Our Favorite Supplement for PCOS: Inositol w/ Dr. Mark Ratner!

What is Inositol and how does it help women with PCOS? The inventor of Inositol, Dr. Mark Ratner, joins us to discuss the benefits of Inositol!

Were you prescribed Metformin by your doctor? Dr. Mark Ratner explains the difference between Metformin and natural inositol supplements like Inositol Complete 40:1 as well as covering studies confirming the effectiveness of different forms of inositol supplements compared to Metformin!

What effect does Inositol have on helping pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes for women with PCOS? Dr. Mark Ratner explains the role insulin resistance plays in women with PCOS and how an inositol supplement can be vital.

We also pulled your questions from Instagram and asked Dr. Mark Ratner on the episode, tune in to hear all your most popular questions about Inositol answered!

You can hear about all this and more in the episode above! For a breakdown of the most important info from today’s episode, READ ON CYSTERS!

Metformin vs Inositol

Metformin and Inositol are both very popular among the PCOS community. But although they are very similar, they work in the body in different ways.

Metformin is what you would call an insulin sensitizer. It works to lower blood glucose levels and insulin in the body by suppressing the liver’s production of glucose, increasing the sensitivity of your liver, muscles, fat, and cells to the insulin your body makes, and decreasing the absorption of carbohydrates you consume.

Metformin is known to have plenty of benefits for women with PCOS. These include lower insulin levels, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, better menstrual cycle regulation, and improved fertility. The thing is, Metformin doesn’t work for everyone with PCOS. And even more importantly, Metformin has 5x greater risk for adverse side-effects.

On the other hand, we have Inositol Complete 40:1, our favorite PCOS supplement. Inositol Complete 40:1 is a natural inositol supplement that works a little differently in the body than Metformin. Most women with PCOS have a defect in their insulin receptors that slows the opening of glucose-consuming cells. When this happens, the body can’t properly get rid of all that glucose, pushing it to create even more insulin. Hence your PCOS symptoms. So basically, Inositol Complete 40:1 works like a vitamin supplement in the body to override this defect and ensure that these cells are ready to absorb glucose, reducing the need for the body to create more insulin.

Here in the Cysterhood, we love Inositol Complete 40:1. When comparing Inositol Complete 40:1 and Metformin, you will see they have many similarities when it comes to effectiveness. BUT, you will also see that Inositol Complete 40:1 has significantly less adverse effects than Metformin. All you Cyster’s that are currently taking (or previously took) Metformin know exactly what we mean here.

Can Inositol Be Taken With Metformin

Yes, you can take Inositol and Metformin at the same time. Why? Because they work differently in the body, meaning that they don’t interact with each other to create any adverse effects. In fact, many women with PCOS who take Metaformin and supplement with Inositol have seen great overall improvement in their PCOS symptoms.

Still, its important to check with your doctor before adding any additional dietary supplements or medications to your PCOS management plan.

Why Is Inositol Good For PCOS

Inositol is good for PCOS for a plethora of reasons. We’ll list out all the benefits below. It’s important to note here, though, that many Cyster’s choose Inositol over Metformin and there are several reasons for this.

First, Inositol has shown greater success helping women achieve their weight loss goals with PCOS when compared to Metformin. More on that below. Inositol also has significantly less adverse side-effects than Metformin, which can greatly improve quality of life for women with PCOS. And lastly, women with PCOS who choose Inositol also tend to have better success when it comes to reducing depression, anxiety and stress.

Does Inositol Help with Weight Loss

This is a question we receive quite often and the answer is this. Inositol may help women with PCOS lose weight. Inositol is known to reduce sugar cravings, as well as lower insulin and glusose levels. All of which can help Cyster’s shed those extra pounds. (If that’s your goal, of course.)

However, its important to keep in mind that Inositol is not a weight loss supplement. So while it may assist Cyster’s with their weight loss goals, a healthy diet combined with exercise and other PCOS management techniques may also be required to achieve your goals.

Benefits of Inositol

• Better regulation of menstrual cycle
• Promotes more consistent ovulation
• Improves ovarian functioning
• Improves overall egg quality
• Helps curb those carb cravings
• Decreases the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy
• Lowers insulin and glucose levels
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Lowers inflammation throughout the body
• Improves anxiety along with depression
• Improves acne all over the body

For more on Inositol and PCOS, click the play button above!

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While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (bit.ly/PCOSPrivacyPolicy)