Taurine has been in the news lately because of its positive effects on aging. There’s much more to it than that, so I will run down its many valuable benefits. First, however, let’s look at what Taurine is and where it comes from.

So what is Taurine?

Taurine is a simple amino acid concentrated in your brain, heart, muscles, and retina. Taurine is produced in your body and is present I’m most cells and their mitochondria.

It is also an antioxidant and protects the body from oxidative stress and inflammation – the roots of many disorders. Taurine has been used to treat strokes, heart diseases, and mitochondrial disorders.

Chemically, Taurine is a sulfur-containing molecule and is synthesized on an as-needed basis, signaled mainly by the mitochondria. This is a fairly complex process, but the article I linked in the above paragraph gives a detailed description of it for those of you who might be interested.

Unlike other amino acids, Taurine is not a building block protein but rather is “free” in the bloodstream and the tissues it serves. Unfortunately, like many other things, this vital amino acid’s levels decline as we age, so Taurine reduction is a by-product of the normal aging process.

Taurine as a supplement:

Handful of Taurine capsules.

1. Is a white granular powder easily dissolved in water.

2. Is generally regarded as safe.

3. Is available in capsules or bulk.

4. Is very inexpensive and easy to buy.

5. Has few known side effects.

Taurine’s Possible Benefits:

The possibilities for Taurine are many and involve some complexities. I’m just going to give you a few items and, as usual, keep things simple.

Taurine has been used medicinally for a long time. In humans, a dose between 1500 to 3000 milligrams was typical. Here are some findings:

  • Lowers fasting blood glucose
  • Improves cognition scores
  • Helps control diabetes and its complications.
  • Helps lower blood pressure
  • Increases insulin sensitivity
  • Reduces inflammation

Here’s more good news about Taurine:

Longevity

Taurine might help with skin elasticity.

Taurine deficiency is a driver of rapid aging, and unfortunately, we produce less as we grow older. This is a process that feeds on itself. So if low Taurine levels can speed up aging, can Taurine supplementation slow it down?

It has been shown to do this in mice, which is encouraging, but will it do so in humans? This is still to be determined, and many researchers are working on this.

We already know that Taurine has an effect on the downside of aging, and also know that it has some positive effects on other issues related to aging, like brain health. We also know it has a positive effect on age-related vision problems (interestingly, the retina is actually a part of the brain).

Taurine can also help reverse fatty liver disease, a condition often associated with aging.

Are these examples of age reversal or just stopping unrelated processes?

This is a good question, and it might be a little of both. There is no doubt, however, that in these two examples and many other situations, Taurine has a positive and demonstrable effect. Here is an excellent and very readable article on Taurine and its broader value as a supplement.

Here’s my take:

I do not recommend that you take Taurine, even though I take it myself. What I recommend is that you research Taurine further and make a decision in your best interests. If you feel more comfortable, you can ask your primary healthcare provider PHC for their advice.

There is a wealth of information about the overall value of Taurine. Overwhelmingly it is positive and there is almost no downside. It is unlikely that Taurine will present a problem as we make it in our own bodies, but as we age, we just don’t make as much.

There really is no “right” amount of Taurine, and nobody will spend the money to research this. I take 3000 milligrams every morning and have been doing this for a long time with no adverse results.

My logic is usually that something with a high potential upside and a very low downside is a no-brain decision when it comes to supplementation. I get my Taurine from Lifextension, but you can find it from many sources, just make sure it’s a reputable company. You can also buy it in bulk packaging and save some money.

OMY1

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