PAYDAY EXCLUSIVE | 15% off €35

Code:PAYDAY
 

PAYDAY EXCLUSIVE | 15% off €35

Code:PAYDAY

Buy 1 Get 1 Free: One week onlyOffersOffers HubBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceSave up to 1/2 priceBuy 1 Get 1 FreeBuy 1 get 1 free eventShort Dated2 for €74 Mix & MatchVitamins & SupplementsVitamins & Supplements HubVitamins & Supplements Shop AllCBDCollagen & SilicaHair, Skin & NailsShop all Hair, Skin & NailsHair GrowthFunctional MushroomsVitaminsShop all VitaminsMultivitaminsVitamin AVitamin BVitamin CVitamin DVitamin EVitamin KVitamin DrinksMineralsShop all MineralsMagnesiumIronZincCalciumSeleniumChromiumSupplementsShop all SupplementsFibre SupplementsAcidophilus & Friendly BacteriaPeppermint OilGrapeseed ExtractLecithinCollagen & SilicaOmega & Fish OilsPlant Sourced SupplementsSuperfood SupplementsArnicaApple CiderRaspberry KetonesAloe VeraChondroitin & MSMCo Enzyme Q10Evening Primrose OilGarlicGlucosamineGlucomannanSeaweed, Kelps and AquaceuticalsDigestive EnzymesSaw palmettoCharcoalWomen's HealthShop all Women's HealthMenopauseMenstrual SupportUrinary Tract HealthPregnancy & ConceptionMen's HealthShop all Men's HealthProstate HealthChildren's HealthConditionShop all ConditionWater RetentionCholesterolAllergy & Hay Fever CareAnxiety SupportBone & Muscle HealthMuscle Support & Joint PainBrain & Memory SupportWomen's HealthMen's HealthChildren's HealthCold & Immune SupportFatigueDigestive HealthHair, Skin & NailsHeart & CirculationLiver CareMood SupportSexual HealthSleep & RelaxationStress ReliefVisionHerbal & Licensed RemediesShop all Herbal & Licensed RemediesValerianRescue RemedyAshwagandhaEchinaceaMilk ThistleGinseng & GuaranaHomeopathic & Flower RemediesShop all Homeopathic & Flower RemediesRescue RemedyTissue SaltsFlower RemediesVegan Vitamins & SupplementsBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceBuy 1 Get 1 FreeBuy 1 get 1 free eventHolland & BarrettVitabioticsSolgarNew NordicBetterYouNatures AidBioglanGrass & Co.Bach Original Flower RemediesPE NutritionDairy FreeGluten FreeSesame Seed FreeCelery FreeCereal FreeCrustaceans FreeEgg FreeFish FreeKiwi FreeLupin FreeNew inFood & DrinkFood & Drink HubFood & Drink Shop AllEasterVegan FoodHoney, Jams & SpreadsShop all Honey, Jams & SpreadsManuka HoneyHoneyJams & ChutneysNut ButtersSpreadsPateTeas & Hot BeveragesShop all Teas & Hot BeveragesCoffee & Coffee SubstituteMushroom DrinksGreen TeaPeppermint TeaHerbal TeaFruit TeaSlimming TeaSleep & Relaxation TeaTeaDried Fruit, Nuts & SeedsShop all Dried Fruit, Nuts & SeedsNutsDried FruitSeedsMixesSuperfoodsShop all SuperfoodsSpirulinaSuperfood PowdersGoji BerriesBaobabMoringa PowderChia SeedsSnacksShop all SnacksProtein BarsLow Calorie SnacksChocolate, Cakes & BiscuitsSavoury