HOW'S YOUR INSULIN HEALTH? (What you don't know can hurt you)  

For many people, the words "insulin health" don't mean much unless they, or people they love, have diabetes. That's a real shame, because the efficiency with which our bodies produce and manage insulin has a powerful effect on how we'll feel and function each day. However, you don't have to be diagnosed with diabetes to be concerned about insulin health. That's because the heavily-processed, carbohydrate-rich diets so many of us eat can, over time, lead to impaired insulin sensitivity, a condition known as insulin resistance. And that's a condition with serious health consequences.

Insulin is the body's master metabolic hormone responsible for maintaining blood sugar, also called blood glucose, and it has a significant role in maintaining cardiovascular health. In a healthy body, insulin is continually produced in the pancreas, and released into the bloodstream whenever high levels of blood sugar are detected, most commonly after eating. The insulin enables blood sugar to be absorbed into the cells through an insulin-receptor in the cell membrane; once inside this cell wall, the glucose is converted into the energy we need to function effectively throughout the day. People whose bodies are unable to produce their own insulin are considered to have type 1 diabetes, while those who cannot produce sufficient quantities of insulin, or whose cells cannot effectively process that insulin, are considered to have type 2 diabetes.

For those not suffering from diabetes, it's still critically important to ensure that insulin function is properly maintained. There's several good ways of doing so, including engaging in regular exercise and eating a diet rich in healthy, unprocessed foods such as vegetables (especially leafy greens), legumes and high-fiber grains, dairy products, and lean meats and fish (especially those rich in healthy omega-3 fats). Essential minerals, most notably chromium, have also been clinically tested and shown effective for helping maintain proper insulin function. Unfortunately, there is minimal chromium in the typical diets most people eat, so supplementation is recommended.

Chromium picolinate, the form of nutritional chromium found in the Chromax brand of nutritional supplements, has been shown to be a highly absorbed form of chromium. The safety and effectiveness of Chromax has been further supported by more than a decade of targeted research, including some 16 clinical studies conducted at Ohio State University, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and other leading institutions. Other forms of nutritional chromium, including chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, and chromium niacin amino acid chelate, are not as easily absorbed by the body.

It only makes sense to do whatever we can to stay healthy. So this week, how about taking the stairs that one or two flights up instead of riding the elevator, and leave the empty calories of fast-food behind. And help maintain your insulin health by taking Chromax chromium picolinate once a day.

IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE—IT COULD BE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR  

Let's face it, life can be exhausting. Even so, if you're feeling like you just don't have enough energy to get through the day, don't automatically blame your hectic schedule—it just might be your blood sugar.

Every day, our bodies chemically break down the food we eat into its base components. One of those components is blood sugar, also called blood glucose, which is then further broken down and transformed into the energy we need to fuel our bodies throughout our busy lives. If your body fails to maintain proper levels of blood sugar, the consequences can range from sudden weakness or dizziness to a feeling of deep mental and physical fatigue. Other common symptoms of poor blood sugar utilization include weight gain in the midsection and powerful cravings for carbohydrates. Fluctuations in blood sugar can also be a sign of more serious issues, such as diabetes. That's why it's important to consult your health professional if you suffer from these symptoms.

However, learning to maintain optimal blood sugar levels isn't only a concern for people with diabetes. Since every human body uses glucose to function with peak efficiency, everyone should try to ensure that their blood glucose remains under control. Clinical research has shown that one way that can help is to take Chromax chromium picolinate. Chromium is found naturally in foods, however it has become hard to get higher amounts from today's heavily processed diets, so supplementation is recommended.

However, not all forms of nutritional chromium are the same!  While chromium supplementation is available in multiple formulations, including chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, and chromium niacin amino acid chelate, only one form—chromium picolinate, the formulation found in Chromax—has been shown in some 16 independent clinical studies to be effective in promoting insulin health and is also highly absorbable.

Insulin is produced in the pancreas, and is the master metabolic hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar, and also plays a vital role in maintaining cardiovascular health. Insulin helps cells absorb blood glucose and keep energy levels high. Chromium is an essential mineral that helps insulin work more effectively, and is required to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cannot properly use the insulin it produces, has also been shown to be reduced in severity by the Chromax formulation.

The American Diabetes Association considers blood glucose levels in the normal range to be between 90 to 130 mg/dl before a meal, around 180 mg/dl when measured about two hours after eating, and with a glycated hemoglobin level under 7%. Some fluctuation is normal, and in fact there seems to be a natural rhythm with the highest levels of blood glucose being measured immediately after meals while lower levels are typically recorded first thing in the morning.

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to ensure your blood sugar stays within healthy levels. Regular exercise is key, because excess weight and poor physical conditioning are contributing factors to many health problems, including insulin resistance and diabetes. Eat healthier foods in sensible portions; a poor, heavily processed or "fast-food" diet lacks many of the crucial nutrients our bodies need to perform at their best. And be sure to take Chromax, chromium picolinate the most tested, highly absorbable form of nutritional chromium.