Inositol is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants and animals. Although it's similar in structure to a glucose molecule, it's is more of a vitamin than a sugar. Many fiber-rich foods, including corn, brown rice, wheat bran, and beans, contain inositol. Some fruits, such as cantaloupe and citrus fruits are also rich in this substance. It's also available as a dietary supplement for people looking to reap a wide range of inositol benefits.
Inositol is very popular in the world of women's health. It affects the insulin response and a range of hormones related to mood and cognition. As a result, is often used as a complementary therapy to treat various metabolic and mood disorders.
Studies show that inositol may improve the function of the ovaries and fertility in women with PCOS. Since it has been shown to help with female infertility issues, inositol is sometimes referred to as the 'female health supplement.' Read on to learn more about inositol benefits and how this supplement can support women's health.
How inositol benefits the body
Inositol is a B-vitamin-like nutrient that influences many bodily functions. It plays a crucial role in the functioning of some hormones and neurotransmitters. This substance influences the processes that produce neurotransmitters, the body's chemical messengers that relay information within your brain.
Inositol also affects the production of molecules that are involved in insulin's action in the cells. It is also known to stimulate the production of certain hormones in the body, including dopamine and serotonin. The so-called feel-good hormones can help alleviate mood issues and anxiety-related symptoms.
Due to its effects on various biological processes in the body, inositol is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions relating to women's health. It is commonly used to treat hormone imbalance issues such as PCOS. Evidence suggests that this vitamin-like substance can also correct many metabolic disorders that cause metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
What does it do to hormones?
Inositol is believed to regulate hormone levels in the body. This pseudo vitamin helps balance chemicals that control metabolism, fertility, blood sugar, and mood swings. For instance, it acts as a signaling agent for insulin, a hormone produced in your pancreas and responsible for regulating blood sugar. Inositol also affects the processes involved in the release of other hormones.
What does inositol do for PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. PCOS represents a major cause of infertility, affecting up to 12% of women in the United States. PCOS is caused by the production of abnormally high amounts of insulin in a woman's body.
Scientific evidence shows that high insulin levels disrupt the production of hormones in the body, causing symptoms such as infertility, anovulation, and excess body hair — due to high testosterone levels. High insulin can also cause the body to produce more androgen hormones such as testosterone, which may explain why women with PCOS have higher testosterone levels.
High insulin levels lead to insulin resistance, where the body makes insulin but isn't able to use it effectively. In addition to infertility, insulin resistance also increases the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol. Since inositol may aid blood sugar control in the body, it has been widely studied as a potential treatment for PCOS.
Inositol plays a role in the production of molecules involved in the body's response to insulin. According to researchers, the body can use inositol as a backup messaging system when the usual insulin signaling system fails. By regulating glucose and insulin levels in the body, the vitamin-like substance helps promote ovulation and pregnancy in women with PCOS. This is one of the key inositol benefits for women's health.
What does it do for my blood sugar and metabolism?
As we've seen in the previous section, inositol plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels in the body. In this section, we explore its effects on blood sugar and metabolism as well as conditions such as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
One of the key factors associated with conditions like metabolic syndrome is insulin resistance, a problem with the body's ability to respond normally to insulin. Made by the pancreas, insulin is a hormone that allows your body to use glucose for energy. If you are insulin resistant, glucose is unable to enter the cells easily, and it builds up in the blood.
Inositol has been studied for its potential to improve insulin sensitivity. Scientific evidence suggests that inositol reduces the levels of glucose and triglycerides in the body. It improves insulin sensitivity by influencing the insulin signaling system, acting as second messengers downstream of insulin receptors.
Inositol also plays a role in the production of molecules that are involved in insulin's action in your cells. A study involving 80 menopausal women with metabolic syndrome found that the substance improves insulin sensitivity more than the placebo. Other studies show that inositol may improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in women with gestational diabetes.
What does it do for anxiety?
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. Maybe you have butterflies in your stomach waiting for the results of an important test. Perhaps you are feeling worried about a problem at work with your boss. For most people, these feelings are usually brief. In some cases, anxiety can worsen over time and become so severe that it interferes with your daily life.
Due to its potential health benefits, inositol has been explored as a treatment for anxiety disorders. It plays a crucial role in the production of hormones associated with mood and cognition. The vitamin-like substance can be used to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and other common mental disorders by stimulating the release of feel-good hormones.
As stated earlier in the article, inositol plays a crucial role in the functioning of some hormones and neurotransmitters. Serotonin and dopamine are the perfect examples. The primary role of serotonin is to regulate mood, sleep, and digestion. Dopamine controls mood and muscle movement and is elemental in the brain's pleasure and reward systems.
These are chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, that help regulate many bodily functions, including mood, sleep, memory, and appetite. An imbalance in hormones in the brain can contribute to a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety. The release of serotonin and dopamine can offset these imbalances and treat symptoms of many mental health conditions.
Low levels of serotonin and dopamine have been associated with anxiety. Inositol triggers the release of the so-called feel-good hormones in the brain, leading to feelings of relaxation. For that reason, inositol is used to treat a wide range of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
Finally, this popular supplement supports a wide range of biological processes in the body. As a dietary supplement, it works particularly well in women to relieve conditions caused by hormonal imbalances, including PCOS and infertility, metabolism and blood sugar control, anxiety, and many other women's health issues.
Experience the benefits with Binto's Inositol
If your life constantly revolves around trying to manage your symptoms from hormonal imbalance, a high-quality supplement such as the Binto Inositol Powder can help you reap a wide range of inositol benefits. Binto Inositol Powder promotes hormonal balance and supports ovarian functions. Binto Inositol Powder is made from quality ingredients with zero preservatives, fillers, or chemicals.
Want to learn more about inositol benefits and supplements? Book a consultation to speak with one of our health providers today.