Chromium Picolinate 200 mcg (250 Veggie Caps)
- Helps with fat loss and muscle mass production
- Curbs your craving for carbohydrates
- Reduces the symptoms of what is called Syndrome X
- Enhances insulin function in your body
- Helps to alleviate the symptoms and root causes of various other chronic disease such as insulin resistance, obesity, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Chromium is a trace element. It is required by your body for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that you eat. Chromium is essential for the normal functioning of the insulin in your body. And Insulin in turn regulates this metabolism.
Chromium is a trace element. It is required by your body for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that you eat. Chromium is essential for the normal functioning of the insulin in your body. And Insulin in turn regulates this metabolism.
Around 1982, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stumbled upon and patented chromium picolinate. One of the benefits of chromium picolinate is that it is the biologically active form of chromium.
Can the Benefits of Chromium Picolinate Help to Keep You From Getting Type 2 (or Age-Onset) Diabetes? Can It Help Treat Your Diabetes If You Already Have It?
Experts estimate that over 95 million people in the United States have developed some degree of what's called insulin resistance. Furthermore, this insulin resistance has already developed into type 2 diabetes for over 17 million of these folks.
Insulin is what our cells absolutely require in order to process carbohydrates (sugars and starches), fats, and proteins. Insulin resistance is when the cells of our body develop a resistance to the effects of insulin. Insulin resistance tends to occur as we get older and as we gain weight.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is always preceded by insulin resistance and is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes can cause all sorts of chronic health problems such as blindness, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke.
Recently, some impressive results concerning the benefits of chromium picolinate in controlling diabetes were reported in 'Diabetes', an official publication of the American Diabetes Association.
The trial was conducted by folks at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conjunction with folks from the Beijing Medical University in Beijing, China.
Reporting on the benefits of chromium picolinate, proven during this trial, Jay Skyler, MD, former President of the American Diabetes Association and currently Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami Medical School said:
"The most compelling result of this trial is the magnitude of the glucose-lowering effect seen with chromium picolinate. This is comparable to- or better than-that seen with most medications approved for the treatment of type II diabetes in the U.S." Dr. Skyler continued: "Chromium picolinate supplementation is easy, effective and safe and ought to be a consideration for most patients with adult-onset diabetes."
As a matter of fact, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued what was called a "favorable response" to a health claim made for the benefits of chromium picolinate in helping to treat type 2 diabetes.
How do the Benefits of Chromium Picolinate Reduce My Risk of Cardiovascular Disease?
Insulin resistance and diabetes can cause all sorts of other problems, one of which is Cardiovascular Disease. The benefits of chromium picolinate have been proven successful in reducing one's risk in this area.
Harvard researchers recently presented new evidence at the at the American Heart Association's 44th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention. These folks have found a solid inverse relationship between one's level of chromium picolinate and one's risk for cardiovascular disease.
Their study, the Harvard Health Professional Follow-up Study, lasted for 8 years and measured the amount of chromium in the toenail clippings of over 1400 men between the ages of 40 and 75.
What Other Benefits of Chromium Picolinate Can I Expect?
Fat Loss
The benefits of chromium picolinate have been found to result in fat loss. This is because chromium picolinate increases insulin sensitivity and aids your body in better utilizing fats and carbohydrates.
Now before you think you can just sit around, not get any exercise, and eat anything you want, think again.
But a study appearing in Current Therapeutic Research reports that if you watch what you eat and get a moderate level of exercise, 200 - 400 micrograms of chromium picolinate per day can help you shed unwanted body fat and improve your body composition.
Chromium Picolinate has also been show to help in controlling your cravings for carbohydrates!
Are There Any Dangers of Chromium Picolinate?
Taking chromium picolinate without your healthcare provider's supervision may be dangerous if you have:
- Diabetes
- Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
- Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
- Any kind of mental illness
- A chromate or leather allergy
- Any other allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Dangers of Chromium Picolinate
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of concerning the safety of chromium picolinate include the following:
Chromium picolinate can affect the level of sugar in the blood. If you have diabetes, check with your healthcare provider before taking chromium picolinate. You may need to monitor your blood sugar more often, and your healthcare provider may need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications.
- Chromium picolinate can affect certain brain chemicals. If you have a mental illness, check with your healthcare provider before taking chromium picolinate.
- Chromium picolinate may cause or worsen kidney or liver problems.
- Chromium picolinate supplements have been reported to cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to chromate or leather.
- There is some evidence that chromium picolinate (but not other forms of chromium) can cause free-radical damage to cells. It is not yet known if this can cause serious problems.
