What exactly is chromium and why is it an ingredient in detox products?  Chromium is a mineral that all human beings need to maintain good health.  There are basically two types of chromium: trivalent chromium (chromium 3 +) and hexavalent chromium (chromium 6 +).  The trivalent chromium is the good chromium and the hexavalent chromium is the bad chromium which is found in industrial pollution.  The hexavalent chromium is the type that is toxic and was featured in the movie Erin Brockovich.   Trivalent chromium is the good chromium which is found in food and is essential for many of our body’s functions.  We will contain our discussion to trivalent chromium.

Chromium is an essential nutrient for maintaining a good metabolism.  Chromium helps monitor and stabilize the blood sugar, helps your metabolism, regulates levels of cholesterol and fats in the body, helps to control appetite, and helps prevent hypertension and high blood pressure.  How our bodies break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates is directly affected by the levels of chromium we have in our system.

Chromium bolsters the effectiveness of the insulin that our bodies produce which has a direct result on how our bodies store carbohydrates, fats and proteins.  Chromium can be found in brewer’s yeast, beer, whole grains, thyme, rye, peas, oysters, processed meats, peas, potatoes, coffee, tea and cereal.  Taking a chromium supplement regularly can help reduce the risk of heart disease.  Chromium also helps fight infections and protect cells from damage.

Taking a chromium supplement is good for you but like anything else you must make sure that you are taking the proper levels.  Too much chromium in your system can cause damage to your organs or interfere with other medications that you take.  Liver and kidney damage can occur with too much chromium intake as well as gastrointestinal ulcers and rashes.  A balanced diet of meats, milk, vegetables and whole grains should provide you with sufficient amounts of chromium. Before taking a chromium supplement you should consult with your physician if you are already on prescribed medications as there may be interactions between the two.