Over the past few weeks we’ve been discussing the fat soluble and water soluble vitamins. To recap let’s review the difference between a vitamin and mineral. A vitamin is any compound that contains carbon and therefore is organic. There are two classes of vitamins…fat soluble A, D, E and K or water soluble, B and C.
Minerals on the other hand do not contain carbon and are what we call inorganic. There are macro- minerals and micro-minerals. Macro-minerals are calcium, chloride, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sodium. Micro-minerals are: chromium, iron, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and iron.
There are many factors that can decrease the absorption of vitamins and minerals which include: alcohol, caffeine, antibiotics, stress, corticosteroids, aspirin, diuretics, oral contraceptives, sugar and tobacco. Therefore if your lifestyle includes any of these factors and you are not well there could be a good chance that you are not absorbing your essential nutrients. You will learn over the next few weeks the critical affect that each of the vitamins and mineral have over the health of your body.
This week we will be discussing Manganese
Manganese is found throughout the body, about half in our bones and the other half in our liver, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas and pituitary.
What it Does:
- Part of the structure of bones
- Needed for energy production
- Needed for metabolism of glucose and protein
- Needed for synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol
- Needed to make connective tissue
Absorbing and Utilizing Manganese:
Several factors can decrease absorption of manganese which include: large amounts of calcium and phosphorus, zinc, cobalt and soy protein, antacids, low HCL levels in the stomach, too much iron.
Found In: mussels, wheat germ, pineapple, spinach, blackberries, okra, raspberries, strawberries just to name a few.
It’s important to mention that toxicity from manganese is not common. If you suffer from liver disease then you do have a higher risk of developing toxicity.
If you have any questions regarding which supplements you should or should not be taking feel free to contact us to set up a consultation. 650.224.6886 or 650.207.7727
Picture by: http://www.ifood.tv/files/u259/strawberries.jpg
Reference: The Power of Nutrient Dense Food by Patti Weller