prescribed pills or other medical routes
Clinical Significance	None for healthy individuals; topic of study in conditions like hepatic encephalopathy	Prescription medication with potential for dependency and side effects

Why the Trace Amounts Don't Matter for General Health

For the vast majority of the population, the detection of benzodiazepine-like compounds in food is a fascinating but inconsequential piece of scientific trivia. The levels are so minute—often measured in parts per billion—that they do not come close to the therapeutic doses required for a pharmacological effect. To experience any sedative or anxiolytic effect, one would need to consume a physically impossible quantity of these food items. Think of it like a naturally occurring antibiotic in a fruit: present in trace amounts but not enough to serve as an actual antibiotic treatment. This scientific insight does not call for any changes to dietary habits, and foods containing these compounds remain completely safe for consumption.

Some research has explored the role of endozepines in specific health conditions. For example, some studies have looked at elevated levels of benzodiazepine-like compounds in patients with advanced hepatic encephalopathy. However, this is a distinct issue from normal dietary intake, and the source of these elevated levels may include intestinal bacteria in addition to diet. For healthy individuals, the presence of these compounds in food is not a concern for health or safety. For more information on this specific research, see the study “Naturally occurring benzodiazepines: Current status of research and clinical implications” on ResearchGate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is a scientific fact that some foods contain benzodiazepines, but this finding is a far cry from suggesting that certain foods have a tranquilizing effect. The compounds are naturally occurring, present in extremely small concentrations, and have no clinical relevance for people consuming a normal diet. The presence of these endozepines in a wide array of foods from grains and vegetables to fruits and even milk, simply represents a biological curiosity and a complex interplay between diet and our natural biochemistry. The public should not be concerned about consuming these everyday food items, as the levels are far too insignificant to have any medicinal or psychoactive effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the minuscule trace amounts of naturally occurring benzodiazepine-like compounds found in food are far too low to have any pharmacological or psychoactive effect on humans.

Research has identified benzodiazepine-like molecules in a variety of foods, including potatoes, wheat, rice, maize, soybeans, carrots, tomatoes, carob, and various fruits and vegetables.

No, they are chemically related to but are distinctly different from the synthetic benzodiazepine drugs used in medicine. Pharmaceutical versions are created in a lab and administered in much higher doses.

No, eating these foods is perfectly safe. The levels are so insignificant that they pose no risk to health or safety through normal dietary consumption.

Scientists use advanced analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry and radioreceptor assays to detect and measure these trace-level molecules in food and biological tissues.

The biological role of these benzodiazepine-like compounds in plants is still not fully understood, but some hypotheses suggest a potential role in plant growth or defense mechanisms.

No, the concentrations are so incredibly low that they would not register on a standard drug screening. Drug tests look for much higher concentrations associated with pharmaceutical or illicit drug use.