TAURINE IV THERAPY

What is taurine?

Taurine is an amino acid naturally found in fish, meat, and dairy. Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that is important for metabolism and is considered an antioxidant.

It helps prevent cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol and reducing blood pressure, helps prevent hearing loss, and supports healthy vision, while also improving mental function and calming the nervous system.

Taurine is what is known as a conditionally essential (or semi-essential) amino acid, meaning it can be made by the body… most of the time. Newborns need to get their taurine from breastmilk or a supplemented formula until they have developed enough to produce their own. At the other end of the spectrum, aging also reduces the body’s ability to produce enough taurine.

People lacking certain nutrients and/or enzymes may not be able to make their own taurine and need a supplement to boost levels. Supplementing with taurine is also used to treat various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, migraines, insomnia, macular degeneration, and many others.

Taurine gets its name from Taurus (Latin), meaning bull because a long time ago it was extracted from bulls (it is also found in meat, fish, and dairy). Now taurine is typically made in labs and is fine for vegetarians/vegans.

But isn’t taurine in energy drinks dangerous?

There has been a lot of negative press surrounding energy drink ingredients, but do not blame taurine: the dangers posed by energy drinks come from the high levels of caffeine and sugar mixed with other additives.

Taurine is a safe organic molecule with many health benefits and an ingredient in many of our IV treatments and Boost Shots.

Taurine health benefits

Taurine has been found in several different organs and tissues in the body, and it has a direct effect on many important functions, including:

• Preventing damage to cells in the retinas and inner ear
• Strengthening and protecting heart muscle cells
• Maintaining healthy electrolyte balance at the cellular level
• Central nervous system support by acting as a neuromodulator and neuroprotectant
• Slowing the release of adrenaline to reduce post-stress anxiety
  Enhancing mental performance
• Enhancing exercise performance & recovery
• Antioxidant properties

Taurine has been used for many other situations and health outcomes and is still being studied. It has been called a ‘wonder molecule’ by some researchers.

Taurine for athletes

Taurine is chosen by some athletes and is used in energy drinks because it may affect fat burned during activity.

Having healthy levels of taurine is also important to reduce fatigue and to ensure muscles work optimally.

When lactic acid is produced in your muscles during a workout or run, you may experience cramps and pain. Taurine has been found to remove lactic acid from muscles.

There have been many studies on taurine’s effects on athletic performance. Some of the most exciting findings include:

Taurine may increase the amount of fat burned during exercise
Taurine reduces fatigue and makes muscles work harder
Taurine prevents muscle cell damage by protecting against oxidative stress
Taurine also helps clear lactic acid when exercising, which helps muscles endure longer and feel less sore.

Taurine for anxiety

Taurine has been shown to help create and moderate Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA acts as a neurotransmitter, and when there are low levels of GABA in a person’s body, this has been associated with anxiety.

Because taurine helps with the production and regulation of GABA, it plays an important part in calming anxiety and stabilizing mood.2 Low GABA levels have been associated with chronic anxiety, mood disorders, and epilepsy.

Taurine as an antioxidant

Antioxidants like taurine may reduce oxidative stress in cells and thus can help protect organs and cells. Antioxidants are found naturally in foods, and many people seek them out for improved health.

Taurine works differently than other antioxidants, making it a valuable addition to IV therapies that help you detoxify. Rather than scavenging and cleaning up free radicals (like vitamin C), taurine helps prevent or limit oxidative stress in the first place. It also helps protect antioxidant enzymes.