Taurine for Weight Loss

Taurine is a popular health supplement that people have been using to supplement their diet for many years. Among its numerous advantages, this amino acid is touted as a very effective weight-loss aid. According to 3dchem.com, taurine acts as a metabolic transmitter and additionally has a detoxifying effect. The Mayo Clinic states that up to 3,000mg of supplemental taurine a day is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys.

History

• Taurine is an amino acid that is found in the tissues of the lower intestines in many animals. The name is derived from the Latin word "taurus," which means ox or bull. It was given this name because the first sample of taurine was collected by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin in 1827 from the bile of an ox.

Theories/Speculation

• One of the most significant sources for creating bile in our body is taurine. Bile is essential for many bodily functions. According to literature found on Romow.com, bile is responsible for digesting fat faster and also heightens the effects of the vitamins produced by our body. Taking taurine supplements ensures that the vital nutrients in our body are functioning in the right manner and excessive fats are burned during the process.

Safety

• Taurine is safely used by many people, in particular body builders who use it to keep their weight in check. Although there are no definitive side effects associated with taurine, it is not recommended that anyone begin taking these supplements without proper advice from a health-care provider when trying to lose weight. According to Dr. Ray Sahelian at Raysahelian.com, there have been two instances of serious side effects possibly associated with taurine usage--encephalopathy and bipolar disorder.

Considerations

• When taking taurine for weight loss, avoid drinking alcohol in order to achieve the best results. Alcohol burns off most of the possible advantages associated with taurine and disrupts taurine's ability to burn fat. Interestingly, studies presented on the website Healingdaily.com show evidence that taurine has been shown to be useful in treating people with alcohol dependency.

Misconceptions

• Taurine is a popular health drink, but there are still misconceptions about its contents. Many people think it is generated from elements such as urine and the semen of bulls. In fact, these health supplements are made from a combination of cysteine, a non-essential amino acid; vitamin E, which absorbs fat; and methionine, a non-polar sulfur that includes proteinogenic amino acid.