What Is Inositol Powder?
- Inositol powder is a sugar-alcohol that plays a role in the membranes of our cells.
- It is made in our liver and kidneys and is also found in some foods.
- Research has shown inositol to be beneficial for mood disorders, metabolic health, and impaired insulin sensitivity.
If you’ve ever wondered, what is inositol powder, done a little googling, gotten the answer “Inositol is a carbocyclic sugar found in body tissues that mediates cell signal transduction to hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors.” — and been more confused than you started — we feel you.
Trying to find information on the product could lead you down a whole host of scientific rabbit holes that you probably just don’t have the time (or the patience!) for. Luckily, we’re breaking down all of the details about inositol, what inositol powder is, the uses of inositol powder, and where you can get your hands on some.
Don’t feel like learning what inositol powder is on your own? Come visit us in-store and have one of our Nice Guys tell you all about it!
What Is Inositol Powder?
Inositol powder is a supplement taken by many, but it is also produced naturally in the body and found in many foods. Although it used to be commonly referred to as vitamin B8, inositol is not actually a vitamin — since, generally, human cells make enough of this on their own. The liver and kidneys synthesize inositol from glucose in your diet.
Inositol is a sugar-alcohol that plays a role in the membranes of our cells. It actually influences which hormones and enzymes are allowed in and out of our cells. Because inositol affects the chemical transmissions happening in our bodies, it can have effects dealing with mood and mood disorders, metabolic health, and impaired insulin sensitivity.
Though the bottle you’ll find on our store shelves (and most other places) says only “Inositol,” the compound’s full name is called myo-inositol. However, there are 9 different structural forms of inositol — myo-inositol tends to be the most stable (and well-researched), and is what you’ll find in most bottles. Though, another type of inositol, D-chiro-inositol, can also be found for sale, and may have slightly different properties.
What Is Inositol Powder Used For?
As mentioned above, inositol may have affects related to mood and mood disorders, metabolic health, and insulin sensitivity.
Inositol for Mood
Research has shown that levels of inositol in the brain have a correlation with mood. Sufferers of bipolar disorder were found to have 30% lower inositol levels than normal; the frontal cortex of suicide victims was 23% lower in inositol, on average, than usual.
The evidence clearly points to inositol deficiencies as being a culprit of low mood. Double-blind, controlled trials have seen inositol improve symptoms of depression, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Inositol and Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a host of conditions that put you at risk of serious disease. Unfortunately, western diets have been linked to an increase in metabolic diseases. Fortunately, science has been working to understand exactly why this is — and inositol is part of the equation.
Western diets have been found to lack key components, like inositol — and even inhibit our body’s own ability to use the inositol made in the liver and kidneys. The research now shows that there is a clear link between deficient inositol levels and the development of these serious metabolic diseases.
Inositol and Insulin
Another well-researched function of inositol is as an insulin-sensitizer, controlling how insulin functions between our cells. This research could not only help people dealing with diabetes, the disease that may come to mind when you think of insulin, but also women with PCOS.
PCOS, Insulin, & Gestational Diabetes
Women with PCOS are often insulin resistant. This insulin resistance is connected with a whole host of other symptoms, including excessive androgens (male hormones that females also have), irregular menstrual cycles, acne, and excessive body hair. Inositol has been found to reduce many of these symptoms to more manageable levels.
In addition, the effects of inositol on insulin hold promise for creating “a safe and effective medication for lowering the prevalence of gestational diabetes.”
What Is Inositol Powder — A Final Word
The available research clearly points to inositol as being useful for several issues, including mood disorders, metabolic health, and impaired insulin sensitivity.
If you’ve got questions we didn’t answer about “what is inositol powder”, or when you’re ready to explore our wide array of products — come on into any one of our 7 Mr. Nice Guys locations throughout Corpus Christi and talk to our knowledgeable staff. And as always, have a nice daze!
