Is Taurine Vegan?

Most taurine is found in meat and dairy products. That is why most vegans wonder, “is taurine vegan?” The answer is it depends on its source. While most naturally sourced taurine isn’t vegan, one well-known natural vegan taurine source is seaweed

You can also find synthetic taurine supplements or supplements taken from exclusively vegan sources. If you’re a vegan and want to get taurine in your diet, you should eat seaweed or look for a taurine supplement labeled as appropriate for vegans.

 

While being vegan has certain health benefits, you should know how to supplement your diet to get all the necessary nutrients. 

Table of Contents

What Is Taurine?

Taurine is a natural component of meat, fish, and dairy products. It’s even found in human milk. 

Some people think that taurine is an amino acid, but it’s not. Instead, it’s an amino sulfonic acid. Some experts consider it a ‘conditionally’ essential amino acid. Taurine has health benefits, so people try to get more of it in their diets. 

Taurine

The human body does produce a little bit of taurine. However, many vegans want to supplement that. 

Historical Production of Taurine

Scientists discovered taurine in 1827. Leopold Gmelin and Friedrich Tiedemann isolated it in a sample of ox bile. 

Industrial synthetic taurine production took off in the 20th century. By the early 1990s, manufacturers could create vast amounts of this nutrient. 

Modern Taurine

When you buy a modern taurine supplement for vegans, it should be either derived from a vegan source (like seaweed) and/or synthetic. 

Scientists use sodium bisulfite and ethylene oxide to create a chemical reaction to make synthetic taurine. This reaction produces something called isethionic acid, which is then utilized for achieving synthetic taurine. 

Taurine

Usages of Taurine

When you ingest taurine, your small intestine absorbs it. After that happens, it goes to your liver and is processed in that organ. Once that is accomplished, it goes into your bloodstream. Something called the taurine transporter allows the taurine to get into your cells.  

There are a variety of taurine usages. 

Supplement for Vegans

So is taurine vegan? No, but you can take synthetic taurine as a supplement for your vegan diet. Check out seaweed if you want natural taurine in a vegan food.

Taurine?

It’s surprising for many that seaweed contains taurine, as this nutrient is primarily found in meat and dairy products. Of course, vegans don’t eat meat or dairy, so getting your taurine is more challenging. 

Improves Heart Health 

There are several ways taurine may boost your cardiovascular system’s health. Experts believe taurine may improve artery health, boost blood flow, and reduce high blood pressure. In addition, some studies have shown that taurine can reduce cholesterol. 

Researchers have found that supplementing the vegan diet with taurine decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

May Improve Your Digestion

Taurine is also useful in improving your digestion and metabolism. And as most of us know, your metabolism plays a big part in how quickly you can lose weight

May Help With Weight Management 

 

When you get more taurine in your diet, your liver can produce bile salts more easily. And bile salts are key to processing fats in your digestive system. 

So, in other words, it helps your body fully break down and digest fats. Without that capability, weight loss and even weight management are more difficult. 

Beneficial to Musculoskeletal Health 

Taurine offers benefits for your musculoskeletal system. In other words, it can improve the health of your muscles and bones. 

This nutrient has regenerative and anti-inflammatory benefits. These qualities are what make taurine effective at benefiting your muscles and bones.

Good for Athletes

The way it helps physical endurance in exercise and sports is one of the most popular reasons for supplementing with taurine. Look into taking a taurine supplement if you want more energy and muscle resilience. 

Many athletes recognize that taurine helps them perform better, and it seems to be an ergogenic aid. Taurine helps to regulate lipids and glucose. 

Beverages With Taurine

 Taurine:

This benefit for athletes and anyone wanting to engage in fitness activities means that there are beverages enriched with taurine available on the market. 

One of the advantages of taurine is how your body is able to absorb and use this nutrient so quickly. Even as soon as 10 minutes after you’ve ingested taurine, there will be higher taurine concentrations in your plasma. 

Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline

Scientists have found that taurine may have a positive effect on brain health. For instance, it may improve memory and cognitive skills. 

The cognitive and energizing qualities of taurine are why energy drink makers include it in their recipes. So while most people worry about the caffeine in energy drinks, you’re probably concerned about taurine as a vegan. 

But as long as the taurine is from a vegan source (like seaweed) or is synthetic, you can have it as a vegan. 

Offers Anti-Aging Benefits

Given all the other taurine benefits we’ve listed here, it almost goes without saying that this nutrient helps to fight the damage of aging. The anti-aging benefits of taurine are especially tied to its ability to help with muscle regeneration. 

Taurine

A scientific study found that taurine was able to cut down on signs of aging in the skeletal muscle of elderly mice

You Often Find Taurine in Energy Drinks 

The fact many energy drinks contain taurine is probably why you’ve become curious about taurine and whether it’s vegan

As a vegan, you should make sure the taurine in your energy drinks has a vegan source or is synthetic and made to fit with the vegan diet. 

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Conclusion

So, now you know why you might want to add taurine to your diet. But is taurine vegan? No, you’ll have to make sure the taurine has a vegan source (for example, seaweed) or is synthetic and vegan-friendly. 

If you’ve noticed there is taurine in your energy drink, just make sure it’s the right kind. As long as it doesn’t break your vegan diet, there’s no reason not to indulge. And as you’ve learned here, taurine has plenty of health benefits. 

Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/taurine/faq-20058177

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1024/taurine

https://biocrates.com/metabolite-of-the-month-taurine/#:~:text=History%20and%20Evolution,-1827%3A%20first%20isolated&text=It%20was%20first%20isolated%20from,taurus%2C%20meaning%20bull%20or%20ox.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-nutrients-you-cant-get-from-plants#7.-Taurine

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Taurine-Synthesis-and-Production.aspx

https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-taurine#:~:text=Because%20most%20taurine%20sources%20are,of%20taurine%20per%20100%20grams.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15288360/

https://veganliftz.com/vegan-athlete-diet/

https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0#:~:text=Taurine%20plays%20a%20beneficial%20role,aid%20to%20improve%20athletic%20performance.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bdr2.1177

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-is-taurine

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360770127_Taurine_Administration_Counteracts_Aging-Associated_Impingement_of_Skeletal_Muscle_Regeneration_by_Reducing_Inflammation_and_Oxidative_Stress

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Jason Hughes
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