It is recommended to limit the intake of electrolyte drinks during exercise, instead of consuming drinks with taurine.
Taurine, an organic acid found in many energy drinks, is considered safe based on available scientific data. In fact, this compound is sometimes used in medical treatment under a doctor’s supervision for conditions as varied as congestive heart failure and epilepsy. While taurine itself probably isn’t dangerous, the drinks it’s mixed with can be.
Modern taurine supplements are manufactured synthetically in laboratories, with no bull parts or secretions involved.
This compound is found naturally in the body in several different places and can be synthesized by the brain. In the body, taurine helps regulate salt and water levels in the blood, as well as being involved in the function of neurotransmitters and the heart. The compound tends to act as a diuretic in the body, a feature that can become important when combined with other drugs and can have an excitatory effect.
Taurine may not be safe for people with bipolar disorder.
In studies, people who took up to three grams of taurine a day for a year had no ill effects. The researchers also noted that any excess of this substance was simply being expressed in the kidneys, making it difficult for this organic acid to bioaccumulate or cause medical problems.
However, in people with liver or kidney disease, it can be difficult to remove taurine from the body, which can lead to medical problems. The safety of taurine additives for pregnant and lactating mothers has also not been evaluated and according to a better prevention attitude I regret. Some evidence also suggests that it can be dangerous for people with bipolar disorder.
Water is the most recommended drink to safely prevent dehydration after exercise.
The biggest problem with taurine is not the supplement itself, but the beverages it is packaged in. Energy drinks often act as diuretics, which can make consuming them before or after exercise dangerous because they can lead to dehydration. Some harmful effects have also been seen in people who combine energy drinks and alcohol, because mixing a stimulant and a depressant can be very dangerous and sometimes deadly.
Most energy drinks contain large amounts of refined sugar.
As with many other foods, energy drinks are likely to be consumed in moderation and with greater safety. Before and after exercise, people should limit themselves to drinking water or electrolyte-replenishing beverages, avoiding dehydration. Consumption of any energy drinks mixed with alcohol should be avoided, and people may want to consider limiting their daily intake of these beverages to address concerns about overdosing on caffeine or consuming large amounts of refined sugar.
A popular legend suggests that this organic acid is extracted from the semen of bulls. These legends play on the origin of the word taurine, as the word comes from the Latin for “bull”, referring to the fact that this organic acid was first discovered in cow bile. Today’s supplements are synthetically manufactured in laboratories and no bull part or secretion is involved.