There are many myths regarding Taurine – an amino acid occurring naturally in the body. And it is used as an ingredient in many energy drinks.
So if you are fond of energy drinks, it is quite natural to fall into the myths and be concerned about it. But worry no more because all your doubts and misconceptions will be cleared after reading this post.
Spoiler Alert! Below, you’ll learn the name of energy drinks with Taurine, what is meant by Taurine, why it is used in energy drinks, and more. Plus, we’ll also debunk some known myths related to Taurine. So keep reading till the end.
Tip: If this post is long for you, please feel free to bookmark or pin it for later reading purposes! 🙂
Energy Drinks That Contain Taurine
As a general rule, Taurine is used as an ingredient in many energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, and others. Usually, the taurine content in these drinks is about 1 gram per 8 ounces.
| Energy Drink | Taurine Content |
| Red Bull {8.3 oz (250 ml)} | 1000 mg |
| Monster {16 fl oz (473 ml)} | 1000 mg |
| Rockstar {16 oz (473 ml)} | 2000 mg |
Now the main question comes, why is Taurine used in energy drinks, and what does it actually mean. So let’s see!
What Is Taurine?
In simple words, Taurine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. This chemical is found in the retina, brain, heart, reproductive organ cells, meat, and seafood.
Chemically, it is called – amino sulfonic acid (or, to be more specific, it can also be termed chemically as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid).
The naming of Taurine is done after the Latin word Taurus, which means bull or ox. Taurine was discovered in human bile. However, it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827.
According to WebMD, Taurine has some crucial functions in the brain and heart. For example, it supports the growth of the nerves. Moreover, it may also be beneficial for people with heart failure issues by lowering their blood pressure and calming down the nervous system.
Taurine is used for fatigue, diabetes, obesity, athletic performance, and many other conditions. However, there is no concrete scientific evidence that supports the usage.
Why Is Taurine Used In Energy Drinks?
The most probable reason why Taurine is used in energy drinks is its hypothesized impact on athletic and mental performance.
As per Mayoclinic, taurine supplements may lead to improvement in athletic performance.
Moreover, one study suggested improvement in exercise potential of those who took taurine supplements thrice a day for two weeks and had congestive heart failure issues.
Another study highlighted that Taurine, combined with caffeine, can enhance mental performance. But that mayo clinic article also points out that further research is needed, and the finding remains controversial.
Is Taurine Safe To Consume?
As per Healthline, Taurine doesn’t have any negative side effects when supplemented properly. However, some people reported side effects after consuming Taurine, which include problems like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, liver pain, and headache.
But it is unclear whether all such effects were only because of it or any other substance they consumed side by side.
It is important to note that Taurine can act as a particular enzyme inhibitor (cytochrome P450). So Taurine can cause interference with medications that use that particular enzyme.
If you are already on medication, your best bet would be to consult the doctor to be sure whether Taurine is risky for you or not.
In general, if you are a healthy individual and take Taurine in reasonable amounts, there are no known side effects.
Top Taurine Myths Debunked:
#1. Taurine Is Made From Bull Semen?
FALSE!
Are you a bit active on social media and looking over the trends related to energy drinks? Then you are probably aware of the claims made that Taurine in Red Bull is made from Bull Sperm – which is False!
Red Bull has confirmed that they do use Taurine in their energy drink. However, it is not made from bull’s testicles.
On their website, Red Bull has clearly stated that the Taurine in Red Bull is not derived from animals. Instead, pharmaceutical companies synthetically produce it.
Taurine naturally occurs in the human body and is also present in the daily diet.
The higher concentration of Taurine can be found in our brain, muscles, blood, and heart. For example, a 70kg person will have about 70g of Taurine in his or her body.
On their website, Red Bull explains that the 70kg person already has about 70 times more taurine in one can of Red Bull energy drink.
Is Red Bull vegan-friendly? Yes, they are because only non-animal-based ingredients are used in Red Bull Energy Drink.
Is Red Bull with Taurine halal? Yes, the Taurine found in the Red Bull drink is halal since it is not derived from any animal source and is produced synthetically.
Also, If you don’t prefer Red Bull, you can refer to our guide on cheap Red Bull alternatives.
#2. Natural Taurine Is Safer Than Synthetic Taurine?
FALSE!
It is a myth that synthetically produced items are unhealthy. The fact is, synthetically produced items allow high and consistent quality.
The manufactured ingredients obey food regulatory necessities, so they have the same functionality as their natural equivalent.
Taurine is an amino acid that is found in animal tissues, and it plays a role in important physiological functions.
It is a natural component of the human body, and about 0.1% of total human body weight is from Taurine.
In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whose task is to look over food safety in the European Union, highlighted that the exposure to Taurine based on the levels used in the energy drinks is not a safety concern.
#3. Taurine Is A Stimulant And Has A Stimulating Effect?
FALSE!
Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid, and it doesn’t have any stimulating effect. So, contrary to popular belief, Taurine isn’t a stimulant like caffeine. Rather, Taurine has the opposite effect – it acts as a nervous system depressant.
So when you consume Taurine, the neurotransmitter receptors that promote brain excitement gets suppressed. So Taurine alone actually helps you to calm down.
The effect of Taurine is almost similar to another central nervous system suppressant called GABA – a neural messenger that causes calming.
