D-chiro-inositol/d-pinitol from food sources

Erin3 · 03-08-2003, 04:52 PM

Hi,

I haven't been around for a while, kind of fell off the wagon in treating my PCOS... (okay, ironically because last time I treated it naturally I got pregnant so quickly, and now I *don't* want any more kids, and was scared of getting fertile)

But now DH has taken care of things and it's safe, so I'm back to being good. :-)

I was disappointed to read here that they're not continuing with the d-chiro-inositol pill (forget the brand name), but last I was here there was a lot of talk about how to get a therapeutic dose from food sources.

I know it was 1/2 c. a day of buckwheat farinetta... the other good options were soy lecithin and carob (which actually had d-pinitol), but I can't remember how much a day of those was a therapeutic dose. I remember you had to use carob syrup to get it concentrated enough...

Anyhow, anyone remember? I'm tweaking my PCOS-blaster muffin recipe, and I'd like to know how much DCI and/or d-pinitol I end up with in there. :-) Hey, and they also have cinnamon which helps your insulin too!

- Erin

KatCarney · 03-08-2003, 10:00 PM

Click on the search button above and run separate searches on "d-pinitol" and "d-chiro-inositol".

Be sure to 'limit' your search to the Alternative remedies forum.

Erin31CA · 03-11-2003, 04:20 AM

I don't know how many other people ran out and got carob syrup when it was being promoted as a great source of DCI, but I was one of them.

I must honestly say, that I think the carob did more harm than good. In order to get enough DCI, I had to consume a ton of sugar via the syrup. It was counter-productive in my opinion, and I eventually stopped using the carob.

Did anyone else have success with the carob?

Erin3 · 03-12-2003, 01:13 AM

Just curious, Erin - did you buy the carob syrup you used off a store shelf, or did you mail-order the purified no-sugar added stuff from the person who was selling it?

Have you ever tried the buckwheat bran or the soy lecithin? I'm discovering that they combine great (one makes the other taste better)...

- Erin (the other one :-)

Erin31CA · 03-12-2003, 07:38 AM

Hi Erin,

I sent away for carob that did not have any sugar added. However, the carob syrup itself is mostly sugar, so I don't know why anyone would add sugar to it. Inositol is a carbohydrate as well, but a good one. I guess I was just hoping that it would help. At the very least, I didn't think it would make things worse, but it sure seemed like it did.

I have not tried any other food sources. How did you do with them?

Erin3 · 03-19-2003, 07:38 PM

Hi Erin,

Well, last time I was eating the buckwheat farinetta muffins, I started getting regular cycles (I wasn't checking for ovulation, tho'), but I actually stopped eating them after I had a 28-day cycle, because I don't want any more kids and got worried! I was also lo-carbing and taking Vitex, L-carnitine and GTF Chromium... I have no idea which of the combo was doing the most good.

My cycles lengthened right back out again when I went off the regimen.

This time I've only been eating them for about two weeks, so nothing really to report so far... I'm almost ready to repost a much-improved muffin recipe; they are now light and fluffy (no longer dense) and have almost 900mg of DCI in two muffins - and only 35g of carbs (that's not including fiber grams, of which they have a lot - (over 9g), another benefit when you're on an otherwise fairly low-fiber low-carb diet). About half the carb grams come from fruit - bananas and blueberries, which could potentially be omitted if someone really wanted to lower the carb grams.

scarlet · 03-19-2003, 09:24 PM

What's the recipe? It sounds great!

Erin3 · 03-19-2003, 09:50 PM

The earlier, not-so-fluffy version is over on the Recipe board... I am going to update it when I've gotten it just where I want it. I think one more version should do it... I'm going to up the cinnamon just a bit more (another thing that helps IR), and decrease the oil and increase the flaxmeal (more fiber and EFAs).

So give me about another week...

- Erin

scarlet · 03-21-2003, 11:20 AM

Will wait certainly - just reply to this thread when the recipe is finished. Sounds yum!!!

August · 03-11-2006, 10:48 PM

Erin, Hi I am very impressed with your wealth of info on D-Chiro Inositol and Buckwheat and the PCOS Blaster Muffin recipe (http://www.soulcysters.net/showthread.php?threadid=41344&highlight=buckwheat+bran)!
I noticed that the recipe calls for rice syrup and stevia (I assume) both for sweetness, have you ever used the Carob syrup instead of the rice syrup in the recipe? By the way does the carob syrup have a carob or chocolate taste to it and are you using John Kenney's Carob Syrup? I guess I ask about using the carob in the muffins because I am just disinclined to use a higher calorie sweetener without a really good reason -- also I have the impression that the DCI must hold up well to cooking temps, is that right?

I also noticed some informaiton about a possible source of D-Chiro Inositol as a suppliment from Chiral Balance (http://www.chiralbalance.com) do you know anything them? It looks to me like per mg of D-Chiro Inositol the buckwheat farinetta seems to be the more economical source, I am not a big math person but it that also your impression?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin31CA

I don't know how many other people ran out and got carob syrup when it was being promoted as a great source of DCI, but I was one of them.

I must honestly say, that I think the carob did more harm than good. In order to get enough DCI, I had to consume a ton of sugar via the syrup. It was counter-productive in my opinion, and I eventually stopped using the carob.

Did anyone else have success with the carob?

belrose · 12-05-2008, 04:33 AM

Oh crumbs, I was just about to order some carob syrup - now I don't know what to do. The nutritional information panel says 6g CHO per 10ml serve, which is 2 tsp. I have read somewhere on this site that you need 3-4 Tablespoons per day which would be 45 - 60 ml or 27 - 36 g CHO or = 5.5 - 7 teaspoons of sugar. Forgive the rambling ... just trying to work it out for myself and thought the figures might be useful for other cysters. Sighh.. why is this all so DIFFICULT ... if it's not $$ it's Carbs. I can't find buckwheat farinetta in Australia, God only knows why. If anyone knows of a source, do tell.

RunnerDuck · 12-05-2008, 10:29 AM

What the heck is carob syrup anyway?? Just mixed with water and sugar so it's like chocolate syrup? Is there any reason not to just eat carob??

Never read the nutrition on that but it's easy to get.

Ha ha - my husband is reading over my shoulder and he said "Carob? God, tell them to run!!!"

He grew up in the health food business and was exposed to carob as a child. Did not like it...

eta - you could also try making your own carob syrup. Use splenda or something if you want it sweet enough to tolerate but not high carb. http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-..._syrup,FF.html for some recipes... or try looking up any of the various copycat hershey's syrup recipes...

As for buckwheat - you need to order it - http://www.minndak.com/Nutraceuticals.htm - dunno if they ship international, probably...

belrose · 12-06-2008, 04:29 AM

I don't think the carob syrup actually has any sugar added... apparently the carob syrup is pretty sweet on it's own. I don't really know how it is processed, but I have read that the syrup is higher in d-pinitol or DCI than the powder. I think the sugar and fat from the amount of carob I would have to eat to get the right amount would not fit within my diet guidelines, so that's why I am trying to find a more pure source.

belrose · 12-06-2008, 04:33 AM

Oh and thank you for the links, I have contacted MinnDak about an Aussi distributor or buying it direct from them. Sometimes my fingers go quicker than my brain can keep up with - I'd pressed the send button before I had time to realise I hadn't thanked you...

esk_26 · 02-21-2009, 12:55 PM

Does anyone have the new PCOS Muffin Blaster recipe? I'd really like to try it. If anyone has any tips on it or the recipe, I'd appreciate it. :-)
Thanks,
Elizabeth