Taurine may seem new to some people but surprisingly it has been around in many products especially one that caters for sports and energy boosters. While taurine may often be associated with such products, it has become a supplement for other health concerns. In fact, taurine is also added in some infant milk formula to help provide enough nutrients resembling breastfeed milk. While taking taurine such as taurine chewable tablets may seem harmless at most times, just like with any other drugs or supplement, caution needs to be exercised as there is food or medicine that could react with taurine.
Before discussing further on what should not be taken with taurine, what exactly is taurine? Taurine is an amino acid that exists in abundance inside the human body. It exists freely in cells and is especially concentrated in the eye, brain and muscle. Although taurine is not considered as important as essential amino acids making up protein in the body, the fact that it exists in almost all cells in the body shows that if there is a lack of taurine it may contribute to changes in the body function. Supporting nutrients like vitamins and minerals plays important roles in the body function, such as the taurine. Hence, the level of taurine in the body needs to be optimal at all times. Studies show low levels of taurine pose risk of cardiovascular disease and increase risk for developing depression disorder.
Taurine can be obtained from food and supplements. While taking taurine in forms of supplement is the easiest way, a person should try getting it from food first before considering taurine supplement. Examples of food high in taurine is shellfish such as scallops, mussels and clams, turkey and chicken. Traces of taurine can be found in dairy products such as cow’s milks and ice cream.
What makes taurine a must in your daily meal? As mentioned, taurine is abundant in the brain, eye and muscles. Taurine helps to maintain good eyesight by preserving the eye function. It also aids in the process of neurogenesis of the brain which is vital for the learning process, the way the body maintains body function and prevents one from progressing into mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Taurine has been proved to reduce risk for heart diseases by protecting blood vessels and heart cells from damages by free radical and oxidative stress. Last but not least, taurine helps to improve energy levels by supporting the mitochondria, a powerhouse for energy expenditure, strengthening and repairing damaged muscle from heavy exercise or strain activities.
By knowing the benefits of taurine, one can feel intrigued to try a taurine supplement or ensure the level of taurine is optimal by eating food containing taurine. Taking taurine in the form of a supplement is safe for most people. Supplements available in the market contain 500 to 2000 mg per tablet or capsule. This number is within the recommended dose proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which is below 6000 mg daily and 10 000 mg respectively.
Although taurine supplement in general is safe, it should not be taken with antihypertensive drugs as there are studies that show that taurine may cause reaction of the blood pressure to become too low. If you are on other medications, do discuss with your healthcare providers before taking taurine supplement because there might be possible drug interaction that may occur. Taurine supplements should not be taken for a long time and it is best to consult with a healthcare professional, dietician or nutritionist for more information on how much taurine you should be getting and how long you should take it to gain maximal benefits without risk for side effects in the future. Get Covid 19 test kits.