Taurine benefits many common mental and physical conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and diabetes, as well as improving athletic performance.
You may be familiar with taurine as a supplement used by athletes or bodybuilders to enhance physical performance or as an ingredient in energy drinks. In fact, it can be one of the most valuable nutrients in promoting your health, mental well-being, and longevity.
Let's take a closer look at what taurine is and what it can do for your body, mood, and overall health.
What is taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid of sulfur and one of the most abundant compounds in the brain, retina, heart and muscles. It plays an important role in many aspects of good health. It is found in high concentrations in the brain, where it helps the movement of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium into brain cells. Taurine almost qualifies as a neurotransmitter, chemicals used by brain cells to communicate with each other. It meets all the criteria for a neurotransmitter, except for one thing — there are no taurine-specific receptors. It is considered an insignificant or conditional amino acid because your liver and brain can synthesize some, but not enough to meet all your needs. The rest of your taurine requirements should come from your diet, mainly meat and seafood.
Where does taurine come from?
Taurine was first discovered in the bile of bulls. The word "taurine" comes from "taurus", the Latin word for bull. The best sources of taurine are seafood (especially shellfish) and poultry (especially dark meat). It is found in human breast milk because it is crucial for the development of the brain and eyes in newborns. The only known vegetable containing taurine is nori, a marine vegetable used to wrap sushi. Besides eating taurine directly, your body can synthesize it when the right building blocks are available. The amino acids cysteine and methionine should be present along with zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B6.
Does taurine come from beverages?
Currently, the most popular energy drink is Red Bull, which contains taurine. The taurine used by companies is chemically created in laboratories.
It is not financially feasible for them to extract taurine from natural sources. Red Bull states on its website: "Red Bull is produced synthetically by pharmaceutical companies, which guarantees the highest quality standards, taurine is not produced from animals." transescort.org
