Kick that Sugar Addiction!
It’s fairly safe to say we all know what it’s like when that energy slump hits. We feel irritable, shaky, tired, can’t concentrate and we scramble desperately for any sugar we can get our hands on! Like a bull in a china shop, it appears like clockwork and there’s no stopping it..... or is there?
Surely if there was a way to stop reaching for that stash of Hershey's bars you would have heard about it? But maybe you haven’t. Well breathe a sigh of relief as I tell you what it is!
It’s called chromium. What is chromium you might ask? Well, chromium is an essential trace mineral meaning the body needs it for good health. It is naturally found in the soil and so is present in foods like yeast, mushrooms, prunes, and broccoli.
Over cultivation as a result of farming has left soil and food products low in this wonder mineral, so supplementation in the form of chromium picolinate is fast becoming the best way to obtain this essential mineral. Note, when having vitamin or mineral supplements always take these as directed and consult your doctor if symptoms persist.
But why is chromium so important I hear you say…
Chromium helps your body use carbohydrates (like sugar) for energy. The process of using carbohydrates for energy begins in the mouth and small intestine where digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates into simple sugar molecules of glucose. Glucose is then escorted into the body's cells, where the energy is created and utilised. The glucose "escort" is a hormone called insulin and insulin needs chromium to work properly. So if you don’t have enough chromium, insulin does not work as efficiently and glucose may not be transported into the cells as normal. A person in this situation may experience cravings, may have a tendency to gain weight more easily and may eventually develop insulin resistance and diabetes.
The good thing about chromium is that it starts to work within 20 minutes of taking it and lasts up to 5 hours. So next time you feel yourself on the way to becoming that bull in the china shop, remember to turn to your new best friend chromium instead of that once loyal Hershey bar!
Last updated 17 June 2009
