Not logged in
The Overlooked Trace Mineral that Could Wipe Out the Diabetes Epidemic
By Tony Isaacs on 10/25/2010
Our bodies are designed to utilize a very large number of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; however, some nutrients can play such important roles in good health that they should perhaps be recognized as the "master nutrients."
In the first of what will be a continuing series of articles, we will take a look at a vital, yet largely overlooked, mineral nutrient and how it could almost single-handedly wipe out the epidemic of diabetes plaguing our country: GTF Chromium.
A healthy diet and regular physical activity have been rightly identified as keys to preventing and controlling diabetes. However, what has not been recognized is that regular consumption of a key form of chromium could virtually eliminate diabetes along with sensible eating and being even modestly active. Thanks to our unhealthy SADS diet and mineral depleting soils, each decade is bringing us more chromium deficiency. The deficiency has now reached a crisis state, with 90 percent of us estimated to be deficient in chromium.
More than 50 years ago the trace element chromium was identified as an essential nutrient at the National Institutes of Health by Dr. Klaus Schwartz due to its role in blood sugar metabolism. A molecule named Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) was found to be primarily composed of chromium. Dr. Walter Mertz, an assistant to Dr. Schwartz at the time, noted in 1959 "Type II diabetes is not a disease. It is the lack of a natural ingredient, known as GTF chromium."
More than 30 years ago, Columbia and Yale graduate and Dartmouth University medical school professor Dr. Henry Alfred Schroeder wrote that "the typical American diet, with about 60 percent of its calories from refined sugar, refined flour and fat . . . was apparently designed not only to provide as little chromium as feasible, but to cause depletion of body stores of chromium."
Chromium works together with insulin in providing sugar to the cells for energy. If chromium levels decrease there is a corresponding decrease in sugar delivery from insulin. Modern medical terms such as "insulin resistance" and "insulin sensitivity" should be more accurately replaced with "gross chromium deficiency".
As health historian Christopher C. Barr explained, insulin is a transport mechanism. It is like a truck that transports glucose to be unloaded at the cells insulin receptors. Chromium rich GTF molecules are like dock workers, which assist getting the sugar (glucose) to the insulin receptors. If there are less and less GTF "dock workers" then the work of providing sugar to the cells becomes unproductive. A traffic jam of insulin "trucks" in the blood stream results in higher and higher blood sugar levels as the problems of chromium deficiency increases over time.
Although we do see chromium supplement promoted for various health areas, we hear very little about GTF chromium. A major reason is likely because the vast majority of medical research is oriented towards finding new, patented medicines. Another might be due to the US government owning a patent on a different, much less effective but more highly promoted, form of chromium - chromium picolinate.
The right form of chromium is whole foods grown GTF chromium, and the right daily amount is about 100 micrograms taken three times daily. If every American took 100 per cent whole food GTF chromium, ate reasonably healthily and got modest regular physical activity, it would virtually wipe out diabetes. In addition, at a time when the Obama administration is asking agencies to find $100 billion in health care savings, universal use of GTF chromium would save at least $100 billion annually from the $218 billion annual costs of treating diabetes.
Printer-friendly versionAbout the author
Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for those who wish to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year. He is also a contributing author for the worldwide advocacy group S.A N.E.Vax. Inc which endeavors to uncover the truth about HPV vaccine dangers.
Mr. Isaacs is currently residing in scenic East Texas and frequently commutes to the even more scenic Texas hill country near Austin and San Antonio to give lectures and health seminars. He also hosts the CureZone Ask Tony Isaacs - featuring Luella May forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group Oleander Soup and he serves as a consultant to the Utopia Silver Supplement Company.
Email this Article
Comments
John Holloway
Where do we get GTF Chromium?
Thanks
Anonymous
It's about time someone began reporting this 'old' news.
GTF chromium products in the form of chromium enriched
yeast were being hawked in the 70's and 80's, then all
interest apparently waned. Farmers know the value, they supplement chromium in animal feeds, they can't afford their animals getting sick with diabetes.
