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What is InnoSlim®? + How it Works

Published on January 18, 2024


By Kristen Boye BS, Natural Health

Kristen Boye

Kristen Boye is a natural health expert, writer, copywriter, and editor. Kristen was raised on an organic farm in British Columbia which inspired her life’s work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Health, is a Certified Natural Foods Chef, co-owner of a medicinal herb farm, and is a natural foods and children’s health advocate. Kristen lives with her husband and two children on their medicinal herb farm in Western North Carolina.

https://www.holisticwritingconcepts.com

Metabolic function is a hot topic in the integrative health space, which has led consumers to seek popular metabolic support herbs and supplements.

If you’ve been browsing the metabolic health aisle of your local supplement or online store, you may come across an unfamiliar ingredient called InnoSlim®.

This certainly doesn’t sound like an herb, vitamin, food, or natural ingredient (plus, the word “slim” on any label should place one on alert), so what is it?

In this article, we’ll explain what InnoSlim® is, why you may find it in an herbal supplement (spoiler alert: it is from plants), and its potential benefits.

What is InnoSlim®?

InnoSlim® may not sound like a natural herbal ingredient, but it is.

Specifically, InnoSlim® is a clinically studied plant-based extract from Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng, two herbs used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Astragalus root, known as Huang Qi, is traditionally used to support digestive and immune health and the transformation of food into energy (a function of the Chinese spleen organ system).REF#3408 Panax notoginseng, a ginseng family root known as Sanqi, is used to support healthy blood circulation.REF#3409

InnoSlim® is used in metabolic health supplements to support optimal blood sugar and lipid levels, and its ingredients have been the subject of several studies.REF#3410 REF#3411 REF#3412 REF#3413 REF#3414

InnoSlim® works by supporting normal fatty acid oxidation, blood sugar metabolism, and metabolic function through activating adiponectin and AMPK cellular pathways.

What exactly are adiponectin and AMPK cellular pathways? Let’s discuss this and more about how InnoSlim® works.

How InnoSlim® May Support Health & Wellbeing

As previously mentioned, various studies have shown InnoSlim® may promote various aspects of health and well-being via its supportive effects on metabolic function.REF#3415 REF#3416 REF#3417 REF#3418 REF#3419

The terms “metabolism” or “metabolic function” are thrown around a lot without very detailed explanation as to what they mean. 

Therefore, most people associate metabolism with how well they metabolize food or how their bodies store or release fat.

However, at its essence, metabolic function refers to the whole sum of reactions that occur throughout the body within each cell and that provide the body with energy. REF#3420

This includes digestion and weight but also: 

  • Cardiovascular function
  • Cellular and mitochondrial function
  • Energy production
  • Blood sugar balance
  • Liver function
  • Pancreatic function
  • Muscle function
  • Kidney function

Keep this in mind as we explain how InnoSlim® works by supporting adiponectin and AMPK cellular pathways.

Adiponectin is a blood sugar-regulating hormone that supports normal glucose and fat metabolism.REF#3421 REF#3422

Adiponectin has a symbiotic relationship with mitochondrial function.

Mitochondria are the energy-producing powerhouses of cells. Among other functions, they stimulate adiponectin production. 

In return, adiponectin protects mitochondria by supporting glucose efficiency and minimizing oxidative stress through stimulating AMPK pathways and modulating inflammatory cytokines.

AMPK stands for activated protein kinase, and it exists within all our cells, where it acts as a sensor to monitor cellular energy (also known as ATP) levels.REF#3423

ATP is the universal energy source for all living things and is made within the mitochondria. Without ATP, our cells could not function or survive, so it is essential to our health and existence.REF#3424

When cellular energy becomes low, AMPK is activated and helps restore energy balance by promoting processes that generate ATP (energy), such as promoting glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, promoting processes that conserve ATP, and enhancing antioxidant compounds that fight free radicals.REF#3425

*Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage if they accumulate. A healthy lifestyle and eating foods rich in antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients are two ways to help reduce free radical accumulation.

Ultimately, AMPK serves as a cellular "master switch" that helps the body adapt to changes in energy availability, promoting energy production and conservation to maintain overall cellular health and function.

As you can see, adiponectin and AMPK play a vital role in healthy metabolic function, which has a downstream effect on how the body functions. As we age, AMPK function naturally declines, but there are ways to use lifestyle to preserve AMPK function, such as: REF#3426 REF#3427 REF#3428 REF#3429

  • Calorie restriction
  • Intermittent fasting
  • Exercise, particularly intense exercise
  • Taking Berberine-containing herbs and other supplements

AMPK function has also been associated with autophagy, the body’s process for clearance of damaged cells, which also plays a role in healthy aging. Preserving AMPK function may be a mechanism for supporting longevity and aging gracefully.REF#3430

Preclinical and human studies suggest InnoSlim® may be beneficial for supporting various aspects of metabolic function, including: 

  • Cardiovascular function
  • Blood sugar metabolism
  • Appetite
  • Glucose metabolism
  • Normal muscle function and storage of glucose
  • Fatty acid metabolism
  • Reduction of oxidative stress
  • Maintenance of healthy energy levels

In summary, InnoSlim’s® potential impacts on cellular energy may have broad-reaching benefits for metabolic function.

How Gaia Herbs is Using InnoSlim®

At Gaia Herbs, we are meticulous about selecting only the safest, most effective, and most natural ingredients in our herbal formulas.

Therefore, we are excited to share that we will be incorporating InnoSlim® into some of our new metabolic and cellular-support formulas.

We chose InnoSlim® because of its clinically researched benefits, deeply rooted basis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and clean extraction methods. 

The Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng roots used to make InnoSlim® are extracted using ethanol and water, which are then removed during extraction. 

Are you interested in learning more about how InnoSlim® can help support energy, muscle function, cell health, graceful aging, and overall metabolic function?

Be sure to check the blog, social media, and sign up for our email list for more content and new product announcements.

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