How Inositol Helps Create Long, Healthy Hair

Written By Venus L

When dealing with the subject of products and ingredients that help to promote long, healthy, natural hair, there is a vast assortment of products to choose from. Indeed, given that styling and caring for natural hair is very much a matter of trial and error, what works great for someone else, might not work as well for another. With that said, inositol, also known as vitamin B8, is a part of the B complex family that has a host of possible uses. Credited with helping to soothe everything from high cholesterol, panic disorder, depression, and autism, to ADHD, psoriasis, and even cancer, many consider this to be a miracle medicine of sorts. With that said, inositol is also great for promoting long, healthy natural hair. Please review the following overview in order to decide if vitamin B8 may be right for you.

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Moisturize Your Mane 

One of the main ways in which inositol helps with natural hair is by helping to strengthen each follicle so that it is it retains moisture. The is especially great, given that one of the main issues with growing long, natural hair is that it often doesn’t retain enough moisture. This often causes breakage amongst follicles as the hair can turn brittle without the ability to remain properly moisturized. This makes inositol one of the essentials for hair growth for Naturalistas that are struggling to achieve substantial growth due to the lack of sufficient moisture.

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Baldness Prevention

Another way in which inositol helps to promote long, healthy natural hair, is by literally helping to prevent baldness. Some studies have shown that those with a diet lacking in vitamin B8 tend to be specifically more prone to baldness. Luckily, this issue of baldness can often subside once the vitamin is re-introduced to the diet. Therefore, inositol may be an essential element to anyone being able to maintain a full head of natural hair.

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Addresses Hyperandrogenism

Hyperandrogenism, or androgen excess, is a condition marked by the excess of androgens. This disease can cause a host of other ailments including ovarian cysts, acne, excess facial hair, and most importantly, alopecia. Alopecia being a hair and scalp disorder that causes massive hair loss in otherwise healthy people. This disorder affects many men and women across the globe and there are said to be very few suitable remedies to address this issue. By using vitamin B8, you could effectively address an ailment that could be highly detrimental to your hair health.

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Inositol and Choline 

Although inositol works great on its own, it is said to be even powerful when mixed with choline. A strong and basic, water-soluble compound that is naturally occurring in living tissues, this compound has an array of uses as well. When these two substances are combined, they produce phospholipids which literally make up the hair follicle membranes. This provides added protection for hair follicles overall. What’s more, choline, in particular, also helps to prevent hyperandrogenism, making this a powerful remedy for fighting against alopecia.

Side Effects

Although it is said to be fairly safe for most adults, there are a number of potential side effects from using this vitamin. Some of the milder side effects include fatigue, dizziness, headache, and headache. What’s more, there is also some concern that using too much inositol may worsen bipolar disorder by sending semi-stable sufferers into mania. Therefore, if you suffer from bipolarism or any related mental disorders, consult with a professional before using.

Where to Get Your Inositol

As with most naturally occurring substances, inositol can be acquired naturally or with the usage of specific products. On the natural side of things, there are a number of foods you can eat in order to boost your levels of inositol.

Some inositol rich foods include:

• liver
• wheat germ
• green leaf vegetables
• whole grain bread
• brown rice
• cereals
• nuts
• soy flour
• beans
• citrus fruits

On the flip side, there are also a number of products you can use in order to boost your inositol levels.

• vitamins
• shampoo/ conditioners
• leave-in conditioners
• dry sprays
• hair oils
• scalp elixirs
• shea butter formulas

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While there are a number of products to use, naturally acquiring this nutrient is always best. However, if you are interested in using products, many naturalistas are partial to the vitamins, leave-ins, and hair oils. The oils, in particular, being some of the best oils for hair growth on the market.

Overall, inositol is a nutrient that is vital to help maintain a healthy hair and scalp. If you are experiencing hair shedding, loss, or any of the other ailments outlined in this post, give it a try! As always, consult your physician before making any drastic changes to your diet regimen.