SnacksSweet SnacksSnack BarsCrisps & ChipsFlapjacksPopcornFood CupboardShop all Food CupboardCondiments & SaucesApple Cider VinegarSuperfoodsBreakfast CerealsHoney, Jams & SpreadsTinned FoodsRice, Pasta, Pulses & GrainsBreakfast CerealsShop all Breakfast CerealsCereals, Bran & FlakesGranolaMuesliOats & PorridgeBreakfast BarsDrinksShop all DrinksKombuchaNatural Energy DrinksJuicesSoft DrinksWaterAlcohol Free DrinksCookingShop all CookingCooking IngredientsApple Cider VinegarCondiments & SaucesSoya & Meat AlternativeSoup & Ready MealsRice, Pasta, Pulses & GrainsHerbs, Spices & SeasoningGravy & StockHome BakingShop all Home BakingBaking MixesBreadFlourSweeteners & Sugar AlternativesEgg SubstitutesDairy AlternativesShop all Dairy AlternativesOat, Rice & Hemp DrinksSoya DrinksNut DrinksCoconut DrinksNutritionally Complete FoodBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceBuy 1 Get 1 FreeSave up to 1/2 priceHolland & BarrettNaturyaGrenadePukkaHeath & HeatherTwiningsMeridianOptimum NutritionNakdPhDGluten FreeDairy FreeEgg FreeWheat FreeMilk FreeMustard FreeCelery FreeCrustaceans FreeFish FreeKiwi FreeNew inSports NutritionSports Nutrition HubSports Nutrition Shop AllProteinShop all ProteinClear ProteinProtein VeganMeal ReplacementsWhey ProteinMass GainersDiet ProteinCaseinBars, Drinks & SnacksShop all Bars, Drinks & SnacksEnergy BarsProtein BarsProtein ShakesProtein SnacksNutritionally Complete FoodMeal Replacement ShakesPre Workout & EnergyShop all Pre Workout & EnergyPre WorkoutAmino Energy DrinksAmino Energy PowdersIntra WorkoutKetoPost WorkoutAmino AcidsShop all Amino AcidsBCAAL-LysineGlutamineArginineCreatineShop all CreatineCreatine PowderSports SupplementsShop all Sports SupplementsTestosteroneSports CollagenRehydrationShop all RehydrationElectrolytesEnergy GelsVegan Sports NutritionShop all Vegan Sports NutritionVegan ProteinVegan Protein BarsVegan Pre Workout & EnergyVegan Amino AcidsVegan CreatineSports AccessoriesShop all Sports AccessoriesBottles & ShakersFitness GoalShop all Fitness GoalRecoveryMuscle & StrengthLean MuscleEnergy & EnduranceDiet & Weight LossKetoBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceSave up to 1/2 price2 for €74 Mix & MatchPE NutritionOptimum NutritionUSNGrenadePhDApplied NutritionFoodspringHuelSiSHigh5Dairy FreeGluten FreeSugar FreeCelery FreeCereal FreeCrustaceans FreeEgg FreeFish FreeKiwi FreeLupin FreeNew inBeautyBeauty HubNatural Beauty Shop AllAromatherapy & HomeShop all Aromatherapy & HomePure Essential OilsBlended Essential OilsBase & Carrier OilsHolisticSkincareShop all SkincarePremium SkincareFace CareBody CareSun CareTanning & BronzingEye CareLip CareFoot CareHand & Nail CareCBD BeautyHair Skin & NailsShop all Hair Skin & NailsNail