Manganese is an essential mineral for health. We should be able to get an adequate supply of manganese from our natural diet, yet many people are deficient in this critical mineral.
Deficiencies in manganese can cause the following health problems:
Overweight
Glucose intolerance
Blood clotting
Skin problems
Lowered cholesterol levels
Skeletal disorders
Birth defects
Change in hair color
Neurological symptoms
Most of us get close to an adequate manganese intake through the foods we eat. Some of the best sources of dietary manganese include grains, rice, soy beans, eggs, nuts, olive oil, green beans, oysters and tea.
Ensuring that these foods and beverages are part of your daily life will help ensure that you are healthy. Manganese is used by the kidneys, liver, pancreas and endocrine systems. Doctors recommend that we get 5-11 milligrams of manganese in our diets each day.
But, manganese can also be dangerous. In extremely high levels, manganese can be toxic to the body, causing poisoning. Manganese poisoning causes hallucinations, nerve damage, lung embolism and bronchitis. It can cause...