I had never heard of Chromium until I read the book, The Natural Fat-loss Pharmacy, by Harry Preuss and Bill Gottlieb (2007). It has been a very informative book and I have learned a great deal from it.
Chromium is a mineral that we cannot live without. It can literally mean life or death. This mineral helps to regulate our insulin system and if we are deficient in this mineral it can ruin our health. This hormone insulin is what oversees our digestion and distribution of glucose. It helps to move blood sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells for either instant energy that comes from using our muscles, into the liver cells for short term storage or into our fat cells for layaway.
Chromium helps insulin to do its job of keeping the blood sugar levels balanced.
The daily value for Chromium is 120 micrograms but we usually only get 25 to 35 mcg's in our diet. I even checked some multivitamins w/minerals and they list 35 mcg for Chromium which isn't even near enough of what we need.
How many pre-diabetics or those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have had their chromium levels checked. I know my doctor hasn't checked this and those that are also taking steroid medications and are over weight should also be tested. Steroids deplete chromium from our bodies and I have been using a steroid inhaler for many years and because of my MS I have also had to take steroid infusion treatments and even pills.
The neuropathy that diabetics get is usually from a chromium deficiency and once chromium is added back into their systems the numbness, tingling or burning sensations improve or completely go away. So why do doctors take so long before testing their patients!
I have started taking a chromium supplement called Chromax Plus which is a 500 mcg capsule that has a fast acting and a slow acting chromium. 250 mcg as chromium picolinate and 250 mcg of chromium histidinate. There is no yeast, starch, gluten or preservatives added to it which I always check for. I just take one before my first meal everyday. I hope this will aid me in better insulin health, and help in my weight loss as it also helps the body break down fat and build muscle.
It is always good to do research before trying something new and speak with your doctor about being tested for chromium deficiency. Doctors usually have to watch closely their patients when they start taking chromium as they will need their insulin dosages changed as things start to improve. Proper exercise also helps with regulating insulin as I have seen personally in trying to keep my diabetes in check.
I thought this was something that needed to be shared because if I was not aware of Chromium and how it impacts my life, I am sure there are others as well that never heard about Chromium either. We are never to old to learn new things specially if they can benefit us in living well.
Until next time.......
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