Chromium is a vitally important microelement, enhancing insulin, involved in glucose metabolism and helps the body absorb sugar. Thanks to this, additional intake of chromium helps reduce cravings for sweets and starchy foods , as well as reduce the risk of developing diabetes, regulates work of cardiac muscle and blood vessels. Daily need of human body for chromium is 50—200 microgram per day. Recommended daily norm of chromium intake is 35 microgram for men, 25 microgram for women.
Chromium deficiency may lead to serious dysfunctions of pancreas, down to diabetes mellitus. It also promotes disorders in lipid metabolism, deposition of atherosclerotic patches on vascular walls, increased risk of brain stroke and heart attack.
Increased consumption of sugar and carbohydrate food removes chromium from the body. After 40, every fourth person experiences insulin resistance (at normal level of insulin production). Besides, reduced content of chromium in soil results in chrome deficit in almost entire population.
Quick pace of life, permanent business, tiredness and stress may provoke deficit of microelement.
Main reasons of chromium deficiency:
- severe traumas, burns
- inadequate diet, frequent snacks on-the-go
- insufficient consumption of chromium-rich food
- overindulgence in sweets and baked foods, pizza, snacks
- deficit of iron, which is necessary for absorption of chromium
- gastrointestinal tract disease (chronic inflammation in intestines, insufficiency of ferments)
- pregnancy, especially multifetal one
- deficit of albumin (albumin is a transport, delivering chromium to the body)
- chronic stress
- recovery after surgery
- natural ageing
- adverse ecological environment
Signs of chromium deficiency: feeling of constant fatigue, apathy, rapid weight gain or loss, permanent thirst, hair loss, high anxiety, depression, insomnia, desensitisation of limbs, sleep disorders, prolonged wound healing.
Consequences of chromium deficiency:
- diabetes mellitus
- high blood cholesterol
- weight gain or loss
- infertility in men
- development of atherosclerosis, heart diseases
For maintaining health and preventing various diseases, chromium must be taken in a right way, i.e. body tissues may accumulate it, and it should be taken not constantly, but for 3-6 month, followed by a break.
High level of chromium in the body is dangerous for:
- intoxication
- decrease in immunity
- disorders in liver, kidneys, lung, nervous endocrine systems
- dermatitis
- malignant neoplasms
In practice, any substance, even the most useful, has its contraindications.
Contraindications to taking chromium-rich preparations are:
- Idiosyncrasy
- Renal and hepatic insufficiency.
- Age below 16;
- Parkinson disease
- Senior age
Food products, rich in chromium: liver, kidneys, fish, oysters, carrot, potato, broccoli, wholegrain products, quail eggs.
Remember!
You should not allow overdose of vitamins, microelements, drugs. You should take additional vitamins and microelements only after passing analyses and recommendations of attending physician. Follow instructions on use of preparations!
