Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid that, unlike most others, is not built into proteins but floats freely inside cells, where it is abundant in the heart, muscles, brain and eyes. The body makes a little, yet diet tops up the rest, and the standout sources are shellfish and fish: scallops, mussels, prawns and white fish such as cod sit at the top, with darker poultry meat following. Plants are essentially devoid of it, so seafood lovers naturally enjoy the most generous intake.
What is Taurine?
Taurine is a sulphur amino acid that plays a critical role in stabilising cell membranes, regulating calcium handling in heart and muscle cells, supporting bile-salt formation for fat digestion, and protecting tissues from oxidative stress.. While many general diets overlook it, maintaining optimal levels of Taurine is frequently tracked by people working to optimize their Heart & muscle health.
Top Foods High in Taurine
A data-driven breakdown of the foods with the highest concentration of Taurine per 100 g.
| Food | Taurine |
|---|---|
| Scallops | 827 mg |
| Mussels | 655 mg |
| Shrimp | 220 mg |
| Cod | 120 mg |
| Salmon (Atlantic) | 95 mg |
| Tuna (canned, light) | 39 mg |
| Lean Beef (95% lean) | 38 mg |
| Chicken Breast | 15 mg |
| Turkey Breast | 11 mg |
How Taurine Impacts Heart & muscle health
Research links diets rich in Taurine to changes in Heart & muscle health. Optimizing intake of these foods can support healthy Heart & muscle health levels via support healthy heart and muscle health via its role in modulating calcium flux and electrical stability in cardiac and skeletal muscle, helping maintain steady contraction while dampening oxidative and inflammatory stress on tissues..
Written by the Nutrition Encyclopedia team · medically reviewed by Dr. Sunaina Tariq, MBBS
Last updated 22 June 2026
How we source & verify data · Medical disclaimer
Nutrition values are approximations compiled from public food-composition databases (USDA FoodData Central) and are provided for educational purposes only — not medical advice.
Explore by health goal
See the foods that support these goals: