Natural vs. Supplementary Taurine

Taurine, found naturally in breast milk, meat, and fish, is also made into a supplement to help with electrolyte balance, neurological development, and cardiovascular health.  As an amino acid that also has antioxidants, it helps boost minerals and balance water levels in the blood.  The Japanese eat a lot of this amino acid from fish and research has shown that Taurine increases lifespan longevity.  In its natural form, Taurine has a number of benefits:

• Its positive effect on blood vessels reverses the effect of cardiovascular disease.  
• This amino acid protects vision.
• Not only does Taurine help our hearing sensitivity, it can actually reverse some problems 
• such as tinnitus, chronic ear ringing.
• It can both prevent and treat liver disease.
• It has been known to help with seizures.

Once we start tinkering with this natural amino acid, its potential harms surface.  Taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks because it’s known to help high-energy athletic performances and its negative capabilities have been discovered through looking into Taurine’s role in the energy drink.  Taken in excess or used in powerful detox formulas, Taurine can actually have a drug-like effect on the body rather than providing energy.  Consuming this supplement could offset a natural nitrogen balance and cause kidneys to feel strained. There’s a hole in the research about Taurine, as scientists aren’t exactly sure of its role in the brain or what levels function to activate or sedate.  Our chemists don’t feel comfortable leaving it up to chance, so we leave it out of our detox formulas.  

Until more research is known, it’s best to take in natural amounts of this amino acid through foods, but not necessarily as an ingredient in energy drinks or detoxification.