|
|
Chromium Picolinate: Supplement for weightloss
Chromium
picolinate is a nutritional
supplement that works to increase the efficiency of
insulin to optimal levels. This popular nutritional supplement is a combination
of the element chromium and picolinic acid.
Chromium is a naturally-occurring
mineral, trace amounts of which are found in everyday foods like meat, poultry,
fish, and whole-grain breads. FDA recommends a daily chromium intake of
approximately 130 mcg, as infinitesimal amounts of chromium are needed to aid
the transport of blood glucose across cell membranes Combining chromium with picolinic acid simply aids in efficient chromium absorption, and it is this
combined form that is popular on the diet market today.
Some benefits of chromium picolinate
include its ability to keep the body
metabolism healthy.
The most common usage for chromium picolinate is as a
weight loss
aid; claims that this supplement can melt fat, drastically reduce appetite, and
increase metabolism.
Chromium picolinate weight loss is
also achieved by the ability of chromium picolinate to reduce sweet
cravings and
hunger pangs. Improved carbohydrate and fat metabolism is a major function of
chromium picolinate, which can help with proper
weight management and chromium picolinate weight loss. Another benefit is that chromium picolinate can also
decrease
high blood pressure and cholesterol while chromium picolinate aids in
promoting healthy growth hormone functions. Anyone who wants to increase their
general health and fitness levels while maintaining a healthy
body weight
through chromium picolinate weight loss, should include chromium picolinate in
their diet.
 The
best and safest source of chromium is food. Whole grains, ready-to-eat
bran cereals, seafood, green beans, broccoli, prunes, nuts, peanut butter,
and potatoes are rich in chromium.
Sugary foods are low in this mineral
and may even promote chromium loss;
vitamin C may increase its absorption.
|
How does chromium
picolinate work?
The exact mechanisms by which
chromium improves this insulin efficiency are currently unclear; it has been
suggested that chromium somehow works to increase sensitivity of insulin
receptors. However, because research has yet to produce any definite answers as
to the exact function of chromium picolinate, competing theories about its
precise effects exist. Some claim that that the improved insulin efficiency
causes an increase in the production of seratonin, which subsequently reduces
appetite. Still others assert that chromium can regulate the fat-production
processes in the body, preventing excess fat from forming. One hypothesis
states that chromium picolinate increases protein synthesis, which in turn
stimulates muscle growth.
The majority of scientific
evidence suggests that chromium picolinate is neither a helpful nor beneficial
part of weight loss programs. In the absence of exercise, it may even cause
weight gain. An important side note is the fact that all groups involved in
chromium picolinate studies, particularly those groups of obese subjects,
managed to lose body weight and fat when enrolled in
exercise training
programs. While chromium picolinate did not enhance weight loss as expected,
participants still lost weight and gained muscle by exercising.
Side Effects
 Millions
currently take chromium picolinate in the hope of preventing or reversing
diabetes, reducing blood cholesterol, and building muscle. Weight loss is even
touted as one of its benefits. But the evidence is mounting that these
supplements can do more harm than good. Three years ago a laboratory study from
Dartmouth College showed that chromium picolinate could damage the genetic
material of hamster cells.
A new study conducted by Dr. John
Vincent at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa shows that chromium
picolinate enters the cells directly and stays there—where it can cause
problems. In fact, the chromium picolinate reacts with vitamin C and other
antioxidants in the cells to produce a "reduced" form of chromium capable of
causing mutations in DNA, the genetic material. It's the combination of chromium
and picolinate (particularly the reduced form) that can produce dangerous
compounds—not the chromium alone. Moreover, the picolinate eventually breaks off
and itself has adverse effects.
Related Links
|
|
|
|
|
