Minerals in health (Chromium)

Dr Shahid has summarized his six principles of health in a very simple form. Simplicity sometimes may not be politically correct. Well...What is wrong if you get the message and decide to live until 100 - 125 years and longer?”

Dr Shahid further emphasizes:

"If you follow these Six Principles of Holistic preventive Life style faithfully, you may never have to see any health care provider (i.e. MD, DO, DC, NP, PA, DP, DD, OD, psychiatrist, psychologist, chiropractor, spiritualist, homeopath, naturopath, herbalist and all the rest of HCPs) during all your long and healthy life;

“……Moreover, you will live a life that is full of vigor, enthusiasm, happiness and contentment for 100-125 years and even longer.”


What else can anyone ask for? Does it sound too good to be true?

Well… IT IS "too good" and IT IS "true".

Remember! Health is what "YOU" make of it. It is "YOUR" responsibility. Not your health care provider's.

Follow these six principles of Dr Shahid’s Preventive Health. Also known as "Preventive Healthy Life Style (PHLS)", and see the result for yourself. You be the judge. The best part of it is, "it won’t cost you a penny". It is all free. And

"YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE ANY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE."

As they say,

"One ounce of prevention is better than two pounds of cure."

So here are the six principles of holistic preventive healthy life style.

The basis of these six principles (holistic prevention) is already discussed in previous blogs. In summary these principles are,

Three do's, that you must do:

1. Eat Balanced Diet
2. Do a regular Physical Exercise (PE)
3. Rest (10-15 minutes) between daily hard work, every 2-3 hours; sleep (6-8 hours daily uninterrupted sleep) and enjoy frequent entertainments, holidays and recreations.

And three don'ts, that you must not do:

4. Don't smoke at all. Don't drink excessively and don't take any un-prescribed or unnecessary prescribed medications. In other words, don't poison your vital organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys).
5. Don't over-eat or under-eat
6. Don't worry (worry is the worst enemy of physical, mental and spiritual health)


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Let us discuss these principles in detail. The first principle of preventive health is a balanced diet. It consists of three parts:

1. Proteins, Fat & Carbohydrates in right proportion.
2. Vitamins, Minerals, fibers (VMF)
3. Water and Oxygen

We have discussed Proteins, Fat & Carbohydrates in detail. We have also discussed the vitamins.

Now we are discussing another important aspect of balanced diet, i.e. minerals.


There are following minerals:

Of the 92 naturally occurring elements, the 14 minerals that have been shown by research to be essential to human health are:

calcium, chromium, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc.

We already discussed Calcium and Boron. Now we discuss Chromium, another mineral.


What is chromium?



Chromium is a mineral our bodies use in small amounts for normal body functions, such as digesting food. Chromium exists in many natural foods including brewer’s yeast, meats, potatoes (especially the skins), cheeses, molasses, spices, whole-grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Drinking hard tap water supplies chromium to the body, and cooking in stainless-steel cookware increases the chromium content in foods.


You can buy chromium supplements alone in tablets or capsules or as part of a multivitamin. But because the human body needs very little chromium, most people get enough in their regular diet and do not require dietary supplements. Those at risk for chromium deficiency include people with diabetes and the elderly.
What is chromium used for?

Chromium helps to move blood sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into the cells to be used as energy and to turn fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy.


1. Chromium may help some people with type 2 diabetes. It may help them control their blood sugar and may play a role in the management of type 2 diabetes.

2. Low chromium levels may cause high cholesterol and may increase your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Supplemental chromium may increase "good" (HDL) cholesterol and lower triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in people with high blood sugar and diabetes.

3. Chromium supplements are promoted as being helpful in building muscle and burning fat and in helping the body use carbohydrates. But this has not been proven.

4. Chromium may affect the eyes. There is a link between low chromium levels and increased risk of glaucoma.

5. Chromium slows the loss of calcium, so it may help prevent bone loss in women during menopause.

Is chromium safe?

The chromium found in foods will not hurt you. But taking excessive chromium supplements can lead to stomach problems and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Too much chromium from supplements can also damage the liver, kidneys, and nerves, and it may cause irregular heart rhythm. But side effects from taking chromium supplements are rare.

Antacids (including calcium carbonate) interfere with the absorption of chromium.

Being exposed to high levels of chromium on the job (such as in metallurgy and electroplating) has been linked not only to kidney damage but also to lung and other cancers as well as skin conditions such as eczema and other inflammations of the skin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medication. A dietary supplement can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works or on its safety.

Therefore, always tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

When using dietary supplements, keep in mind the following:

1. Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and nonprescription medications or other supplements you might be taking. A side effect or interaction with another medication or supplement may make other health conditions worse.

2. The way dietary supplements are manufactured may not be standardized. Because of this, how well they work or any side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of one brand. The form of supplement that you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research.

3. Other than for vitamins and minerals in food products, the long-term effects of most dietary supplements are not known.

Chromium is a trace mineral that is found in very small amounts in the human body. Scientists believe that it helps insulin bring glucose into the cells for energy, performing an important metabolic task. Because of this, many researchers believe that chromium can be helpful in reducing blood sugar in cases of Type 2 diabetes. Chromium may also play a part in reducing high blood pressure.



What Chromium Does?



Chromium has been shown to have a number of important effects in the body. It is an important element in the metabolism of glucose into energy, as well as assisting in the conversion of fat, proteins and carbohydrates into energy for your body to use. Specifically, it seems to help regulate the effects of insulin on sugar, making it an important dietary need for those who are either prediabetic or have type II diabetes.



In addition, chromium is essential in the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and may help promote muscle tone, as well as lowering cholesterol in the blood. Because chromium activates several enzymes, it also is important for healthy brain function and a number of chemical processes necessary for life.


Where Chromium Comes From?

1. Chromium can be derived from food, including cereals, black pepper, thyme, mushrooms, coffee, teas, beer, broccoli and processed meats.



2. Brewers’ yeast is the richest food source of chromium, but many people find it difficult to digest.



3. Chromium is available in several forms as a dietary supplement, including chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate and chromium picolinate.


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Next we shall discuss other health benefits of chromium.


For comment and questions please write to :

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

P.S. I must thank all of those readers who send me comments and questions. I must tell them that their inspiring comments and questions are highly appreciated. Please continue to write, preferably via email.

Thanks