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What is Chromium?Chromium is an essential trace mineral. It is found naturally in a variety of foods, including beef, poultry, and potatoes. Yet despite its natural prevalence, many Americans are simply not getting enough chromium in their diets. Chromium is critical to a healthy diet because it regulates the body’s insulin function, enabling its cells to perform many important functions, like metabolism, muscle building, and nervous system support. Here’s how it works: The body secretes insulin upon eating. This insulin then binds to cells, unlocking them so that they can absorb glucose, a form of sugar, out of your bloodstream. Once the glucose is absorbed, the cells use it as fuel to power all their necessary functions. This process cannot be performed effectively, however, without chromium. Failure to receive the necessary chromium intake can lead to impaired insulin activity, or insulin resistance. When the body becomes insulin resistant, more glucose remains in your bloodstream, often getting stored away as fat rather than being burned for energy as intended. Proper chromium intake can ensure your insulin is functioning optimally. And along with healthy insulin function, chromium has been associated with a variety of benefits in several other body functions:
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