Trace elements are essential to our proper functioning and deficiencies are often a sign of a health problem. For example, when we have concerns about glucose tolerance or weight gain, it is possible to supplement with one of them to help our metabolism: chromium.

Chromium is needed in minute amounts - about 50 mcg per day with a range of 20 mcg to 70 mcg - but it provides tremendous health benefits.

What are the main functions of chromium?

1. It prevents ailments related to a disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism. To put it simply, it stabilizes the level of carbohydrates in the blood and therefore eliminates cravings for sugars and snacking between meals. However, chromium has no hypoglycemic action because it is only active in the presence of insulin.
2. It can also act on the metabolism of lipids and thus lowers the level of bad LDL cholesterol by increasing the level of HDL, good cholesterol. A chromium deficiency could therefore cause atherosclerosis by fixing fats on the blood vessels.

How to supplement with Chromium?

Chromium is found in the following foods: seaweed, grains, mushrooms, legumes, potatoes, eggs, dairy products, red meats, broccoli, green beans, asparagus, brewer's yeast, etc.

However, it should be noted that only 3% of this dietary chromium is retained by our body and stored in various organs such as the skin, kidneys, heart, brain and lungs. Unfortunately, this rate decreases considerably with age and we do not have the ability to create it ourselves. It must therefore be provided either by our diet or by taking food supplements.

Food can provide for our chromium needs, but our diet must be rich and varied. Note that this dietary intake is well below the RDA in many countries that suffer from undernourishment.
If your diet is not optimal and if you have the signs of a chromium deficiency, it is recommended to supplement via dietary supplements if you suffer from the following diseases:

• Diabetes
• Hypoglycemia and therefore cravings before and between meals
• Obesity and cholesterol problems
• Diet: in fact, it would have been demonstrated that in addition to its many qualities, chromium would be interesting to control the feeling of hunger.

Our advice

For an optimal and interesting effect, it is advised to combine it with magnesium, zinc, vitamins of the B group as well as L-cartinin. But many dietary supplements are studied according to the needs of the consumer and therefore, these dietary supplements are adapted to your needs. Always seek advice from your naturopath or natural health therapist as self-medication is absolutely not recommended. Taking a dietary supplement, however, will not be enough to solve your problems. Changes in your lifestyle and especially in your diet are very important to resolve your situation whether it is related to obesity, dieting, diabetes or cholesterol.