Chromium

Excellent sources of chromium would be onions, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, whole grains and potatoes.

Special Precautions of Chromium

Extremely high doses of chromium may reduce the effectiveness of insulin and can cause stomach irritation. There have been very rare reports of liver dysfunction and rapid heartbeat, and two reports of kidney damage attributed to chromium picolinate supplements. In addition, one research study reported that chromium picolinate supplements caused chromosome damage – a precursor of cancer – in hamsters. Other forms of chromium did not cause any damage. As a result, many doctors caution against taking chromium picolinate in high doses.

The benefits of Chromium are

Chromium is very important for proper sugar metabolism and insulin sensitivity and can help you make more insulin receptors. People who lack the essential mineral chromium experiences mood swings, over-reaction in minor issues and feels tired without any reason during the day.

• Chromium improves insulin function in the body and leads to better control of glucose in the blood. In some studies, those with type II diabetes have been able to reduce the amount of insulin that they take when they add chromium to their daily supplements.
• Chromium alleviates depression in those with atypical depression. In a very recent double-blind placebo study, researchers found that chromium picolinate was especially helpful in reducing a number of symptoms of depression in those who reported high carbohydrate cravings. Among the improvements was a reduction in carbohydrate cravings, and higher level of mood improvement on a daily basis.
• Chromium may be useful in improving lipid profiles – i.e. – lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. This has been suggested by the results of a handful of studies, but is not yet confirmed.
• Chromium may help improve muscle/fat composition during weight loss. At least one study showed that those who took a chromium supplement while dieting lost twice as much weight as those who took a placebo. Other studies have had more variable results. More research is needed to help determine the effects of chromium picolinate on weight loss.