 Tikun Ormus - Benefits of Chromium
So what are the Benefits of Chromium for people in Australia?
What is chromium?
Chromium is a mineral our bodies use in small amounts for normal body functions, such as digesting food.
Chromium exists in many natural foods including brewers yeast, meats, potatoes (especially the skins), cheeses, molasses, spices, whole-grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cooking in stainless-steel cookware (not aluminum) increases the chromium content in foods.
Chromium is known to enhance the action of insulin, a hormone critical to the metabolism and storage of carbohydrate, fat, and protein in the body.
In 1957, a compound in brewers yeast was found to prevent an age-related decline in the ability of rats to maintain normal levels of sugar (glucose) in their blood.
Chromium was identified as the active ingredient in this so-called "glucose tolerance factor" in 1959.
Fat Metabolism
- Chromium also appears to be directly involved in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
You can buy chromium supplements alone in tablets or capsules or as part of a multivitamin.
But because the human body needs very little chromium, most people get enough in their regular diet and do not require dietary supplements.
Those at Risk
Those at risk for chromium deficiency include people with diabetes and the elderly.
Enhancers
- Enhancing the bodies chromium absorption are vitamin C and the B vitamin niacin.
NOTE B: If you are going to take any of the B group of vitamins, please get a B Complex which includes ALL of the B group. B vitamins work better when ALL of them are taken at the same time.
NOTE C: Many Vitamin C products are made from GMO Corn, so Please check before you buy.
Absorbed chromium is stored in the liver, spleen, soft tissue, and bone.
What affects chromium levels in the body?
The body's chromium content may be reduced under several conditions.
- Antacids (including calcium carbonate) interfere with the absorption of chromium
- Diets high in simple sugars (comprising more than 35% of calories) can increase chromium excretion in the urine
- Infection
- acute exercise
- pregnancy and lactation
- and stress (such as physical trauma) increase chromium losses and can lead to deficiency, especially if chromium intakes are already low
Who may need extra chromium?
There are reports of significant age-related decreases in the chromium concentrations, which may suggest that older people are more vulnerable to chromium depletion than younger adults.
How does the Body use chromium?
Chromium helps to move blood sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into the cells to be used as energy and to turn fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy.
- Chromium may help some people with type 2 diabetes. It may help them control their blood sugar and may play a role in the management of type 2 diabetes. But more studies are needed to know how well it really works.
- Low chromium levels may cause high cholesterol and may increase your risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Supplemental chromium may increase "good" (HDL) cholesterol and lower triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in people with high blood sugar and diabetes. But more studies are needed to know how well it really works.
- Chromium supplements are promoted as being helpful in building muscle and burning fat and in helping the body use carbohydrates. But this has not been proved.
- Chromium may affect the eyes. There is a link between low chromium levels and increased risk of glaucoma.
- Chromium slows the loss of calcium, so it may help prevent bone loss in women during menopause.
Is chromium safe?
The chromium found in natural foods will not hurt you. (caveat)
But taking excessive chromium supplements can lead to stomach problems and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Too much chromium from supplements can also damage the liver, kidneys, and nerves, and it may cause irregular heart rhythm.
Side effects from taking chromium supplements are rare.
Being exposed to high levels of chromium on the job (such as in metallurgy and electroplating) has been linked not only to kidney damage but also to lung and other cancers as well as skin conditions such as eczema and other inflammations of the skin.
What are the health risks of too much chromium?
Few serious adverse effects have been linked to high intakes of chromium, so the Institute of Medicine has not established a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for this mineral.
A UL is the maximum daily intake of a nutrient that is unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
It is one of the values (together with the RDA and AI) that comprise the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for each nutrient.
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