Figuring out a little about Carnitine and Taurine

Monday, January 14, 2008
Figuring out a little about Carnitine and Taurine
(Read the post before this before reading this post)


CARNITINE

The highest concentrations of carnitine are found in red meat and dairy products. Other natural sources of carnitine include nuts and seeds (e.g. pumpkin, sunflower, sesame), legumes or pulses (beans, peas, lentils, peanuts), vegetables (artichokes, asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, brussels sprouts, collard greens, garlic, mustard greens, okra, parsley), fruits (apricots, bananas), cereals (buckwheat, corn, millet, oatmeal, rice bran, rye, whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ) and other 'health' foods (bee pollen, brewer's yeast, carob, and kale).


A.J. eats none of the food listed above, except occasionally, peas and broccoli, so it is very likely that she does need more carnitine. I will have to step up the red meat. Yuck. A different diet that promotes low yeast says not to eat nut butters. So I took them away a few days ago. She has actually been doing very well since I took them away and so I don't want to give them back. Maybe she has an intolerence to nuts. I will be able to get her to eat artichokes, broccoli and red meat...I think. I will have to give her vitimin C with these foods to help absorb the carnitine.



TAURINE

Recent studies have also shown that taurine can influence (and possibly reverse) defects in nerve blood flow, motor nerve conduction velocity, and nerve sensory thresholds in experimental diabetic neuropathic rats. Taurine levels were found to be significantly lower in vegans than in a control group on a standard American diet.

Taurine is an ingredient in many energy drinks and energy products.

(cats) Taurine is essential for cat health, as a cat cannot synthesize the compound. Taurine is now a requirement of the AAFCO and any dry or wet food product labeled approved by the AAFCO should have a minimum of 0.1% taurine.

According to some animal studies, taurine produced an anxiolytic-like effect in mice and may act as a modulator or anti-anxiety agent in the central nervous system


OK, so I need tuarine, my cat needs taurine and my duaghter needs it too. It looks like vitamin water Power C Dragon Fruit Flavor has some in it. That seems like the only "energy drink" without caffine in it too.

This is the final thing I read:
Despite its presence in many energy drinks, taurine has not been shown to be energy-giving. A study of mice hereditarily unable to transport taurine suggests that it is needed for proper maintenance and functioning of skeletal muscles.[25]