ConditionsSkin ConditionsCollagenWashing & BathingShop all Washing & BathingShampoo & ConditionerBathing AccessoriesShower Gel & Body WashDeodorantDentalHand WashSoapBath Soak & OilBody ScrubBath Bombs & SaltsFeminine CareIncontinence SupportHair CareShop all Hair CareShampoo & ConditionerHair ColouringHair MasksHair Oil & SerumHair Spray, Gel & MousseHair AccessoriesMother & BabyShop all Mother & BabyBaby Skincare & ToiletriesMakeupElectrical WellnessSexual WellnessBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceSave up to 1/2 priceBuy 1 get 1 free eventDr OrganicFaith in NatureWeledaNaturtintTisserandMiaromaQ+AEthiqueTrilogyChilds FarmAlcohol FreeParaben FreeSLS FreeParfum FreePalm Oil FreeGluten FreeCelery FreeCereal FreeCrustaceans FreeEgg FreeNew inWeight ManagementWeight Management HubWeight Management Shop AllSlimming TabletsFat Burners, Binders & Appetite SuppressantsShop all Fat Burners, Binders & Appetite SuppressantsFat BurnersFat BindersAppetite SuppressantsShakes & Weight Management ShotsShop all Shakes & Weight Management ShotsMeal Replacement ShakesWeight Management ShotsDiet Food & DrinkShop all Diet Food & DrinkDiet FoodLow Calorie SnacksSlimming TeaExercise SupportBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceSave up to 1/2 price2 for €74 Mix & MatchGrenadeOptimum NutritionHolland & BarrettPulsinPhDUSNEat WaterNatures AidSlimExpertApplied NutritionDairy FreeGluten FreeSugar FreeWheat FreeNew inHealth & WellnessShop all Health & WellnessJoints Bones & MusclesGut HealthShop all Gut HealthGut Health FoodGut Health SkincareHair Skin & NailsShop all Hair Skin & NailsNail ConditionsSkin ConditionsCollagenStress AnxietyShop all Stress AnxietyEnergy SupportSleep & RelaxationShop all Sleep & RelaxationRelaxationFood & DietShop all Food & DietKeto FoodMenopauseBuy One Get One 1/2 PriceSave up to 1/2 priceBuy 1 Get 1 FreeHolland & BarrettDr OrganicVitabioticsNaturtintWeledaNew NordicSolgarHeath & HeatherOptimum NutritionEthiqueDairy FreeGluten FreeParaben FreeSLS FreeAlcohol FreeParfum FreeCelery FreeCereal FreeCrustaceans FreeEgg FreeNew inShop for your WellnessImmunityGut HealthMenopauseWomen's HealthFood & DietMuscle & Joint PainSleep & RelaxationStress ReliefHealthy HeartEnergyLow Mood & DepressionConcentration & AlertnessEye HealthSexual HealthChildren's HealthLearn about WellnessImmunityGut HealthMenopauseFood & DietJoints, Bones & MusclesSports & FitnessSleep & RelaxationHair Skin & NailsAll articlesHealthFood & nutritionGut healthImmunityJoints, bones & musclesWomen's healthWellnessHair & skinMental wellbeingSeasonalSleep & relaxationSports nutritionRecipesAll recipesGluten freeLow sugarVeganDairy freePodcast
Young male in park setting wearing active clothing

