Only recently has medical research begun to establish the amount of chromium that our bodies need to help regulate blood sugar (glucose), maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and increase energy. What we do know is that the essential mineral chromium comes in two forms: chromium 3+ (”trivalent” which is obtained from certain foods) and chromium 6+ (”hexavalent” that is a toxic form of chromium). Your body benefits most, obviously, by a sufficient amount of chromium 3+.

While chromium is highly effective in regulating pancreatic insulin and thus aids in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this important mineral also plays a part in regulating your body’s metabolism and the storage in your body of fats, carbohydrates and protein. Just how this occurs is still an avid subject of medical research, but a primary focus of such research is analyzing foods to determine their chromium content, discovering even more about the benefits of chromium, and addressing the issue of chromium supplements and their role in supplying our body’s need for an adequate amount of chromium.

Given that chromium deficiency can cause several medical problems, and that too much chromium can be toxic, we can fortunately get much of the chromium we need through natural foods like meat, seafood, poultry, whole grains, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Food that has a high fat and/or sugar content actually depletes chromium from our bodies. To help you understand the chromium content in food (measured in micrograms), consider this list:

- cup of broccoli = 11 mcgs
- 1 cup of orange juice = 2 mcgs
- 2 slices of whole grain bread = 2 mcgs
- 3 oz of turkey breast = 2 mcgs
- 1 tsp of dried garlic = 3 mcgs
- 1 tblsp of dried basil = 2 mcgs
- 1 cup of mashed potatoes = 3 mcgs
- 5 oz of red wine = 1 to 13 mcgs
- 1 medium-sized banana = 1 mcgs
- cup of green beans = 1 mcgs

If you enjoy broccoli and red wine, this may be good news for you! But of course you’ll need to consult with your physician to determine the right amount of chromium intake for you, depending upon your age, general health, medications, weight, and body size. As you age, your chromium needs may change. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding may need as much as 30 mcgs each day. A safe all-around amount of chromium for an average adult is between 25 to 35 micrograms.

High-quality chromium supplements are available in your local pharmacy or health food store as well as from online vendors. If you buy locally, be sure to ask questions of the store staff to make sure you’re receiving a legitimate chromium supplement. Buying chromium online is especially convenient since you can do a little homework about the vendor through the “about chromium” section of the web site. You may also find better discounts from reliable, legitimate online vendors as well as free shipping with your order.