Is Taurine Bad For You?
Also Known As: 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid
Short answer
Although taurine is not generally bad for you, you're setting yourself up to crash when you consume it via energy drinks loaded with caffeine and sugar. Be careful if you're mixing taurine with lithium or if you have a mental condition such as bipolar disorder or BPD.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Taurine is an amino acid that's naturally produced in the body. It does a number of different things in your heart, blood, and brain. Taurine has antioxidant properties and mops up dangerous free radicals that can damage your cells or DNA. It's thought to improve athletic performance and focus. It's involved in your brain's response to anxiety and depression. There may also be a positive relationship between taurine and heart health.
Taurine is often paired with caffeine as an ingredient in energy drinks. It's thought that taurine takes the edge off caffeine - it has a calming effect that counteracts the anxious buzz that people get when over-caffeinated.
Don't be fooled, however. The energy that comes from the caffeine and sugar in energy drinks is essentially borrowed. While taurine can mask the jitters and unease of an energy drink, the crash is still coming. Be wary when consuming a product with taurine and caffeine or sugar.
You should also be wary when consuming products with taurine if you're taking lithium. There's a chance that taurine could slow down the rate that your body gets rid of lithium. If you're medicating with lithium and taking taurine as a supplement or in energy drinks, talk to your doctor. You may want to have them lower your dose of lithium to maintain safe levels.
Although some studies have indicated that taurine is good for heart health, others have linked taurine with certain kinds of heart failure. This notion is disputed: it may appear that taurine is related because cells leak taurine in the event of heart failure. If you're concerned about taurine and heart health, you should consult your doctor.
The Journal of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery described the case of a bodybuilder who was found unconscious and brain damaged after taking taurine, insulin, and steroids. It's hard to untangle the brain damage and the different things the bodybuilder was taking. Nonetheless, exercise caution if you're mixing taurine with bodybuilding supplements, and be extra careful if you're mixing taurine with illegal or unregulated supplements.
There's some anecdotal evidence that energy drinks which contain taurine, caffeine, and other ingredients can aggravate certain mental conditions. A review in the journal of Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience reported that patients with bipolar disorder and BPD were hospitalized with worsened symptoms after consuming several such drinks. If you have a mental condition, check with your doctor before consuming products that mix taurine, caffeine, and other ingredients.
Possible short-term side effects
- interactions with:
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mental conditions such as bipolar disorder or bpd
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bodybuilding supplements
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lithium
Benefits
- calming
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improves focus
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counteracts "buzz" of caffeine
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Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 09-09-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 09-09-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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