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Chromium on it own is of little use in the body.
It must first be converted to a biologically active form for actual function. Glucose tolerance factor (GTF) is created in the body which is a biologically active form which contains chromium, nicotinic acid, and the amino acids glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine.
GTF combined may help potentiate insulin's actions and therefore influences carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. It may work with insulin to facilitate glucose uptake, regulate blood sugar levels, and stimulate protein synthesis.
However, the exact nature of the chromium-insulin interaction is unknown. Chromium may potentiate insulin action through direct action on insulin or its receptor, or it may regulate the synthesis of a molecule that potentiates insulin action. In clinical studies, GTF chromium has been shown to potentiate the effects of insulin and decrease serum cholesterol and triglycerides.
Research supports GTF when taken regularly throws considerable therapeutic weight against the entire list of problems caused or worsened by insulin resistance-including obesity, hypoglycemia, stroke, high blood pressure, Crohn's disease and colitis, ulcers, gastritis, multiple sclerosis, Meniere's disease, migraines, premenstrual tension, seizure disorders, and a host of psychiatric disturbances.
At the very least, chromium supplements may permit a doctor to reduce ones requirements for diabetic drugs or insulin injections.
Additional chromium may be needed during pregnancy because the developing fetus increases demand for this mineral although always check your individual need with your doctor before supplementing
The average European and US diet is chromium deficient. Only one in ten Americans have an adequate amount of chromium in his or her diet according to recent studies and this figure fall to one in eight!
High quantities of carbohydrates and sugar in the diet cause a loss of chromium from the body. When your body exhibits low levels of the trace mineral, your craving for sugars grows. Even without dieting, chromium can increase your total lean body mass, which in turn speeds up your metabolism and burns additional fat.
Chromium may help to prevent the loss of lean muscle tissue if you do intentionally cut back on calories.
A deficiency of chromium has also been associated with a higher chance of developing heart problems. Chromium helps raise the blood's concentration of artery-clearing HDL cholesterol and, at the same time, decreases LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Chromium may also alleviate chronic headaches and contribute to the treatment of acne, which appears to be caused in part by disturbed insulin metabolism.
Symptoms of deficiency may include
Glucose intolerance, elevated circulating insulin, glycosuria, fasting hyperglycemia, impaired growth, decreased longevity, elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides, increased incidence of aortic plaques, peripheral neuropathy, brain disorders, decreased fertility and sperm count.
Factors which may rob us of chromium
The trend toward consuming highly processed foods may be a major contributing factor to this problem; appreciable losses of chromium occur in the refining of foods. Stressors such as elevated simple sugars, strenuous physical exercise or work, infection, and physical trauma may increase the loss of chromium, thereby increasing the need for chromium.
Good food sources
Chromium is found in the following food sources: beer, brewer's yeast, brown rice, cheese, meat, and whole grains. It may also be found in dried beans, blackstrap molasses, calf liver, chicken, corn and corn oil, dairy products, dried liver, dulse, eggs, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Precautions
If you suffer from low blood sugar you may experience symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if chromium is taken outside normal dosage ranges. |
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| GTF Chromium + B3 |
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60 veg tabs
£3.60 |
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| Chromium GTF |
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60 veg caps
£8.66 |
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| Chromium Picolinate 200mcg |
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90 caps
£11.24 |
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| NutriSorb Chromium |
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15ml Liquid
£15.19 |
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| True Food GTF Chromium |
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90 tablets
£9.89 |
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