Chromium Health Topic
Dietary Sources of Chromium:
Brewer's yeast, broccoli, green beans, potatoes, grape juice, whole grains and beef.
Learn More About Chromium
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Chromium Fact Sheet: The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
Chromium is known to enhance the action of insulin. Chromium was found to correct glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in deficient animals. Ongoing research suggests that supplemental chromium may help to treat impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Chromium also appears to be directly involved in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. Vitamin C and the B vitamin niacin enhance chromium absorption.
CONTAINS REFERENCES
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Chromium on Diagnose-Me.com
Chromium is an essential trace element involved with proper metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids in the body. As a part of Glucose Tolerant Factor (GTF), chromium assists insulin in its ability to regulate glucose levels in the blood.
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The Linus Pauling Institute on Chromium
Chromium participates in glucose metabolism by enhancing the effects of insulin. Diets high in simple sugars result in increased urinary chromium excretion. In controlled studies of people with impaired glucose tolerance, chromium supplementation was found to improve some measure of glucose utilization or to have beneficial effects on blood lipid profiles. Chromium uptake is enhanced in animals when given at the same time as vitamin C.
CONTAINS REFERENCES
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Eating High-Chromium Foods
Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of chromium while onions and tomatoes are very good sources of this mineral. Eating high-chromium foods may help maintain normal blood sugar and insulin levels and support normal cholesterol levels.
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Chromium Cellular Nutrition
Chromium and copper are the most important nutrients next to calcium and magnesium for their anti-inflammatory properties. Chromium helps normalize elevated copper levels, since it is its associated trace element. Excessive sugar intake increases chromium loss. There are also lower soil levels of chromium in North America, and the refining process of food reduces sources of chromium as well. One other major factor that is responsible for bone loss as a result of its chromium-lowering effect is sugar and other simple carbohydrates.
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Chromium Uses
Chromium supplementation has reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol in double-blind and other controlled trials. Taking chromium may help stabilize blood sugar swings. Chromium has been shown to help improve glucose tolerance in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Supplementing with chromium may help improve the action of insulin.
CONTAINS REFERENCES
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