What is chromium picolinate used for? It helps regulate blood sugar, control your appetite, and increase energy.
Chromium is a trace element necessary for the body to regulate carbohydrate metabolism (it assists in the "transportation" of glucose), as well as proteins and fats.
Chromium picolinate, a derivative of chromium and picolinic acid, proves to be an effective dietary supplement to help the body return to a normal glucose level (referred to as blood sugar) in the blood.
Indeed, chromium picolinate, when used daily, utilizes more energy from carbohydrates. This aids in weight loss.
Let's discover together the various benefits of chromium picolinate, which are numerous and varied.
Firstly, it essentially allows for the control of your appetite.
Yes, individuals supplementing with chromium picolinate will find it easier to regulate their appetite, even to moderate it.
So, you can imagine how useful this can be in many situations. By maintaining a standard level of glucose in the blood (around 0.96 g/L), cravings and desires for sweets simply become less frequent.
This action is possible through optimal insulin management in the body. A study conducted in 2013 involving approximately 622 people proved that chromium picolinate is more effective than a placebo for weight loss.
Chromium picolinate can be taken daily in tablet form with a meal.
200 µg of chromium will consequently be absorbed by the body to help regulate insulin secretion. Insulin is the key that opens the cell to allow it to consume glucose. If there is insulin resistance, there is hyperglycemia, meaning too much residual sugar in the blood. Instead of consuming glucose, cells leave it outside, leading to long-term potentially catastrophic hyperglycemia.
Modified industrial foods are primarily responsible for this resistance, as well as junk food and sweets. Consuming sugar-rich foods will lead to hunger a few hours after ingestion and also towards adipose tissues. It's a vicious circle.
However, based on various studies conducted, the use of chromium picolinate offers the possibility to regulate food intake through its action on insulin. Thus, in this way, cravings, as well as desires for sweets, you know, that little hunger that haunts you at 11 a.m. and around 5 p.m., will be relegated to the realm of bad memories.
Next, another of its roles is obtaining an extra energy boost.
This dietary supplement restricts cravings for sugars and (bad) fats by burning them.
Another function is also to provide the possibility of obtaining an extra energy boost through optimal glycogen storage.
Here is a list of products where it can be found: calf liver, brewer's yeast, green beans, broccoli, potatoes, whole grains, mushrooms, meat, and eggs.
In this way, the importance of supplementation for an athlete becomes clearer. Excessive industrialization of food and excessive refinement of foods (such as rice, for example) washes them out so much that there are only traces of chromium left. What is true for this metal nutrient is actually true for many fruits, vegetables, or cereals.
Supplementation, in conjunction with a qualitative diet, is therefore relevant for all athletes, in order to provide more energy for quality sports sessions.
And finally, it also allows for the optimization of your health.
An excess of sugar in the blood is one of the main commonalities among diabetic individuals. Thus, it is not surprising that chromium picolinate is rather useful in the case of type II diabetes, especially when insulin resistance is significant.
Surprisingly, chromium picolinate has also proven effective in treating individuals with depression, whether or not associated with weight gain. More generally, this supplement is a health asset, because as we age, chromium levels are low for almost the entire population. This low level could be linked to the onset of cardiovascular problems or diabetes.