FORGOTTEN mineral could OVERHAUL diabetes control
You don’t have to be a racecar driver to know when you’re spinning out of control.
And if you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you’ve got to take the wheel… and shift your course…
BEFORE the disease gets out of hand.
But just like any good tune-up… with a multi-point inspection… managing diabetes doesn’t boil down to just one factor.
Because you’re looking for PERFECTION in your blood sugar numbers… AND insulin activity… AND metabolic profile.
Overlook any one of those… and it can really throw a “monkey wrench” into your overall efforts.
Fortunately, there’s an ingredient… one that’s found in ABUNDANCE in nature… that can be a helpful tool in your diabetes kit.
Harvard Medical School calls it a “forgotten mineral” – one that’s due for the spotlight after being relegated to the “scientific back burner.”
Polish up your blood sugar control
In 1957, researchers discovered a “glucose tolerance factor” in brewer’s yeast – one that REVERSED impaired glucose tolerance in rats.
This is key in the management of type 2 diabetes, as it addresses a mechanism that goes BEYOND how the food you eat might spike your blood glucose levels.
Because if you’re glucose intolerant… even your FASTING blood sugar could be sky-high.
Turns out this GTF is present in some foods in all of the food groups…
But some folks don’t get enough of it from meals… especially if the food they eat is processed and not as nutritious as it could be.
You may know this GTF better as the essential trace element, chromium.
We only realized the CRUCIAL role chromium plays in carbohydrate metabolism in the 1970s…
But now it’s clear how CRITICAL it is to maintaining good glucose status.
Diabetics tend to have lower levels of it…
And supplementing with it could improve glucose management.
Chromium seems to work by ENHANCING the effects of insulin… and INHIBITING an enzyme that contributes to insulin resistance.
Even better, this mineral has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events…
Which are some of the most dangerous complications of type 2 diabetes.
That may be because of a potential anti-inflammatory action… or how chromium improves the overall metabolic profile of diabetics.
In a study out of Iran published just last year, researchers found that chromium supplementation helped participants with type 2 diabetes…
- REDUCE fasting glucose and insulin levels
- IMPROVE insulin sensitivity
- LOSE weight and lower BMI, and
- BEAT BACK markers of inflammation (CRP) and oxidative stress (MDA).
Part of that may be because chromium has got the impossible-sounding ability to help CURB cravings…
Particularly those that demand EXCESSIVE carb and/or sugar intake.
But here’s where we come full circle…
Because those cravings might be coming from TOO MUCH insulin… which can FLOOD your system when you build resistance to it!
NORMALIZE the insulin levels… and you can not only LEVEL OUT your blood sugar… but also maybe even UPGRADE your eating habits.
And diet is CRITICAL to controlling your type 2.
Now, don’t confuse the supplement form of chromium… trivalent chromium a.k.a. chromium 3+… with its toxic industrial form, chromium 6.
Most supplements contain a “salt” form of the naturally-occurring trace mineral, called chromium picolinate.
Diabetes study participants have taken 200-1,000 micrograms (mcg) daily, split 2 to 3 doses.
According to some research, 1,000 micrograms should probably be the upper limit of what anyone should take on a daily basis.
You can also find an “optimized” version of chromium, called Crominex 3+. It’s a patented complex of chromium chloride (another salt version) blended with extracts of amla fruit and mineral-rich shilajit.
This formulation reportedly helps make chromium more bioavailable.
And last but not least, you can also get your chromium from brewer’s yeast, which has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels… with the added benefit of boosting immunity.
Look for it alongside probiotics at your local health food store or online. The deactivated, dried organisms are sold as a powder (which you can add to your morning smoothie) or in capsule form.
To putting the pedal to the metal on diabetes management,
Melissa Young
