Get Manganese for Skin, Bone and Blood Sugar Health

By Patrick Brian O’Neill

Manganese protects against free radicals. No, free radicals are not a militant group you need to be concerned about (okay, they might be), but the ones we are referring to attack your body at the cellular level. They can cause damage to your skin, making it age quicker than it should.

You may also suffer problems with asthma, a heightened blood sugar level that can lead to prediabetes and type II diabetes, and poor bone formation if minerals like manganese are not present to combat these troublesome free radicals. Let’s take a closer look at manganese, one of the 43 essential minerals your body requires.

What is Manganese?

Quick! Name a mineral you know your body needs. Often top of your head, you probably said something like iron, zinc or calcium. Everyone knows those are important for a healthy body. However, manganese is one of the 43 essential minerals necessary for proper bodily functions and overall health as well.

It is not as well known or talked about, because you only need very small amounts of manganese to benefit. As with most other minerals, vitamins and nutrients, if you enjoy less than a healthy lifestyle, you may need to add more manganese to your diet by targeting foods rich in this trace mineral, or by adding a healthy supplement to your nutritional profile.

What Benefits Do I Get From Manganese?

Have you ever had a flu? Did you know that the culprit was some microscopically tiny virus? Hard to believe something so small could wipe you out like that. On the positive side, very small amounts of certain minerals are definitely required for you to enjoy a healthy system and body, inside and out. Manganese is one of those essential minerals. The following are just a few of the benefits that manganese delivers:

• Makes your skin younger looking and strong
• Combats skin cancer by protecting against ultraviolet light
• Regulates proper bone development
• Helps deliver a healthy blood sugar level
• Fights free radicals which can cause skin problems, asthma and damage to your cells
• Contributes to a healthy metabolism
• Allows for proper functioning of your sex hormones and thyroid

Medical Conditions Caused by a Lack of Manganese

If you do not have oil or gas in your vehicle, it will not operate properly. The same is true for your body. When you do not get enough manganese in your diet, you can unfortunately develop the following dangerous symptoms:

• Poor eyesight
• Bone malformation
• High blood pressure
• Trouble hearing
• Shivers or trimmers
• Epilepsy
• Memory loss
• Involuntary muscle contractions
• Cramping and sweating

Manganese is also commonly prescribed (or taken as an over-the-counter supplement) for treating:

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid problems
• Inflammation
• Irregular or unhealthy metabolism
• Epilepsy
• Brain and nervous system problems
• Digestive tract issues

What Kinds of Foods Is Manganese Found In?

It should be noted that most diets naturally deliver enough manganese. It’s only required in very small amounts, so unless you eat nothing but fried, processed and fatty foods, sugar and salt, you are probably getting enough manganese in your diet. (Nutrition experts agree that adults should be getting 1.8 mg to 2.3 mg of manganese is a daily recommended amount.)

However, excess manganese is in no way harmful. Your body simply processes any surplus out, using what it needs. To ensure you are getting enough of this essential mineral which has been linked to optimal health, eat the following foods:

• Cloves – 2 teaspoons delivers just 11.5 cal, and 2.53 mg of manganese.
• Oats – Just 1/4 cup is packed with 1.92 mg of manganese, 96% of your daily required intake.
• Spinach, brown rice, garbanzo beans – Eat just 1 cup and you have approximately 85% of the manganese you need all day.
• Pineapple – Considered one of the world’s healthiest foods, pineapple (1 cup) provides 1.53 mg of this essential trace mineral.
• Collard greens and raspberries – These 2 very different foods, in a 1 cup serving size, offer 45% of your daily manganese requirements (0.9 mg).
• Cinnamon – You receive 0.9 mg of manganese and only 12.8 cal from 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
• Nutrient Dense Meals – Yevo Meals have 50% of daily requirements for all 43 Essential Nutrients including Manganese.