My readers are going to attain medical information on this blog site that they won’t hear from any medical doctor, and that is one of the main reasons I am doing this blog. So I hope they will check back from time to time to see what has been added.
Today, I want to write about the amino acid, taurine, which is one of those important bits of medical information. I actually found out about taurine when researching feeding my furry family raw food. Specifically my cats. As it turns out, cats MUST have taurine in their diet. Without it they risk severe health repercussions, such as blindness and tooth decay, amongst other things. So processed cat food does contain taurine.
I then took my research one step further to find out if humans need taurine. What I found out is that humans require this amino acid as well. So I decided to incorporate it into my diet. I purchased from “Now”, in the form of pure powder that is vegan, and non-GMO. I take it every day adding it to my supplement regimen.
The recommended dosage is 500 – 2000 mg per day. One quarter teaspoon equals 1 gram (1,000 mg).
Finally, the following are important excerpts from Life Extension Magazine to help you in your decision as to whether or not to take taurine; I think you’ll be surprised.
The Japanese have a life expectancy that is among the highest in the world. In fact, Okinawa, Japan’s famous “Island of Longevity,” likely has the world’s highest percentage of people over 100 years old.1
Undoubtedly, there are many factors that play into the life spans of the longest-living populations, but evidence shows that they all have one thing in common: high dietary intake of an amino acid called taurine.2
The connection between taurine and a long life is so strong that researchers have dubbed taurine, “The nutritional factor for the longevity of the Japanese.”3
Taurine promotes cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, electrolyte balance, hearing function, and immune modulation. In animal research, taurine protected against heart failure, reducing mortality by nearly 80%.4
Its benefits are so broad and extensive that scientists have described taurine as “a wonder molecule.”5
Taurine is found abundantly in healthy bodies.6 However, certain diets, particularly vegetarian or vegan diets, lack adequate amounts of taurine.7,8 Disease states—including liver, kidney, or heart failure, diabetes, and cancer—can all cause a deficiency in taurine.9-11 And aging bodies often cannot internally produce an optimal amount of taurine, making supplementation vital.12
That’s why those interested in longevity should consider this vital and super low-cost nutrient. In this article, you’ll learn how boosting taurine levels can contribute to better cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurologic health.
Taurine: Bountiful Benefits
- Taurine is the most abundant amino acid you’ve never heard of; it is found throughout the body, but especially in tissues containing excitable cells, like nerves and heart muscle.
- Strong epidemiological evidence suggests that certain groups with the longest life spans consume higher amounts of taurine than those of us in the rest of the world.
- Taurine supplementation can prevent diabetes and obesity in animal models, and can mitigate the effects of both conditions in humans.
- Taurine supplementation strengthens heart muscle cells, extends their life spans, and protects them from damage, while reducing many of the factors that produce atherosclerosis and its deadly consequences.
- Taurine protects retinal and inner ear cells from damage, normalizing the flow of calcium ions they require for proper function.
- Evidence is growing for taurine’s role in preventing epileptic seizures and liver disease, two conditions that can be attributed to toxic effects on delicate tissue.
- If you are interested in a longer, healthier, and more active life, consider supplementing with taurine.
Everything Is Backwards 