Anonymous
Where can I find this form of chromium?
Anonymous
I am asking the same thing. Is this form of chromium readily available? and where?
Anonymous
Chromium, Please. Where can I find it?
betty kiehl
I started out taking med. 2o yrs. ago and now I am on med. and insuline. I read all this stuff about diabetes and have read about chromium. Please help I need to find out where I can get this GTF Chromium. I am 69 yrs. old. Thank you
Anonymous
Please let us know where to get this GTF chromium. I am sick of the killer drugs on the market to "cure" diabetes and am desperately trying thru diet to keep it under control. I refuse to take any of these drugs after reading all the side effects and especially reading all the lawsuits. I'm successful with diet alone about 2/3 of the time, and I do get some more exercise just in lots more activity since I am working again. I do take chromium picolinate, which I have been out of for over a month now, and find that it definitely almost stops my night-time snack urge without upsetting my system at all. So that part alone is a godsend. I thought it had ended it forever, but after about 4-6 weeks I am getting the snack urge again so have it on order. Thanks. Vicki Hester
Lori
Check out New Chapter. Their supplements are from whole food.
Anonymous
Ummmm, try google or a health food store.
Anonymous
Much better than GTF chromium is "niacin bound" chromium. Research shows that it is better. Brand name is "Chromate". I believe it is also known as chromium polynicotinate.
Abel
Again the same question, which foods are a good source of GTF Chromium.
Thanks
Anonymous
Where can GTF Chromium be purchased in the 100 microgram size serving? I would be interested in getting some for my husband.
Anonymous
Just doing a quick search I found the recommended amount @ several vitamin places. Swanson had great price of $2.99 for bottle of 200. That would last 33 days!
herby325
I searched the web for GTF Chromium and came across this article which seems to refute the effect of the product that the article claims it may have. Check it out yourself here:
http://www.mendosa.com/chromiu...
alan
I take 1 tablespoon of GTF chromium brewer's yeast everyday. Brand is TwinLabs. I buy it in health food stores in my neighborhood. It's a great supplement, loaded with B vitamins, minerals, amino acids and bromelains.
Marten
Sauerkraut is my choice, big time!!!!
Tom
GTF Chromium can be found in most health food stores, or ordered online from sellers such as Vitacost.com. One of the best brands is New Chapter Organics. Diabetics need at least 1000 mcg a day. Supplementing with another trace mineral, Vanadium, also helps lower blood sugar. (This is highly recommended by Dr. Julian Whitaker of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Los Angeles.)
The article cited above that claims to refute the effectiveness of chromium is based on studies that used chromium picolinate, which is not the same thing as GTF chromium.
Anonymous
Bummer! So much about having any faith in this product to eliminate diabetes. Just when I thought someone actually found "the answer" for this, I am now left sadly disappointed.
Lori
Honestly, the only way to "eliminate" diabetes is through diet and lifestyle changes. The conventional recommendations are wrong. Grains, yes even whole grains, should be eliminated. Period. Quinoa is a seed really, not a grain. Ditch all wheat and corn in any form. Fat is REALLY important. If you're dealing with Diabetes, google up it's relationship to vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. These are essential fat soluble nutrients that provide hormone activity and the vast majority of Americans are deficient. Chromium is a great nutrient to help regulate blood sugar, but no one nutrient works alone. Protein and good fats satiate the appetite, and help regulate blood sugar by reducing the production of insulin. And forget artificial sweeteners; they're deadly!
Digit
Thanks Lori, as good advice as I've heard here...
GTF Chromium may help, I'll look into that (Tony is usually correct) but a good start is to take Lori's advice,
to me it's pretty much common sense, if you have diabetes your body can no longer handle carbohydrates... So don't eat them... That’s first and foremost.
Lots of good fats (saturated animal or coconut oil) and basically what people ate before there was an epidemic of diabetes.
