Myo-inositol is a substance that is naturally produced within the human body. It belongs to the vitamin B complex groups. It is a carbocyclic sugar that can be mostly found in your brain.
It is the most common form of inositol. It is a sugar alcohol, and it can be found in almost all living organisms including plants and animals. It plays an essential role in several biological processes in order for your body to function properly. Some of these processes are:
- Breaking down of fats
- Transduction of chemical and physical signals (Insulin)
- Nerve guidance
- Gene expression
- Cell maintenance
Due to its role with the stated bodily chemical processes, it has a significant part in the body’s efficiency. So, although, you may not have heard of it too often, it has a long list of benefits that contribute to several health conditions.
You may also encounter other names that are alternatively used to identify myo-inositol like inositol, inositol hexaphosphate, or inositol monophosphate.
When Was Myo-inositol’s Benefits First Noticed?
Myo-inositol first came to the medical community’s attention when it proved to be beneficial to those suffering from symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome or what is commonly known as PCOS.
One of the lesser-known benefits of myo-inositol is its ability to relieve Hashimoto’s syndrome, which women are usually more prone to. Furthermore, one survey states that 40 percent of women, who have Hashimoto’s disease, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, have been diagnosed with PCOS as well.
Since the two conditions are almost always linked together, it was eventually concluded that if myo-inositol can treat symptoms of PCOS, according to research, it could also alleviate symptoms of Hashimoto’s.
When you have Hashimoto’s, the disease will gradually and eventually destroy your thyroid gland. It affects your metabolic, cardiovascular, and developmental processes. It can also affect your thought processes, sleep patterns, and even sexual functions.
How Does Myo-inositol Help With Your Thyroid Health?
This is where myo-inositol comes in. These effects can be treated with a healthy level of it.
Myo-inositol deals with thyroid diseases by helping cells that produce thyroid hormones to build T4 faster and more efficiently. T4 is thyroxine, which is one of the two hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Its primary function is to regulate metabolism.
The absence or lack of T4 will cause thyroid-related health conditions like Hashimoto’s disease. To make sure that T4 is produced and built quickly and adequately, food and supplements that contain myo-inositol are advised to be included in one’s daily diet.
Although the body naturally produces it, when you have a thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s, it is recommended that you find other sources. It is best that you should know where you could get it and eating these foods can help its production:
- Beans are also a rich source particularly lima and navy beans. When you consume a 100 grams of these beans, you can already have 44 to 65 milligrams of inositol.
- Fruits and Vegetables particularly citrus fruits and cantaloupes that are fresh contain more myo-inositol compared to canned, frozen, and salt-free variety.
- Grains like pasta, wheat, bread, oatmeal, and the like are also good sources of myo-inositol. A 37-gram slice of grain bread alone can provide you with isotol amounting to 13 milligrams.
- Nuts
Consult Your Doctor on the Right Dosage and Possible Side Effects
Myo-inositol is not included amongst the essential nutrients that are needed by the body, so there is no standard dosage of what is recommended for you to take.
Of course, it is always prudent that you should check with your doctor first before taking any of this food as sources of your myo-inositol needs. There are also pharmaceutical drugs and supplements that you could take.
To determine the correct dosage for you, you should tell your doctor any allergies you may have to any food or medicine. You should also disclose any relevant information like being pregnant or if you are planning to be while you are taking medicine.
It may not be recommended while you are breastfeeding or have any underlying health problems like high blood pressure or heart conditions.
Myo-inositol for Your Thyroid and Overall Health
Other than your thyroid health, here is a list of other health conditions that myo-inositol helps treat or alleviate:
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Weight loss
- Cognitive health
- Sleeplessness
- Psychological and psychiatric conditions
- Hashimoto’s syndrome
As you might have noticed, some of these conditions are effects and symptoms of an ineffective thyroid. When you have enough myo-inositol in your system, you can be relieved of some of the signs of thyroid-related health problems.
Even though it is not an essential nutrient, if you have been suffering from the thyroid-related health conditions, myo-inositol is definitely good news for you. Knowing its nature will help you deal with your thyroid health. You now know one more way on how to strengthen your thyroid function and to reach the peak of its potential.
Give your doctor a call today and go over the best way to take more myo-inositol. You can even create a diet plan on how to effectively include it in your daily food intake.
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