Now that we’ve completed our recent series on essential major minerals that are needed by our bodies, we turn our attention to essential trace minerals. They, too, are required for our body’s good health and functionality, just not in the same amount that major minerals are. In fact, we only need trace amounts of essential trace minerals to get by on, and that brings us to the first such trace element to be examined in this new series.
We start with chromium, which is naturally available in an assortment of foods, but also found as a component in various supplements. It is known to bolster the activity of the hormone known as insulin. It has also been found to assist in the breakdown and – with the assistance of vitamins B3 and C – the absorption of consumed carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The adequate presence of chromium in your system can not only reduce the body’s need for insulin, it can also enhance your blood lipid numbers.
Chromium Supplements Popular Among Diabetics
As you might have already gleaned from the preceding description of chromium’s basic attributes, it is a supplement much in demand among diabetics. In addition to this substance’s role in its interaction with insulin and blood lipids, chromium also is adept at regulating proper levels of blood glucose in your body.
Various studies involving both humans and animals have shown that chromium supplementation can properly treat glucose intolerance in those with a chromium deficiency. Substandard chromium blood levels have been found in people afflicted with diabetes compared to control subjects who don’t have diabetes.
6 Potential Chromium Health Benefits
In part review and expansion of topics discussed above as well as mention of added chromium properties, following is a summary of six of chromium’s most notable potential health benefits:
Possible Weight Loss: In one sense the presence of sufficient levels of chromium – particularly chromium picolinate – in your body and interacting with insulin could diminish food cravings and thus cut the amount of calories being consumed. Along with that, lean body mass could be made more prevalent.
Improve Cholesterol Levels: Elevated and therefore unwanted overall cholesterol levels have been linked to chromium deficiency. Regular use of chromium-laced supplements might also reduce the amount of your body’s triglycerides, which is the most common type of fat found in your body.
Stabilize Fluctuating Blood Sugar Levels: This endocrine disorder found in women of child-bearing age is especially of concern to hypoglycemics, whose blood-sugar levels have dropped significantly, producing symptoms such as shaking, sweating, and dizziness. PCOS can also affect fertility. Adding proper amounts of chromium to your daily regimen can help moderate swings in blood-sugar levels.
Assist in Controlling Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): This is a hormonal condition known to cause irregular periods, acne, and weight gain, among other symptoms. Chromium picolinate – which, by the way, has been shown suitable for pets (i.e., dogs) for uses other than for managing PCOS – can help treat PCOS by regulating those blood sugar and lipid levels.
Boost Heart Health: Research involving animals from a few years ago indicated that chromium picolinate could help alleviate the symptoms of atherosclerosis. This is a serious condition more commonly known as hardening or thickening of the arteries linked to an accumulation of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.
Protect Bone Strength: Really? Yes, really. Chromium is known to help maintain the presence of calcium in the bone, which is particularly noteworthy for aging women dealing with the onset of osteoporosis.
It is said that good things can in small packages, or at least in small amounts. Such is the case with chromium, which we have featured here as we kick off a new series on essential trace minerals. We have hereby launched this new series with chromium, a versatile element that can play a big role in treating our bodies well with kid gloves.