Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid, needed for proper maintenance and functioning of skeletal muscles. It is considered to be the second most abundant in muscles after glutamine. Taurine has been known to increase muscle mass and strength. It acts similarly to creatine in that it expands the body's cells by helping the muscle cell itself hold more water. Taurine can work like diuretic, keeping potassium and magnesium inside the cell while keeping excessive sodium out. Taurine is so important to high performance athletes, because it reduces muscle damage caused by exercise, accelerate recovery between workouts and helps in protein synthesis. Supplementation with taurine has been shown to increase growth hormone. It acts as an antioxidant and protects against toxicity of various substances. While preventing oxidative stress, it also helps to maintain skin hydration. Taurine can enhance attention and cognitive performance. It occurs naturally in seafood, meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products (absorption of taurine from beverages may be more rapid than from foods). Taurine is beneficial for adult human blood pressure, adipose tissue regulation and prevention of obesity. It has also been shown to help people with congestive heart failure by increasing the force and effectiveness of heart-muscle contractions. Taurine can lower blood cholesterol and act as a glycation inhibitor. It can prevent atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and cirrhosis. Because it aids the movement of potassium, sodium, and calcium in and out of the cell, taurine has been used as a supplementation for epileptics as well as for people who have uncontrollable facial twitches. Taurine is a derivative of cysteine.
