Leonard Smith, 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. Smith has first-hand experience of the problems associated with faulty digestion and the surgical necessities they can cause.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Smith 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. Smith strives t - 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 t - 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 amin - acid that can be made in your body from tw - other amin - 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 t - be a non-essential amin - 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 t - 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 int - 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 t - fight microbial infections.
• A calming or stabilizing effect on the brain and has been shown t - 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 t - know how this could affect your baby.

Low taurine can occur if:

• Your body does not make enough taurine due t - a deficiency in one or more of the following:
  - Cysteine and methionine (amin - acids that make taurine in your body).
  - Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the active form of vitamin B6).
  - Zinc (deficiency in zinc is common with elevated mercury levels).
  - Vitamin A.
• You are Deficient in the enzyme needed t - make taurine
  - Many humans may not regularly produce a high level of the enzyme needed t - make taurine (cysteinsulfinic decarboxylase) and are therefore, dependent on dietary sources.
  - If you don't regularly consume meat, fish, eggs or brewer's yeast, you could be low in taurine.
• You have candida
  - If you have this systemic fungal infection, it produces an amin - acid, beta-alanine, which competes with taurine for reabsorption in the kidney.
  - This causes you t - lose taurine through your urine.
  - An increase of taurine in urine actually masks a test for low taurine in your body.
• You are infected with disease-producing anerobic bacteria
  - 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
  - MSG, or Monosodium glutamate, is a food additive that is used t - enhance the flavor of processed foods.
  - Food labeling regulations d - not require MSG t - be labeled as such, which means it can be hidden in foods that you eat.

Additionally, the following vitamins and amin - acids may interfere with taurine's functions:
- The B-vitamin pantothenic acid (B5).
- The amin - 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 t - prevent and heal them with The Body Ecology Diet.

What Expecting Mothers Should Know

Taurine is an essential amin - 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 amin - 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 t - taurine deficiency in the mother and baby.

Placental absorption of maternal taurine can als - 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 t - neurological problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Taurine deficiency was found in 62% of autistic children, according t - 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 als - been used for migraines, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, irritability, obsessions and depression.
But how d - 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 t - accurately determine taurine levels, how much t - take and other supplements that can enhance taurine production.