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Taurine.. What is it?…

Taurine is an amino acid, a chemical that is a required building block of protein. Taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and blood cells called platelets. The best food sources are meat and fish.

This amino acid can be found in the following foods:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Fish

You may see taurine referred to as “a conditional amino acid,” to distinguish it from “an essential amino acid.” A “conditional amino acid” can be manufactured by the body, but an “essential amino acid” cannot be made by the body and must be provided by the diet. People who, for one reason or another, cannot make taurine, must get all the taurine they need from their diet or supplements. For example, supplementation is necessary in infants who are not breastfed because their ability to make taurine is not yet developed and cow’s milk does not provide enough taurine. So taurine is often added to infant formulas. People who are being tube-fed often need taurine as well, so it is added to the nutritional products that they use. Excess taurine is excreted by the kidneys.

Some people take taurine supplements as medicine to treat congestive heart failure (CHF), high blood pressure, liver disease (hepatitis), high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), and cystic fibrosis. Other uses include seizure disorders (epilepsy), autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eye problems (disorders of the retina), diabetes, and alcoholism. It is also used to improve mental performance and as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect cells of the body from damage that results from certain chemical reactions involving oxygen (oxidation).

Taurine is helpful to bodybuilding enthusiasts, as it increases nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is a gas which is present for an instant every time the muscle contracts and blood vessels enlarges. Taurine helps widen the blood vessels, thereby increasing the blood flow to the muscle cells. It increases the efficiency of rigorous workout sessions and ameliorates the overall performance.

Taurine is an amino acid that is found in the body and can be consumed by eating meats and fish. In the human body, taurine is present in muscle tissue, in the bloodstream, and in the nervous system. Many people take taurine supplements for the purpose of improving their health and experiencing better physical and mental performance.

Taurine & Body Builders

Taurine supplements are popular with body builders, athletes and other people who exercise.

Often available in powdered form, taurine is marketed and thought to:

• act as a cell volumizer – the volume of the cells increase which draws more water into the cells along with nutrients. The nutrients assist growth and recovery
• mimic the action of insulin – forces glucose into the cells which helps restore energy levels
• acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter – assists in stabilizing heart beat and regulating electrical activity of the nerves which can lead to improved sleep and focus when exercising
• reduces muscle cramps by regulating calcium levels which are linked to muscle cramp

Taurine is found in many foods like seafood and meat and has the beneficial properties of system detoxification and cleansing. Additionally, there have been some very good studies about the effects of high concentrations of the substance. One study in a medical journal stated that high levels of taurine could help lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

Blood Thinner

Taurine ingestion may also lead to side effects affecting blood coagulation, or clotting. Blood thickness is partially determined by cells called platelets, which respond to injury in the body by forming clots and preventing excessive bleeding. Too many platelets in the blood can lead to excessive blood thickening, leading to the formation of harmful blood clots, while too few platelets can prevent clotting and lead to excessive bleeding after injury. A study published in the journal “Platelets” in 2002 indicates that taurine has an effect on the rate of clot formation—decreasing the rate by 10 percent.

Reduced Insulin Resistance

One positive side effect of taurine is potential reduction in insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate the levels of blood sugar in the body. When insulin is released into the bloodstream, it promotes a reduction in blood sugar levels. Individuals with insulin resistance fail to respond properly to insulin, and their blood sugar levels remain high, which can lead to diseases such as diabetes over time. A study published in “Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome” in 2010 indicates that taurine supplementation can help protect against insulin resistance in rats fed a consistently high-sugar diet. Although the effect of taurine on insulin resistance has not yet been tested in humans, further research may explain the role of taurine in blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Taurine Benefits

One of taurine benefits is its ability to support neurological development. A report published by the Department of Internal Medicine University of Michigan showed that taurine has antioxidant properties and can reverse neurological and neurovascular deficits.

Studies have also shown that taurine may help lower blood pressure and for cardiovascular health. It acts as an enemy to angiotensin. Angiotensin is a type of protein that is secreted by one of the cells in the kidney that causes blood vessels to constrict and move the blood pressure up.

One of other benefits of taurine is that it may effectively develop, maintain, and help maintain the skeletal muscles. Among tests of lab animals, it was also noted that an intake of taurine helped reduce fatty deposits in the liver of the animals. This helps prevent liver disease in the test animals and yields a great deal of helpful research towards preventing liver disease and other such problems.

There are other reports that stated the benefits of taurine include decreasing the development of cataract. Taurine is also said to produce a calming effect and may help in reducing the symptoms of depression, anxiety, agitation, hyperactivity and insomnia.

Usage and Benefits of Taurine:

Taurine plays the role of a photodetector in a number of human body functions that include-

• Blood platelet activity
• Functioning of the retina of the eye
• Insulin activity
• Regulation of the nervous system
• Sperm motility
• The formation of bile.

As stated above that it helps in the regulation of the nervous system that is why it is highly beneficial for the people suffering from Autism.

Apart from autism other health problems in which this substance is helpful include-

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Alcoholism
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Diabetes
• Hepatitis
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Retinal degeneration
• Steatorrhea people affected with cystic fibrosis
• Seizures (epilepsy

• Reduces blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels
• Protects against liver damage
• Protects cells against damage from harmful toxins
• Functions as an anticonvulsant in the body
• Strengthens the retina of the eye for those suffering from diabetes
• As an antioxidant, it inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines (signaling molecules).

Improve Your Circulation Naturally!

This amino acid can be found in the following foods:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Fish

potential positive taurine side effect has been noticed by individuals undergoing chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy medications can deplete the body’s store of taurine. The patient can be made to feel better by taking taurine supplements before treatments.

How does it work?

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why taurine seems to help congestive heart failure (CHF). There is some evidence that it improves the function of the left ventricle, one of the chambers of the heart. Taurine might also improve heart failure because it seems to lower blood pressure and calm the sympathetic nervous system, which is often too active in people with high blood pressure and CHF. The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that responds to stress.

I can highly recommend a new product, that has Taurine in, along with Digestive Enzymes,  Vitamins, Whole foods, and Probiotics…