Improve mental and athletic performance with Taurine

By Angela Young

Taurine is an amino acid found naturally produced in the brain and heart. Because this amino acid is produced in the body it's considered a condtional amino acid, though some believe it should be treated as an essential amino acid. It can also be found in foods, like fish and meat. Because Taurine has been linked to performance in the sports industry, it can now be found in energy drinks and sports related supplements. 

What It's Used For

Taurine is most-well known to be prescribed to treat a number of health conditions, including:

• High cholesterol
• Congestive Heart Failure
• ADHD
• High blood pressure
• Liver disease
• And others

Taurine is not specifically linked to muscle building, but can be used as an antioxidant. Because of this it helps to protect your cells from damage. This can lead to faster muscle repair. It has been linked to improved athletic and mental performance, both of which are essential to overall sports performance. 

Improved Athletic Performance

In a 2003 study it was found that when Taurine was taken before cyclists performed their workout their cells were less damaged than if they did not take the supplement. In each group they had the cyclists ride until their legs were exhausted, which could normally cause a significant amount of cell damage. This decrease in cell damage let the riders recover more quickly. 

Improved Mental Performance

It's well-known in athletic communities that pushing your limits is 95% mental and 5% physical. Your body will do what your mind tells it too. The use of Taurine supplement and other products containing Taurine (namely energy drinks), attention is improved and mental concentration is improved. This can allow an athlete to concentrate and stay focused for a longer period of time which can increase their level of performance over endurance events. Since the level of Taurine production in the brain decreases over time, as you age you may find a Taurine supplement will help provide better focus, memory and performance. 

Consumption

Because Taurine is considered (by most medical professionals0 to be a conditional amino acid, it is produced in the body and doesn't necessarily need to be consumed. However, many health profesisonals believe Taurine should be treated as an essential amino acid which must be consumed through foods. While Taurine can be found and consumed in energy drinks, these drinks contain high levels of sugar and caffeine. This can contribute negatively to a low calorie diet. The bets way to consume Taurine is through meat and fish or a supplement. 

Risks

While, Taurine has been tested in adults, there are no studies on the effects of excessive Taurine consumption in children. Taurine consumption has also not been studied for used longer than one year. In an extreme case there was a bodybuilder who consumed excessive amounts of Taurine (14g) combined with insulin and anabolic steriods. This caused significant brain damage. 

The use of Taurine for mental and athletic performance has been shown to work when consumed in moderation and through the most natural means available. If you need help with concentration, focus and cell protection, Taurine is a great way to provide that. If you're concerned about the health risks and affects of Taurine consumption, speak with your doctor about those concerns. You can also work with a trainer to find the right method of Taurine consumption for fitness and the right dosage or consumption level for the results you want, without the risks. Overall Taurine is a definitely option for improved performance, but like all supplements should be carefully considered before using.