Taurine: the ultimate anti ageing molecule?
Have you had sushi recently? If you have, it came inside a paper like wrapper called nori. Wrapped inside the nori sheet is an ingredient called taurine.
Taurine helps slow down ageing.
Ok, now that I have your attention, let me start at the beginning.
Ageing has many masters. Cellular death, reduction in the mitochondria in your body and gut permeability. The quality of gut bacteria and even stress.
So where does taurine fit in?
First, it helps by reducing oxidative stress in your body. Oxidative stress, in case you have forgotten, occurs when your body uses oxygen to produce energy.
Second it helps in the manner in which your mitochondria function. Your mitochondria are the energy cells contained within your cells.
Third, it helps in the recognition of nutrients in your body. Remember when you eat (ingest), you have to absorb and digest as well. Absorption and digestion occurs when the right enzymes digest a nutrient.
Sensing what nutrients are available in the body is useful.
Finally, if things on the inside are fixed, you also want to fix things on the outside. Your skin. Taurine helps in promoting collagen production. It helps in reducing wrinkles and improving the moisturising of your skin.
Taurine is the ultimate anti-ageing molecule.
So while nori has it, it also comes with shellfish, meats, eggs and dairy.
One of the eternal questions around nutrition is the manner in which you get it. Can you be vegan and get everything you need? Vegetarian?
Or do you have to consume fish, egg and meat?
I started my journey a decade ago. Initially, I was enamoured by research that suggested that vegetarian food was best.
Over time I have come to the realisation that these are choices that come from having plenty.
If you are spoilt for choice, you can pick a religion. If you are hungry and starving and potentially dying from deficiencies, you will eat anything.
Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain
