Taurine: A Useful Ingredient in Seafood and More

Taurine is a substance abundantly found in the human body and in mammals. It is the second most abundant amino acid in muscles and in the brain. Amino acids are a "building block" of proteins, and therefore, taurine is useful for weightlifters and athletes in general. Without taurine, muscles will tend to get smaller, not bigger. Most folks will ask "What is taurine?" and find lots of complicated chemical answers, but here is a simple one: Taurine is a protein found in shellfish, eyeballs, seaweed, eggs, fish, dairy product, and many other naturally occuring places including mother's milk. It is abundant in many foods except vegetables. It is found in high concentrations in crustaceans and mollusks.

Energy drinks contain many times the amount of taurine of regular food, and conclusive studies on the effects of concentrated dosages of the substance have yet to be done. Taurine is not a dangerous substance by far, but to be secure knowing just what taurine is, is a step in the right direction if you are looking for the right energy drink. The FDA has not labeled taurine as a dangerous substance yet, and nearly every energy drink worth drinking has this important ingredient. Some energy drinks have had this ingredient for years, which means it is highly unlikely that taurine will ever be labeled a dangerous ingredient.

Taurine's medical name is Beta-aminoethanesulfonic acid. It is a sulfur containing amino acid. You can buy it in tablet form in the vitamin or health food stores. Taurine has antioxidative characteristics also and join the free radical fight in the human body. It is an ingredient that helps increase insulin sensitivity. Taurine is also called L-Taurine.

A very small study used 13 young athletes and found that taurine, combined with caffeine, helped to complement the operation ( function ) of the heart. It was by no means an exhaustive study, but nevertheless, a controlled one using placebos. Taurine is found in concentrated amounts in the heart. Sports drinks are less likely to have taurine as an ingredient, while energy drinks have taurine in abundance.

Taurine is just another part of a standard diet. If you are eating a normal healthy diet, you are getting taurine. If you want more than that, it should not pose any health risks when used in moderation. People have been taking elevated amounts of taurine in energy drinks for years. One drink, Red Bull was banned, not for the taurine, but for the excessive amount of caffeine. This article is not to be taken as medical advice. It is meant solely as an answer for the question, "What is Taurine?"