How the Manganese In Food Can Benefit Your Sex Drive

Our articles may contain affiliate links. For more information, view our policies.

Manganese may be the catch-22 of nutrients. If you are deficient, your body is going to break down. But if you have too much, your body is going to break down. (Fortunately, too much manganese is fairly rare.)

Table of Contents

The benefits of manganese

Manganese is part of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, (SOD), considered one of the most important antioxidants. In this role, manganese helps eliminate disease-causing free radicals, which can not only contribute to premature aging but also heart disease. Interestingly, SOD may also be beneficial in reducing inflammation.

Additionally, this nutrient may help in regulating blood sugar. And it may reduce PMS symptoms in women. Another important benefit for women, it appears that in combination with other nutrients, manganese supports bone mineral density.

Sexual benefits for women

Besides helping to reduce PMS symptoms, manganese is not often talked about but is a vital nutrient to women’s sexual health. That’s because the female hormone estrogen requires manganese for its metabolism. Manganese deficiency is even considered a cause of infertility.

Benefits for men

While manganese is an important nutrient for women’s sexual health, it may be even more important for men when it comes to sex drive and sexual performance.

According to Nature’s Aphrodisiacs, in laboratory studies with male subjects, manganese deficiency caused loss of sex drive, lack of semen, and the degeneration of seminal tubules.

And keep in mind that since manganese is scientifically linked with heart health and the reduction of inflammation, it may support healthy blood flow and healthy sexual performance in men.

Getting manganese from food sources

So how do we get the right amount of manganese? The body does produce it. Just not enough. Therefore, we need to incorporate the right foods into our diets. The health of your skin, bones, metabolism, sight, hearing and nervous system depends on a sufficient level of manganese.

For men, the RDA is 2.3mg and for women, it is 1.8mg. (The RDA is slightly higher for pregnant and lactating women. Consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to manganese intake.)

What foods are high in manganese?

Steamed blue mussels 5.8mg/3oz serving
Roasted pecans 1.1mg/oz
Brown rice 1.1mg/1/2 cup serving
Cooked clams .9mg/3oz serving
Pineapple .8mg/1/2 cup serving
Steamed soybeans .7mg/1/2 cup serving
Cooked oatmeal .7mg/1/2 cup serving
Roasted peanuts .5mg/oz
Lentils .5mg/1/2 cup serving
Blueberries .3mg/1/2 cup serving

Drinking water also contains trace amounts of manganese, as does coffee, one of our favorite aphrodisiac drinks.

Equally as important to incorporating manganese-rich foods into your diet is trying to limit your intake of antibiotics, alcohol and drugs that deplete manganese. Ensure you’re ingesting your daily dose and get ready to reap the benefits of glowing skin, pumping blood and recharging the reproductive system.

Recipes

Overnight Steel-Cut Oats
Savory Porridge with Turmeric, Kimchi and a Fried Egg
Salty, Spicy Edamame
Brown Rice Salad with Leeks, Golden Beets and Kale
Wild and Brown Rice Pilaf
Spanish Chicken with Lentils
Meatless Meatloaf with Ancient Grains
Spanish Mussels in Sailor’s Sauce
Tequila-Steamed Mussels
Mussels in White Wine Tarragon Broth

Author
Recent Posts

Delahna Flagg

Delahna Flagg is a nutrition expert with a PhD in Holistic Health from Saybrook University as well as a classically trained chef and graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts. She is best recognized as the chef and co-star of Pamela Anderson's The Sensual Vegan web series. Her work on the series helped her develop into an authority on vegan recipe development and the nutritional needs of a vegan lifestyle. Delahna also has experience as a line cook and restaurant sous chef and she is the owner of a special events catering company, My World on a Plate, specializing in delicious, nutritious foods. As a nutritional consultant, she is a Center for Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. She also works as a nutritional value recipe development consultant. Delahna is the co-author of Amazon bestselling dessert cookbook Eat Cake Naked and has served as our Director of Nutrition for over ten years.