Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid derivative, but unlike typical amino acids, it is not used to synthesize proteins. Taurine is also the most abundant amino acid found in muscle, the heart, the retina of the eye, the brain, and in white blood cells. It has a wide variety of roles to play in the body.
Fun fact: Taurine was originally discovered in ox bile in the 19th century by a German scientist, which explains the name taken from the Latin Taurus, meaning bull or ox. With its many benefits, it’s no wonder Taurine is considered an important building block to so many physical functions!
Nervous System Health and Muscle Contraction
Taurine is found in high concentrations in electrically active tissue such as the brain, retina, heart, and muscle. Taurine is capable of crossing the blood brain barrier. As such, it is vital to many physiological functions through its interaction with the central nervous system.
It supports the stability of membranes and assists in the movement of electrolytes including calcium ions in and out of cells, which is critical for proper nerve transmission and muscle contraction. As a result, it’s very beneficial for promoting a calming effect. It specifically does this by aiding in balancing levels of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain. It assists in nerve impulse generation and helps stabilize cell membranes by modifying neurotransmitter uptake.
It can be used alone or with other calming ingredients to maintain healthy emotional balance, mental focus, and a sense of calm. It also helps modulate the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline to maintain normal emotional balance. It can cause slight drowsiness, so bedtime might be a good time to take it.
Fluid Balance
Taurine is a prime osmolyte, meaning it is a regulator of fluid levels in cells.
Antioxidant and Detoxifier
Taurine acts as a powerful antioxidant to promote a healthy inflammatory response. As mentioned above, taurine is also one of the few antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
It is also critical for healthy detoxification because it’s essential to produce bile in the liver, a major avenue for removal of harmful substances from the body. Having healthy bile is extremely important. The thicker the bile, the more sluggish the liver. Here's what makes your bile thick and how to keep your bile healthy.
Taurine and Energy Output
Taurine stabilizes the generation of energy in mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells. Taurine directly interacts with genes and the endoplasmic reticulum where proteins are assembled to support normal metabolism and energy generation.
Heart Health
Taurine is present in muscles in very high concentrations. It promotes healthy cardiac and muscular adaptation to high intensity activity. Taurine also maintains a healthy balance of the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in the heart muscle, as well as reducing the negative effects of high intensity training on the nervous system.
Research in animals has found taurine may even assist the body in normal glucose regulation, insulin excretion and lipid levels in the blood.
Food Sources of Taurine
The primary food sources of Taurine are red meats, shellfish, fish, and dairy.
Taurine by Healthy Goods
Healthy Goods Taurine is easily absorbed and provides 1,000 mg of taurine per capsule. Taurine is one of the supplements most often recommended by our Chief Science Officer, Jack Grogan, when analyzing a customers hair mineral analysis.
In addition, our Chief Science Officer includes Taurine in many of our sports nutrition formulas, as well as our cognitive and calming formulas because of its many functions, such as promoting healthy energy production and balanced stress response and recovery.
Says Joel S. in his five star review of Healthy Goods Taurine, “Love It! This product helps me sleep and gives me natural energy.”
Taurine is invaluable to the human body. Well known to athletes, it does so much more than help with your daily workout. It’s great for heart health, hydration, and central nervous system health. It can also promote healthy liver function, as well as healthy blood sugar levels and eye health. There is so much more to know about this important nutrient, we’ve just scratched the surface!
Have you used the Healthy Goods Taurine? What was your experience? Please leave us a comment. We love hearing from you.
Kelly Harrington, MS, RD
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods
