What Is Taurine Good For? Benefits of Taurine
May Help Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
Studies show that taurine may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It does this by reducing blood pressure and inflammation. Some evidence suggests that taurine improves the function of the left ventricle of the heart and calms the nervous system.
Research indicates that taurine, even as short-term supplementation, has the ability to support better physical function, reduce cardiovascular risks that may occur after exercise and improve problems associated with heart failure patients. While more studies need to be conducted, this is promising for anyone suffering from heart disease.
Possibly Helps Decrease Side Effects of Parkinson’s
Studies indicate that taurine may help with the regeneration of brain cells. Testing has revealed low levels of taurine in patients with Parkinson’s.
According to research, taurine has the ability to help increase the growth of brain cells by stimulating stem cells and increasing the life of neurons. Furthermore, we’ve learned that new brain cells can grow in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that’s responsible for memory, with the help of taurine-filled foods and supplements.It seems that it works well, in terms of boosting the brain, with glycine.
Potentially Reduces Metabolic Syndrome
If you’re at risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and other health problems due to obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high triglycerides and low HDL levels, you may have metabolic syndrome.
A review published in the journal Food & Function wanted to know what is taurine able to do to combat metabolic syndrome. What researchers found was that after analyzing both human and animals studies, taurine was found to have “an efficient action against metabolic syndrome, which includes reducing triglycerides to prevent obesity, improving insulin resistance to regulate glucose metabolism, lowering cholesterol to prevent diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, and … reduce blood pressure.”
Aids Patients with Periodontal Disease
Taurine is an antioxidant. This means it can help fight those free radicals and anything causing oxidative stress from free radicals in the body. Patients with periodontal disease were observed for a period of time to understand if taurine assisted in the healing process of those with chronic periodontitis. According to the data, taurine greatly improved the antioxidant levels of the patients by enhancing the levels of lipid peroxidation products (TBARS) and the antioxidant enzymes; therefore, the healing process was improved.
May Improve Athletic Performance
Taurine lays claim to improving athletic performance. A study conducted by the Health and Exercise Sciences Research Group at the University of Stirling in Scotland evaluated subjects who were middle distance runners before and after consumption of taurine in the form of a supplement. Ninety percent of the subjects had improved performance by a few seconds, and to the running world, a few seconds can mean everything. The athletes ingested 1,000 milligrams of taurine two hours prior to running, and the supplementation did not affect respiratory system, heart rate or blood lactate levels. According to the results, there is a 99.3 percent chance that taurine was helpful to performance of the athletes during the time trial.
However, other research found different results. Research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research had 15 runners complete trials on a treadmill for 15 minutes, consuming various energy drinks with caffeine and taurine. After the trials, researchers concluded, “The findings show no performance benefits under the conditions of this study. However, there does appear to be a significant increase in systolic blood pressure.”
Clearly, further research is needed, but there does appear to be evidence taurine can improve athletic performance under the right conditions.