If you’ve been pestering your kids and grandkids about downing energy drinks, it turns out they may not be totally in the wrong. It turns out that those drinks may actually have a bigger benefit than just offering high energy for video gaming – and even doctors are on board with one of the main ingredients, taurine. Dubbed the latest “Elixir of Life,” taurine may be just what we need to keep our youthfulness in check. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Disclosure: As with any new diet addition or regimen, only you know your body best. This post is, in no way, meant to tell you what you need, only to provide you with details. Having written that, please consult your physician with any additional questions or concerns regarding taurine.
It seems that every few years, dietitians and scientists revise their views on what we consume, including what’s healthy and what needs to be avoided. For example, consider the healthy ups and downs associated with potatoes. When I was young (and raised in a British/Scottish/Irish family), we literally had some sort of potato with every meal. We were a “meat and potatoes” kind of family, so no harm, no foul.
Then in the ’80s and ’90s, we were told that while baked potatoes were the new healthy alternative, we shouldn’t fry them because oil is bad for you (remember Susan Powter, dietician and motivational speaker with the platinum blonde hair, telling us to “Stop the Insanity!” with diets?). However, we were still encouraged to eat as many bland potatoes as we wanted for health.
Now, everywhere I turn, I read that carbs are the devil, so no potatoes or white, starchy foods. In current terms, we’ve been told that energy drinks are the new thing to avoid because they cause more harm than good… but do they? Enter taurine, a prominent ingredient in energy drinks. Known for its energizing properties, teens have been drinking it for years to stay awake, stay focused at work, and to game. However, scientists are now suggesting that it may actually work to prolong our lives.
First, What Is Taurine?
Direct from the Mayo Clinic, taurine is considered safe when used correctly. It’s a naturally occurring chemical (an amino sulfonic acid if you want to get technical) that can be found in protein-rich foods like fish or meat.
Why do we need it, you ask? It turns out that taurine also naturally occurs in our bodies. We use it for energy production, to process bile acid, and to balance everything from fluids to minerals and salts.
Taurine and Energy Drinks
Here’s where taurine in energy drinks gets iffy. Honestly, it’s not the taurine that’s the problem; it’s the high levels of sugar and caffeine that are proving bad for our health. Even the herbal extracts that, when taken in safe doses and as directed by a physician, are doing harm. Additionally, energy drinks can cause sleeplessness, nervousness, and feeling tense.
I’m trying to “scare you straight” into avoiding all energy drinks: for a healthy person with no underlying conditions, they’re relatively safe and tolerable. Personally, I’ll skip the massive amounts of sugar and caffeine and drink a coffee in the morning instead.
Taurine and Longevity Study
A recent study from Columbia University has some promising news about taurine: it seems to slow the aging process and keep us healthier for longer.
Just to get you up to speed, when researching taurine, scientists learned that 60-year-olds have about ⅓ the level in their bodies as five-year-olds do. The team conducted experiments with both humans and animals to determine the exact role of taurine in the body.
When studying animals, it turns out that taurine levels in their bodies drop as they age, similar to a decrease in the human body. So, the question became clear: Does a lower level of taurine in the body drive the aging process?
When mice were given taurine supplements, the increase in longevity was very prominent: female mice lived 12% longer, and male mice 10% longer. If we were to convert those numbers into human years, we’d be looking at 7-8 years longer on average.
And it gets even better: not only were their lives lengthened, but positive body changes were noticed as well:
- Increased energy expenditure
- Increased bone mass
- Improved muscle endurance and strength
- Reduced depression
- Reduction in anxious behaviors
- Reduced insulin resistance
- A younger-looking immune system
In a nutshell, the animals were living longer, but while doing so, they were staying healthier.
What About Taurine Supplements?
As stated above, taurine is naturally found in animal and fish protein, so if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you may want to increase your synthetic taurine supplement intake. Also of note is that red algae appear promising as a natural source of amino acids, so that might be an option to consider.
On average, taking 500 to 3,000 mg of taurine per day is considered a safe amount for adults. There are some side effects from taking too much, though:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Liver pain
If you experience any of these side effects after taking taurine, stop immediately and consult your doctor.
If you’re considering adding taurine to your daily supplement list, here are some great options.
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