Are You Dangerously Deficient in Taurine?

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By Dr. Leonard  

Leonard , M.D., is a renowned gastrointestinal, vascular and general

surgeon as well as an expert in the use of nutrition and natural

supplementation. As a surgeon, Dr. has first-hand experience of the

problems associated with faulty digestion and the surgical necessities they can

cause.

For the past 20 years, Dr. has investigated many holistic medical

programs, including nutrition, exercise, chelation, stress management and the

relevance of mental and spiritual attitudes in healing. Acknowledging the

effectiveness of whole organic foods and nutritional supplementation, Dr.

strives to stay on the leading edge of research and breakthroughs in the field

of functional nutrition.

While most people have never heard of taurine, a deficiency in taurine can

contribute to a wide range of symptoms you have certainly heard of. Low taurine

levels have been found in patients with anxiety, depression, hypertension,

hypothyroidism, gout, infertility, obesity, kidney failure and autism, among

other conditions.

Taurine is an amino acid that can be made in your body from two other amino

acids: cysteine and methionine.

Adequate amounts of taurine can usually be obtained from animal and fish

protein, eggs and brewer's yeast (NOTE: if you have a viral or fungal infection,

eating brewer's yeast can cause allergic reactions).

Since taurine can be made in our bodies, it was thought to be a non-essential

amino acid … however in certain circumstances, it is actually considered

essential.

Taurine - What It Does For Your Body

Here are some of the key benefits of taurine in relation to your health. Taurine

is:

Important in the visual pathways, the brain and nervous system, cardiac function

and prevention of irregular heartbeats.

A conjugator of bile acids - helps increase cholesterol elimination in the bile,

helps with fat absorption and elimination of toxins.

Important for it's role in renal development and protection of the kidneys from

free radical damage.

A facilitator for the passage of sodium, potassium and possibly calcium and

magnesium ions into and out of cells.

Protection for the heart from irregular rhythms and damage during shock.

An antioxidant.

Involved in the balance and control of white blood cell production of free

radicals to fight microbial infections.

A calming or stabilizing effect on the brain and has been shown to be useful in

treating seizure disorders.

An enhancer of performance for athletes.

Taurine Deficiency - Possible Causes

There are many reasons your body could be low in taurine - and if you are an

expecting mother, it's important to know how this could affect your baby.

Low taurine can occur if:

Your body does not make enough taurine due to a deficiency in one or more of the

following:

o Cysteine and methionine (amino acids that make taurine in your body).

o Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the active form of vitamin B6).

o Zinc (deficiency in zinc is common with elevated mercury levels).

o Vitamin A.

You are Deficient in the enzyme needed to make taurine

o Many humans may not regularly produce a high level of the enzyme needed to

make taurine (cysteinsulfinic decarboxylase) and are therefore, dependent on

dietary sources.

o If you don't regularly consume meat, fish, eggs or brewer's yeast, you could

be low in taurine.

You have candida

o If you have this systemic fungal infection, it produces an amino acid,

beta-alanine, which competes with taurine for reabsorption in the kidney.

o This causes you to lose taurine through your urine.

o An increase of taurine in urine actually masks a test for low taurine in your

body.

You are infected with disease-producing anerobic bacteria

o These pathogenic bacteria interfere with the proper functioning of bile acid

and degrade taurine, thereby effecting taurine levels.

You are eating foods with MSG, which degrades taurine

o MSG, or Monosodium glutamate, is a food additive that is used to enhance the

flavor of processed foods.

o Food labeling regulations do not require MSG to be labeled as such, which

means it can be hidden in foods that you eat.

Additionally, the following vitamins and amino acids may interfere with

taurine's functions:

o The B-vitamin pantothenic acid (B5).

o The amino acids beta-alanine and beta-hypotaurine.

Taurine is essential for brain development in your fetus and newborn. Candida

and bacterial imbalances can block taurine -- learn how to prevent and heal them

with The Body Ecology Diet.

What Expecting Mothers Should Know

Taurine is an essential amino acid for a developing fetus and newborn babies

because they cannot make it themselves - and yet the development of their brain

depends on it.

In fact, taurine is the highest concentrated amino acid in the brain of the

fetus and newborn. The fetus must obtain it through the placenta and newborns

can obtain it from breast milk or formula fortified with taurine.

If a pregnant mother has chronic (even low grade) candida, bacterial imbalances

or elevated levels of mercury, lead and cadmium (which create zinc deficiency),

it could lead to taurine deficiency in the mother and baby.

Placental absorption of maternal taurine can also be blocked if the fetus is

under stress from both mercury and microbial challenges. This can set up a

condition where your baby's detoxification pathways are inhibited, which could

lead to neurological problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Taurine deficiency was found in 62% of autistic children, according to one

study.

Taurine Supplementation

There are situations in which supplementing with taurine is important.

Clinically, taurine has been used in the treatment of a wide variety of

conditions, including: cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy and other seizure

disorders, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, hepatic disorders, and

cystic fibrosis. An analog of taurine, acamprosate, has been used as a treatment

for alcoholism.

Taurine has also been used for migraines, insomnia, agitation, restlessness,

irritability, obsessions and depression.

But how do you know for sure if you are deficient in taurine and whether

supplementation is right for you? In next week's newsletter, I will cover how to

accurately determine taurine levels, how much to take and other supplements that

can enhance taurine production.

If you or someone you love has candida, bacterial imbalances and autism, be sure

to read The Body Ecology Diet book.

Love, Gabby. :0)

http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/gabby911

http://twitter.com/stemcell4autism

 

" I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had

some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin. " ~ Jerry Newport