People are always looking for ways to improve their health. There are a number of paths that can aid individuals in achieving this specific goal. Some will observe a healthy and balanced diet while some will focus more on the observance of certain exercise routines or programs. However, there are some individuals who will take this desire a step further and take supplements for enhanced well-being and wellness. One possible supplement to take is Chromium Picolinate. But what is this compound for and when is the best time to take it? In fact, is it even okay to take Chromium Picolinate? In this article, we attempt to answer these questions. Read on to find out more!
Chromium Picolinate: A Brief Introduction
Chromium Picolinate is a type of chromium mineral that can be obtained or acquired from different supplements. The said supplements all claim to enhance weight loss and improve the metabolism of nutrients. However, there are some who are wondering whether or not these supplements are indeed effective and safe. But before we discuss further, what is Chromium Picolinate really?
Chromium is a type of mineral that can have many different forms. One form that is harmful can be found in pollutants from industrial activities, a chromium form that is safe can be found in many different kinds of food items. Trivalent chromium is the type of chromium that is safe and has been identified as being essential meaning it must be acquired from the food items we consume or eat. While a number of experts question whether or not this mineral is really necessary, it has been proven to provide certain health benefits to the body.
One example is that chromium is a component of Chromodulin, a molecule that can help the insulin hormone in performing its biological functions. Released by the pancreas, insulin can aid in the body’s carb processing along with the processing of proteins and fats. Surprisingly chromium absorption is considered low with no more than 2.5 percent of chromium that is ingested absorbed. Chromium picolinate is a form of alternative substance for actual chromium, an alternative that is much more easily absorbed by the human body. As such, chromium picolinate is mostly found in health supplements.
Some Possible Health Benefits of Chromium Picolinate
Below are some of the possible health benefits of chromium picolinate:
1. It can aid in the reduction of blood sugar levels
For healthy individuals, insulin can help in the transportation of sugar into the body’s cells. However, for those with type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond to insulin as well. There is evidence to suggest that chromium picolinate supplements can aid help in the improvement of blood sugar levels for people suffering from the said diabetes. One study showed that people who took around 200 ugs of this form of the aforementioned supplement had blood sugar levels that are reduced and also aid in the body’s insulin response. There are some studies, though, that showed Chromium picolinate to have little to no effect on patients with type 2 diabetes. The bottom line is that while some patients benefitted from this supplement while there are some who did not.
2. It can help people better manage their cravings and hunger
Hunger and cravings can lead to overeating and thus, cause weight gain and much worse, obesity. Due to this fact, a lot of people are looking for ways to help them stave off to desire this urge to eat and consume more food than is necessary. This is where Chromium picolinate comes into play. A study conducted for two (2) months showed that people who took 1,000 ugs of chromium picolinate showed cravings and hunger that is reduced, particularly for females who are healthy but overweight. In addition, the researchers noted that this supplement may help people with eating disorders such as those binge eating. This is particularly true for people who took in 600 to 1000 ugs daily and showed signs of reduced depression and lower instances of binge eating.
3. This supplement may aid in weight loss but…
As stated earlier, this supplement can help in the reduction of hunger and cravings which can, as a result, lead to less eating and consumption of food and further result in weight loss. A study conducted to check on this claim was conducted on people who were overweight and obese and it was observed that it did result in some weight loss albeit, not that much. Those adults who took in 1,000 ugs on daily basis for 16 weeks showed little to no difference in weight. The conclusion they arrived at was that the effects of chromium picolinate are still inconclusive and further studies are needed to establish this fact and this claim of chromium picolinate. In fact, the impact of Chromium picolinate is not that significant even when coupled with some exercise routines.
So, should people even consider taking supplements such as Chromium Picolinate?
While it is true that Chromium picolinate may be able to provide the aforementioned health benefits, individuals and patients must be made aware that the said supplement still does not have an upper limit identified. This means that the dangers of taking in too much or excess amounts of these supplements have not been fully established by experts due to the lack of data and studies available.
On top of all these, the safety profile of chromium picolinate is still questionable for most experts as it is known to produced hydroxyl radicals when consumed. These are molecules that are harmful which can cause the body serious problems due to DNA damage. Other concerns raised by other studies also noted that problems with the kidney may occur for women who took these supplements for losing weight particularly in the amount of 1,200 to 2,400 ugs daily.
When is the best time to take Chromium Picolinate?
The answer to this question is this- the best time to take Chromium picolinate is when a doctor or a healthcare professional has been consulted and the green light was given by the doctor for this supplement. This is because the risk for taking this supplement may not be worth it in terms of the expected overall benefits.