Particularly useful for those looking to lose weight and overcome compulsive snacking urges, this trace mineral helps stabilize blood sugar levels gradually.
Sometimes we indulge in a few indulgences, giving in to the temptation of sweet treats. In the long run, this can become a habit that prevents us from maintaining a balanced diet. Fortunately, certain dietary supplements can help us gradually re-establish good habits. This trace element, although little known, is nevertheless essential in this process.
Ah sugar, what a guilty pleasure on vacation! An ice cream here, a pastry there, and we quickly become addicted again. And for good reason: sugar acts on the brain according to a very specific system called the reward circuit. Its consumption triggers the release of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. A process that can quickly create an addiction similar to certain drugs. To prevent these effects, there are food supplements capable of regulating blood sugar levels.
And among the most effective foods to control your cravings, we find chromium. Relatively unknown, this trace element is essential to the human body and is found in tetravalent form in offal, cereals, nutritional yeast and oilseeds. It is particularly appreciated for being a cofactor of insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas and responsible for regulating blood sugar. In addition, chromium helps control appetite by calming sugar cravings. Indeed, by facilitating the action of insulin, it helps to limit blood sugar spikes, thus reducing sugar cravings. The little extra? It can also improve blood lipids, bone health, cognitive function and is associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels. In short, it is truly essential. Therefore, the first thing to do when you want to start a chromium cure is to turn to foods that naturally contain it. So, focus on dishes based on broccoli, green beans, potatoes, whole grains, wheat germ, prunes, mushrooms, asparagus and meats. Chromium is also found in large quantities in brewer’s yeast and animal liver.
As a dietary supplement, it is recommended not to exceed 50 to 200 µg per day. Chromium is often offered as a three-month treatment, renewable if necessary. For more information, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for advice.