![]() Sure, the anecdotal evidence for its mental-enhancing prowess could very well be chalked up to the placebo effect, but because it’s actually pretty safe to consume, there’s little reason for energy drink makers not to hedge their bets and throw it in the mix. It’s all slightly suspicious, given the compound’s ubiquity in the energy drink universe.ĭearth of scientific studies aside, it’s hard to make the case against taurine. Evidence that taurine alone boosts mental performance and mood is pretty much nonexistent - one small study showed some positive results, but taurine was only assessed in combination with caffeine and glucuronolactone. But there’s little scientific evidence to show that it actually jump-starts the brain.Ī couple of studies in animal models have suggested that taurine has anxiety-reducing effects, which could point to an effect on the brain, but that hasn’t been demonstrated in humans yet. It’s thought that supplementing the body with additional taurine - we already do it every time we consume meat or fish - could add extra fuel to these ongoing processes, providing an overall energy boost. It’s involved in supporting the brain’s development, modulating the contractions of the heart, balancing the levels of water and minerals in the blood, and oiling the central nervous system so it runs smoothly, among other qualities. You can’t blame skeptical fans for making that connection: taurine is an integral part of a chemical concoction that promises to steel you for the day ahead - and is there anything steelier than bull balls? Turns out the answer is, well, yeah the human body naturally produces taurine because it’s necessary for so many physiological processes. Red Bull’s creators have asserted that the taurine in its drinks is completely synthetic. Conspiracy-minded ‘Bull heads have debated whether the taurine in their afternoon pick-me-up is derived, specifically, from bull testicles (in wilder circles, the speculation extends to bull semen and urine), a rumor that probably stemmed from a misunderstanding of what its original source fluid, bile, actually is - the moss-hued slime produced by the gall bladder, anatomical miles away from bull genitalia. Known in scientific circles as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, the compound was named after the Latin taurus, for bull, after German scientists isolated it from ox bile in 1827. Sure, taurine can have that effect, but it achieves it through much less direct means.įirst, a bit about taurine itself. Its effects aren’t as straightforward or as well-documented as its energy-boosting partner in crime, which straight-up jacks into the central nervous system to curb drowsiness. Here’s the thing about taurine: It’s not caffeine. Since then, it’s enjoyed a pretty solid reputation as a pick-me-up, but the truth is, there’s no conclusive evidence that it boosts mental or physical performance. It eventually made its way stateside in cans of Monster and tiny vials of 5-Hour Energy. The chemical’s been riding a wave of hot PR since Lipovitan D, the first real energy drink, hit Bangkok in the 1970s. It’s the natural acid swirling around your evening can of Red Bull, hooking up with other chemicals to “give you wings” and potentially stimulate your hypothalamus. Trends in energy drink consumption among U.S. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? Pediatrics. ![]() ![]() Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Caffeine in food and dietary supplements: Examining safety.
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