The benefits of taurine

22 Feb 2024 • 2 min read

Despite being a common ingredient in energy drinks, it’s likely that you’ve never heard of taurine. But, as it turns out, there're many reasons why you should put it on your radar.

Whether you’re looking to boost your performance at the gym or you’re keen to give your body a little extra support, taurine could be your secret weapon. Here’s what you need to know. 

What is taurine?

Taurine is an essential amino acid that’s made naturally by the body.1  It’s found in abundance all over the body, particularly in skeletal muscle.1 Taurine performs several different vital roles around the body, including:2
  • Keeping the levels of calcium in specific cells under control 
  • Maintaining the balance of electrolytes in your cells so your body stays hydrated 
  • Creating bile salts which are needed for digestion 
  • Supporting your central nervous system 
  • Supporting the health of your immune system

Where does taurine come from?

Taurine is naturally synthesised in the body, and your body should produce enough taurine for you to function.

Typically, taurine is synthesised from meat products, but there’s vegan and vegetarian sources too.3

Meat products that are high in taurine include: 
  • Fish – Studies found that taurine was retained well by tuna and salmon. You can add salmon or tuna to salads or as part of a balanced breakfast. 
  • Beef – The meat in which taurine was originally discovered, hence the name, beef is a fantastic source of taurine.5 Steak, beef shank, or even mince, the possibilities are endless. 
  • Lamb – Another great source of taurine, lamb is a versatile meat that livens up any meal.6 Try to avoid slow-cooking the lamb, as this’ll decrease the levels of taurine in the meat.6 
  • Octopus – For those feeling a little more adventurous, octopus meat was found to be very high in taurine.6 Octopus is great mixed into salads, or try it as a taco filling with chorizo.
If you are vegan or vegetarian, good sources of taurine include: 
  • Seaweed – A recently identified superfood, seaweed is high in a lot of good nutrients, including taurine. Perfect for those on a vegan or vegetarian diet, simply crush nori (the papery seaweed you get on sushi) into soups or as a topper for ramen.

Four potential benefits of taurine

Taurine may have more uses than just an addition to energy drinks. Some emerging and preliminary research has found there are other potential benefits of taurine. More evidence is needed as there are currently no authorised health claims for taurine.

However, from a small sample of studies, here’s some possible benefits of taurine:

1. Taurine could improve your exercise performance

There’s a lot of studies dating as far back as 2011 that show that taking extra taurine leads to higher physical performance in humans.2 Taurine was also shown to increase the time until exhaustion, reduce exercise-induced fatigue and diminish damage from intense exercise.2 This is why taurine is commonly found in energy drinks.

All of this means that adding taurine to your diet could help you have a better workout or sports session, where you’re able to go further, lift more, and exercise for longer without experiencing muscle soreness. Try taking it at the same time you’d take your pre-workout, or at least 60-90 minutes before working out.

We’ve got more information on how taurine supports sports and exercise here.

2. Taurine may be good for your heart

The use of taurine as a therapy to treat heart-related conditions shows a lot of promise. For example, in Japan, taurine has been approved for the treatment of congestive heart failure.2

This is because there’s been a few studies that show taurine can lower cholesterol.2 One study in particular that looked at 50 different groups across 25 different countries showed that having elevated levels of taurine – i.e. more taurine than normal – decreased the risk of heart problems.8

3. Taurine might be able to help with obesity

Obesity can be caused by insulin resistance and certain inflammatory responses.2 As taurine is effective in treating insulin resistance and as an anti-inflammatory, it was suggested that taurine could be effective at also treating obesity.2

A comprehensive review of obesity-taurine studies in 2015 found that taurine had been effective in decreasing the body weight of obese animals and in suppressing inflammatory responses. As much of the research was in small sample sizes and mouse models, more robust trials are needed to determine whether taurine could help with obesity.

4. Taurine might help with arthritis

Taurine is thought to be anti-inflammatory and, therefore, could help with supporting symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.2 Taurine protects tissues from oxidative stress associated with the pathology of various inflammatory diseases.10

While more research is needed in this area, taurine has been identified as a potential future drug to treat arthritis.4

Side effects of taurine

There’s no known side effects of adding more taurine to your diet as long as you take it in the correct, recommended amounts.11

FAQs

Is taurine vegan?

Taurine is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body. Whilst taurine is most commonly found in animal proteins, like meat. You can also find taurine in seaweed, which is vegan.

Is taurine a stimulant?

Taurine itself isn’t a stimulant, so you shouldn’t expect taking taurine to wake you up or help fight fatigue. Instead, taurine is proven to increase the time until exhaustion, reduce any fatigue from exercising, and reduce damage from intense exercise.2

The final say

It's evident that taurine is more than just a popular ingredient in energy drinks. From its benefits in supporting cardiovascular health to its impact on exercise, taurine could be a versatile and beneficial addition to our daily lives.