Alternative Energy Drinks That Don’t Have Taurine
Here we share two types of energy drinks that don’t have Taurine. One is a commercially available energy drink, while the other is a DIY option.
Commercial Energy Drink That Doesn’t Have Taurine
Proper Wild is an energy drink that doesn’t use Taurine. Their website says that although energy drinks usually have Taurine in them with the theory of energy-boosting capability, such claims are not backed by research.
Proper Wild believes in using clean ingredients that are science-backed.
Some energy drink manufacturers may use Taurine to decrease the jitters – a side effect associated with caffeine. However, proper wild energy shots have the L-theanine instead of the Taurine.
According to a study, the combination of caffeine and L-theanine can be beneficial and enhance performance in cognitively challenging tasks. The combo of both these compounds is what makes the Proper Wild a strong cognitive booster.
Check out the six-pack of proper wild energy shots here on Amazon.
DIY Energy Drink That Doesn’t Have Taurine
Making A Coconut Water Energy Drink DIY
Here’s a list of ingredients and items required for this recipe:
- Boiling Water (1 cup / 235 ml)
- Agave Nectar (1 teaspoon / 5 ml)
- Coconut Water (1/2 cup / 118 ml)
- Soda Water (1/2 cup / 118 ml)
- Ice Cubes
- Cherry Juice (1/2 cup / 118 ml)
- Lemon (1)
- Green Tea Leaves (1 teaspoon / 2 g)
Using this recipe and ingredients, you can make two 10-ounce servings. So now let’s see the preparation procedure.
To make the coconut water energy drink, you need to brew and chill the tea. So for that, mix the green tea leaves and boiling water in a teapot. Keep the steeping tie to be about 3 minutes. To avoid the tea becoming bitter, you can strain out the leaves.
Then allow the tea to become a bit cool, and later on, transfer it to the refrigerator to let it chill. You can keep it in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Then make two pieces of lemon and take out its juice. To ensure there are no seeds, you can first transfer the lemon juice to a pitcher and take out the seeds from it.
Now, this is the most fun part – mixing all the liquid together. Take out the chilled tea from the refrigerator and add it to the pitcher that has the lemon juice. You can then add cherry juice, coconut water, and agave, and stir the mixture well.
After that, you can add soda water to the mixture and stir gently. You can also replace agave and use maple syrup or any simple syrup to work as a liquid sweetener.
Finally, fill two glasses with ice and prepare two servings of this drink. You can also store the leftover energy drink in the refrigerator to drink later.
The caffeine from green tea is what gives you an energy boost. The cherry juice in this drink gives you minerals and vitamins.
On the other hand, coconut water supplies your body with the required electrolytes that the body needs to function. So that’s how you can make the coconut water energy drink.
Making Ginger Based Energy Drink DIY
Here’s a list of ingredients to prepare this recipe:
- Hot water (Such that you can fill your mug)
- Turmeric (1/4 tsp)
- Ground Cardamom (1/4 tsp)
- Fresh Ginger Root (1 inch)
- Honey (1 1/2 – 2 tsp)
Take a mug and add two thin ginger slices to it. Next, you can use a garlic press to juice out the leftover ginger. Then you need to add the spices and hot water to the mug and finally stir the mixture well.
You may also enjoy and find the taste of this homemade energy drink to be delicious.
The ginger in this helps in metabolism and enhances circulation. Turmeric is also a beneficial component present in this drink which can speed up the things in your body. Cardamom is also good for improving energy and increasing circulation.
Finally, the addition of honey makes this drink valuable as honey is one of the best kinds of sugar your body can get.
As you may have noticed, there is no use of caffeine-related items like tea in this recipe. Moreover, there is no plain sugar used in this recipe. Only honey is used, which is one of the best substitutes for sugar. Everything is natural and homemade.
So if you are looking for a natural DIY energy drink that doesn’t have Taurine, caffeine, or regular sugar, this energy drink is one of your best options.
You can take this homemade energy drink anytime in the day as per your needs. However, you can avoid consuming it during the night unless you want to remain up 😉
Making Almond Based Energy Drink DIY
Here’s the list of ingredients needed to prepare this DIY energy drink:
- Ripe Banana (1)
- Milk (1 cup)
- Ground Flax Seeds (1 tbsp)
- Plain Yogurt (1/2 cup)
- Raw Almonds (1/2 cup) or Almond Butter (2 tbsp)
- Washed Kale Leaves (2)
- High-Quality Whey Protein Powder (1 scoop)
You can take one glass of this drink in the morning. In most women, one of the leading causes of fatigue is the lack of adequate protein in their diet. So considering that starting your day fueled up with an easy protein shake is a great option.
You can also check our DIY natural energy drinks guide for more DIY energy drink recipes.
Final Thoughts
In short, many energy drinks include Taurine – an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body.
The primary source of this ingredient is primarily animal-based products. However, that doesn’t mean energy drinks are not vegan-friendly.
In fact, energy drinks like Red Bull use synthetically produced Taurine. So there’s nothing to worry about. Moreover, all the claims like Taurine in Red Bull derived from bull’s testicles are fake.
However, if you are susceptible to consuming Taurine-containing energy drinks, do not worry. We already mentioned some commercial and DIY options for energy drinks without Taurine.
Hope this guide helps you make an informed decision and choose the right energy drink for you. Cheers!
Photo altered by dejittr.com | Photo attribution: Vivian Arcidiacono
