You know the importance of calcium, vitamin C and vitamin D, but manganese? It turns out that higher intakes of this under-the-radar essential nutrient may be linked to a lower risk for type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women, independent of known risk factors, according to a study by investigators from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The report was published in Diabetes Care. Some of the benefit may have been due to lower levels of circulating inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, that occur when more manganese is consumed. It remains to be seen if manganese’s anti-diabetes prowess applies to other demographics, but in the meantime you can load up by enjoying these manganese heavyweights:

  • oats
  • brown rice
  • edamame
  • hazelnuts
  • pineapple
  • spinach
  • cloves
  • chickpeas

See also: Can We Get All of Our Nutrients From Food?