Disclaimer

 

Sources

1. De Luca A, Pierno S, Camerino DC. Taurine: the appeal of a safe amino acid for skeletal muscle disorders. Journal of translational medicine [Internet]. 2015 Dec [cited 2024 Jan 21];13(1):1-8. Available at: https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-015-0610-1 [cited multiple times]
2. Schaffer S, Kim HW. Effects and mechanisms of taurine as a therapeutic agent. Biomolecules & therapeutics [Internet]. 2018 May [cited 2024 Jan 21];26(3):225. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933890/ [cited multiple times
3. Kurtz JA, VanDusseldorp TA, Doyle JA, Otis JS. Taurine in sports and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition [Internet]. 2021 May 26 [cited 2024 Jan 26];18(1):39. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
4. Gormley TR, Neumann T, Fagan JD, Brunton NP. Taurine content of raw and processed fish fillets/portions. European Food Research and Technology [Internet]. 2007 Sep [cited 2024 Jan 26];225:837-42. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-006-0489-4
5. Purchas RW, Rutherfurd SM, Pearce PD, Vather R, Wilkinson BH. Concentrations in beef and lamb of taurine, carnosine, coenzyme Q10, and creatine. Meat Science [Internet]. 2004 Mar 1 [cited 2024 Jan 26];66(3):629-37. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174003001815 [cited multiple times]
6. Lee W, Han EJ, Park E, Shin EJ, Han HJ, Jung K, Heo SJ, Kim EA, Kim KN, Kwak IS, Kim MJ. Hepatoprotective Activity of a Taurine-Rich Water Soluble Extract from Octopus vulgaris Meat. InTaurine 11 [Internet]. 2019 (pp. 691-703) [cited 2024 Jan 26]. Springer Singapore. Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-8023-5_60
7. Kawasaki A, Ono A, Mizuta S, Kamiya M, Takenaga T, Murakami S. The taurine content of Japanese seaweed. InTaurine 10 [Internet]. 2017 (pp. 1105-1112) [cited 2024 Jan 26]. Springer Netherlands. Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-024-1079-2_88
8. Sagara M, Murakami S, Mizushima S, Liu L, Mori M, Ikeda K, Nara Y, Yamori Y. Taurine in 24-h urine samples is inversely related to cardiovascular risks of middle aged subjects in 50 populations of the world. InTaurine [Internet]. 9 2015 [cited 2024 Jan 21](pp. 623-636). Springer International Publishing. Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-15126-7_50
9. Murakami S. Role of taurine in the pathogenesis of obesity. Molecular nutrition & food research [Internet]. 2015 Jul [cited 2024 Jan 21];59(7):1353-63. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mnfr.201500067
10. Marcinkiewicz J, Kontny E. Taurine and inflammatory diseases. Amino acids [Internet]. 2014 Jan [cited 2024 Jan 21];46:7-20. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00726-012-1361-4
11. Yoon JA, Choi KS, Shin KO. General characteristics of taurine: a review. Korean J Food Nutr [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Jan 21];28(3):404-14. Available at: http://eksfan.or.kr/journal/article.php?code=32510
 
Laura Harcourt

Laura Harcourt

Author

SEO Content Executive

Joined Holland & Barrett: March 2022

BSc

Laura brings her passion for health and wellness to life by creating engaging and informative content on the H&B Health Hub.

Her writing journey began during her studies at the University of Reading, where she discovered a love for content while writing lifestyle articles for the student newspaper. After graduation, Laura's experience in the health and beauty world further fueled her passion for the health and wellness industry.

Now, Laura tackles diverse health and wellness topics on the Health Hub, ranging from supporting those navigating menopause to exploring the fascinating world of adaptogenic mushrooms.

Outside of writing, you'll likely find her conquering her ever-growing Goodreads list, mastering the art of Pilates, or spending quality time with Winston, her golden cocker spaniel.
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • AmericanExpress
  • PayPal
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Copyright © Holland & Barrett Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. hollandandbarrett.ie is a trading name of Holland & Barrett Limited. Registered office: 45 Henry Street, Dublin, Dublin 1, D01 E9X8. Registered in Ireland: Company no. 79819. Registered VAT no. 4682002U.