Do you need more of the LOVE element – Manganese?

I have a mild obsession with manganese. Yes, manganese. Not magnesium.

About 8 months ago, I did a hair test analysis and the second lowest nutrient on the test for me was manganese. This was wild to me because I consume a cup or more of wild blueberries every day (175% of the RDA). At the same time, it was not surprising because I probably didn’t get any manganese in my diet at all for most of my 20’s and was extremely active (still am), playing sports 10+ hours every week.

I am convinced that most of the world is sorely lacking in manganese. All of the hair tests I have done with my own patients have indicated this as well, with 95% of people being deficient. If you would like to do this test, it is one of my favorite functional medicine tests and only costs $80. Please contact me for more details. Manganese helps to correct low sodium and potassium ratio in hair analysis.

Manganese is a mineral that gives food its dark color (along with iron). In Chinese medicine, black or dark colored foods nourish the kidneys, which control brain, sexual and reproductive function. Science has proven that manganese does just that, as you will see shortly. Do you eat many black or dark colored foods?

Manganese is known as the “LOVE” element. In the wild, if mothers do not have enough dietary intake of manganese, they stop caring for and abandon their young, which is why it is called the love element. Think of all the people in our world today that don’t feel loved and have difficulty loving others. Additionally, think of all the people that are terribly quick to anger and are anxious constantly. They are probably deficient in manganese.

Needless to say, I started to research what it does and how it benefits the body and have grown to love the love element. As a result of it being low on my hair analysis, I took a bottle of Ligaplex 2 (1 capsule has 750% RDA for manganese) and now am into a bottle of Manganese B12 (1 capsule = %1500 RDA for manganese). To purchase either one of these products, check out the online pharmacy I use called Fullscript. You can use your HSA card to purchase supplements here and the prices are generally cheaper than Amazon. As a result of taking so much manganese, I now love everyone! 🙂

In 6 months of supplementation, my manganese has gotten to optimal levels. I have now stopped such heavy supplementation and will continue to consume my frozen wild blueberries, oats, and other things every day to sustain internal manganese levels.

What does Manganese do in the human body?

1. Contributes greatly to having good levels of energy (along with iron). People who are deficient in manganese tend to be tired and worn out. It is needed to produce thyroxine, which is your thyroid hormone.
2. It controls nerves. People deficient in manganese are difficult to depend or rely on. They have no fortitude to stay with tasks and get distracted easily.
3. Increases resistance. People are resilient, full of strength and are elastic with adequate levels.
4. Coordinates thought and action. With deficiency one feels slow, unable to process new concepts, and not remember things well.
5. Increases ability to see clearly. If you are having trouble seeing close or far, extra manganese could make a big difference.
6. Enhances recuperative ability. Manganese is the one nutrient I make sure to give athletes. If you are an athlete, it is highly recommended to take supplemental manganese. Athletes burn manganese out of the body very quickly, it is the nutrient that keeps the tendons and ligaments strong. The reason why so many people have ligament and tendon tears and inflammation (tendonitis) is due to severe manganese deficiency.
7. Improves memory. Foods that are dark in nature and usually high in iron and manganese.
8. Acts upon body linings.
9. Facilitates health bile activity. This is needed to help break down consumption of fats.
10. Increases tendon and ligament tension and capacity. People who have a lot of joint pain, creaking, cracking and the like or who feel stiff after sitting may need manganese. It also helps women with menstrual cramps, lower back pain, frequent urination, feeling strong sexually,
11. Enhances intellectual power.
12. Keeps hair dark, full and thick. People have been known to turn their hair black after getting adequate levels of manganese. It is a dark mineral and keeps the body renewed, looking young.
13. Manganese is need to create manganese superoxide dismutase, which is critical for the function of your mitochondria, the energy producing parts of your cells. If you have low energy, low manganese can be significant factor. Manganese superoxide dismutase scavenges superoxide radicals produced within the organelle and can protect mitochondria from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (free radicals).

Synergistic Nutrients

•  Zinc, choline, vitamin K

Antagonistic Nutrients

• Absorption: calcium, phosphorus, iron, soy protein
• Metabolic: copper, magnesium, iron, vanadium

Signs of manganese excess (very rare), which can be dirived from drinking water containing high levels

1. Intensifies sensation.
2. Emotions can become exaggerated.

Signs of manganese deficiency

1. Makes ailments worse at night.
2. Profuse, burning sensations.
3. Mental confusion.
4. Being angry, quarrelsome and depressed. You may be prone to things getting on your nerves.
5. Headache from any motion.
6. Senses dulled, blunted, erratic. You may feel like a dull, uncaring, insensitive person.
7. Swollen glands.
8. Aversion to being touched (overly sensitive).
9. Aversion to work and effort. Everyone seems to take so much effort to do
10. Impatience and anxiety.
11. Craving for a calm environment.
12. Nightmares.
13. Reduced appetite, no thirst.
14. Cracking joints.
15. Gout- like symptoms, pain in the joints.

Foods highest in manganese

• Missouri black walnuts (1 cup has 4.8mg or 212% the RDA)
• Blackberries and (wild) blueberries – everyone in the clinic that I see eats wild blueberries daily. It is a powerful brain food and detoxifier. 1 cup has %175 (4mg) of the RDA.
• Spanish black radish
• Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, coconut, sunflower, chestnut, hazelnut, brazil nut)
• Apples
• Apricots
• Black lentils
• Black quinoa
• Black sesame seeds
• Black beans
• Celery
• Black eyed peas
• Rice
• Kelp
• Dark leafy greens
• Mint
• Oatmeal
• Pineapple

If you want to be more loving, less angry, have patience, more energy, have less painful joints, maintain strong tendons and ligaments, have a sharp memory and keep your mind young, a little manganese might be right for you. Get tested today to see if manganese is something that would benefit you.