Why does nutrition seem so confusing? Why does a person get sick even though he eats enough proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the form of delicious food that he desires? The reason is that food consists of:

1- Major nutrients are proteins, starches and fats, and these elements remain in the food even if it is exposed to heat, manufacturing or refining. Food with these elements is saturated and life can last for a long time without problems (because the body keeps a store of micronutrients).

2- Micro nutrients are vitamins and minerals, and these are severely affected when food is treated with heat, or when it is refined or processed. Food that contains major nutrients, but lacks micro nutrients, does not meet the body’s needs for growth and protection, as it enters and exits the alimentary canal without the body benefiting from most of it, but rather stores energy from it in the form of fat and obesity!!

Micronutrients are found in very small quantities (measured in milligrams), and they are not visible to the naked eye, and have no color or odor, so a person does not feel their loss in his food. In spite of this, micro-nutrients are very important for health, as the body’s full benefit from macro-nutrients depends on the availability of micro-nutrients in food. As an example of the great role that micro-nutrients play in health, we present manganese, as it is one of the micro-nutrients of which the human body contains only about 10 mg. It is a mineral element that works within the digestive system as a catalyst for a number of enzymes responsible for releasing energy from food, making energy (from proteins, starches and fats) usable by the body and brain. Its availability in the body speeds up the process of burning energy, and its absence slows it down. The feeling of lethargy and drowsiness after eating for a while is only evidence of the body’s lack of manganese. One of the important reasons for obesity is the lack of refined foods in microelements in general and manganese in particular.

It is important to know that the body cannot assimilate and utilize thiamine (vitamin B1) without the presence of manganese. Manganese also affects nearly every system in the body, as the skeleton needs it to build healthy, strong bones. Muscles need it to move flexibly. The reproductive system needs it to produce hormones. The brain needs it for neural exchange, which supports the strength of memory and ensures emotional stability, God willing. Scientists are currently studying the possibilities of its effect in eliminating mental illnesses such as epilepsy and schizophrenia.

Manganese is a vital antioxidant because it helps the body produce the most important antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It is known that the presence of antioxidants in the body prevents the proliferation of free radicals that lead to cell deterioration.

The best sources of magnesium are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, chard, lettuce, green onions, pineapple, raw nuts (not roasted or salted), molasses, grapes, garlic and whole grains (and here it is necessary to replace regular white rice with brown, unhulled rice for those who want health and seek to get rid of obesity). It can be obtained through nutritional supplements, but the possibility of poisoning as a result of an increase in the quantity stands out, so taking it from food from its natural sources is safer. But there are factors that affect the manganese content of foods. The process of grinding grains and separating their bran greatly affects the mineral content in them, including manganese. Manganese is one of the minerals that are excreted from the body through sweat, so those who sweat a lot are likely to have a manganese deficiency.