by Barbara Minton
(Health Secrets) A simple substance found in food , known as inositol, appears to reverse the harmful effects of smoking, a finding that can bring cheer to anyone who smokes or loves someone who does. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in the U.S., and 85 to 90% of lung cancer cases are associated with tobacco use, so this discovery is a very big deal. Tobacco components promote the initiation and growth of lung tumors through their toxic effects on genes as well as through biochemical modulation of signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation and survival. Inositol seems to stop these processes dead in their tracks.
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Inositol is a naturally occurring nutrient grouped with the B complex of vitamins, even though it is not officially recognized as a vitamin and no RDA has been set. Like the B vitamins, inositol is water soluble and as a result is not stored very well in the body. Even though approximately 4 grams a day are naturally produced from glucose in the kidneys, this amount does not meet the body’s needs, and more must be obtained from the diet.
Inositol is found in the form of phytic acid or phytate in a variety of foods such as nuts, seeds, oats, rice, beans, corn, chickpeas, liver, pork, veal, and whole grains. However in this form it is not readily bioavailable. The best sources of inositol are fruits (particularly cantaloupe and citrus fruits) and lecithin granules, because their form of inositol is highly bioavailable. Inositol is available as a supplement in capsule or powdered form. Inositol powder has a delicious sweet, creamy taste and can be easily added to smoothies or eaten alone.
Two famous researchers discovered inositol prevents cancer
Dr. Lee Wattenberg, known as the father of chemoprevention, searched for several decades starting in the 1970`s to find naturally occurring compounds that could theoretically prevent cancer and applied scientific methodologies to research his discoveries. After testing several molecules, he found inositol showed great promise. Using various study models he was able to demonstrate that inositol could prevent lung cancer. It had previously been documented that a poor diet increased the chances for cancer to occur, but Dr. Wattenberg was among the first to show that a common nutrient could actually prevent cancer.
A few years later, Dr. Abdul Kalam Shamsuddin, known as the father of IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate), also showed that inositol was able to prevent cancer, demonstrating the preventive value of the compound with colon cancer. Research by Dr. Shamsuddin revealed that inositol affects health in several ways, largely because it is in all human cells and is a major component of cell linings or membranes where it facilitates communication between the various organelles and molecules in the cell signaling process.
Why don`t cigarette companies hand out a bottle of inositol with each carton of cigarettes?
Some bright young executive at one of the major tobacco companies has probably had the idea to boost sales by telling everybody that inositol, an inexpensive supplement, could prevent lung cancer. But for the cigarette companies to buy into the idea would mean an acknowledgement that cigarettes do cause cancer. Such an acknowledgement would create immense legal liability for any company making and selling cigarettes.
Inositol provides many other benefits
Inositol is a critical nutrient for hair growth. It helps prevent hardening of the arteries and is important in the formation of lecithin and in the metabolism of fats and cholesterol. Inositol has a calming effect on the brain and has been used successfully at high doses as a treatment for psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and panic attacks. Inositol is also used for insomnia, retinopathy, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. It is beneficial for diabetic neuropathy, brain seizures, and for normalizing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Symptoms of deficiency are arteriosclerosis, constipation, hair loss, high blood cholesterol, irritability, mood swings, and skin eruptions.