Anonymous
You can say whatever you like about supplements but at the end of the day if you have diabetes, then you’ve got it cause of your genes not cause of diet. Not all fat people have diabetes so get real guys with yer magic potions that do nothing at the end of the day
Dr T.l.
T Rajaraman
Can you get the chromium based supplemnts at the Diabetic Store at Chennai?
Tony Isaacs
Personally I take three tablets of Megafood's whole food derived 100 mcg GTF chromium, which I get at a great price at iherb.com - one of my favorite supplement sources.
If you have never ordered from them before, you can use my referral code of X0T949 to get $5 off your first order.
Tony Isaacs
I will agree with Lori that diet and exercise should play major roles for anyone seeking to avoid, lessen or eliminate diabetes. Like virtually any illness or adverse health condition, no one should simply chase remedies in a bottle without also taking measures to ensure that you otherwise have a good healthy foundation.
Having said that, I think GTF chromium is a valuable tool to have. I personally take 3 100mcg capsules of whole food derived GTF chromium daily. The brand I take is Mega Food, which you should be able to find with an online search.
Anonymous
Where can I purchase GTF chrominium? Please reply.
Lori
You should be able to find GTF chromium in a reputable health food store, or try vitacost online. Mega Food is a good brand, as is New Chapter.
Anonymous
Health food stores and pharmacies.
Sonia Lunas
Great info. I've noticed that my hypoglycemia is helped more by GTF than picolinate. My only concern is that most seem to be made out of nutritional yeast. I'm on an anti-candida diet right now and am supposed to minimize yeast intake. Do you think a GTF tab in yeast would be OK?
Anonymous
Chromium GTF is available anywhere. Chromium picolinate is a more effective version (I'm not going to get into why, do your research). Anyways, Chromium Picolinate you can get cheap from Swanson Vitamins, I use the Now Foods version.
Good health to all
Shirley Gekler
Thanks for this article which explains how the Diabetes Epidemic was caused by the American diet and in fact is a severe chromium deficiency.
We often see the generic designations of chromium polynicotinate -- niacin-bound chromium -- GTF chromium, which as I understand are different names for essentially the same product.
We also see chromium picolinate which is a patented version in the U.S.
As well as improving our diets, the following are some suggestons:
.Eliminate soft drinks of all kinds
.Reduce the consumption of caffeine (to one or two cups/day)
.Reduce or eliminate, if possible, the consumption of hydro-
genated oils.
,Reduce the consumption of all "white foods" (flour, sugar,
rice, pasta, etc.)
.Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
.modest regular physical activity
There are various supplements on the market at various prices and it is up to each of us to conduct our own due diligence. Our individual doctors should be aware of whatever supplements we are taking along with our prescribed medications.
Mr. Isaacs indicates that "universal use of GTF chromium would save at least $100 billion annually from the $218 billion annual costs of treating diabetes."
Shirley Gekler
As a continuation of my earlier article (just above),
I have now used a supplement for the past three years which contains chromium polynicotinate, along with several other herbal products which has produced great results for me. I also understand that, the chromium is beneficial to those who have low blood sugar and helps to control insulin. The product does have a higher amount of chromium polynicotinate than other supplements I have seen. Little by little, I have seen one improvement after another.
I have also reduced the carbs in my diet. -- Increased the fresh and/or frozen fruits and vegetables -- have added green drinks -- I am making an effort to eat more alkaline foods and less acidic foods. Water w/lemon is my preferred beverage, Also I do walk a few days a week but I feel that this needs to be at least five days a week. I feel that these changes have helped more than the meds.
By reducing the carbs, I have reduced the amount of gluten in my diet so that could also be a factor in my health.
Some who work in the Natural Health Field believe that inflamation is a big factor in most if not all of the various diseases which are so common today.
It has been a journey, not an overnight happening and being 39++ I feel good with the results which I have experienced. It is never too late to change habits for the better.
I trust that this information will be helpful.
Post new comment