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Foods High in Manganese

If you are trying to eat more Manganese, ranked lists are useful because the best options are often not the most obvious ones. The foods below are ordered by Manganese content in mg per 100 g, drawn from the foods in our database.

Remember: ranking by one nutrient is only one way to choose foods. Pairing matters too. Use the Manganese compound page to understand absorption, forms and interactions.

Turmeric — the top-ranked source

Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g, edible portion · values per 100 g
Calories 312
Total Fat 3.25 g
Saturated Fat 1.84 g
Sodium 27 mg
Potassium 2080 mg
Total Carbohydrate 67.1 g
Dietary Fiber 22.7 g
Total Sugars 3.21 g
Protein 9.68 g
Manganese, iron, curcumin
Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC 172231)

Top 15 Manganese foods

  1. Turmeric — 19.8 mg per 100g (861% DV). Manganese, iron, curcumin
  2. Chia Seeds — 7.56 mg per 100g (329% DV). Calcium, phosphorus, plant omega-3 (ALA)
  3. Hazelnuts — 6.06 mg per 100g (263% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese
  4. Pumpkin Seeds — 4.12 mg per 100g (179% DV). Magnesium, zinc, iron
  5. Oats — 3.63 mg per 100g (158% DV). Manganese, phosphorus, magnesium
  6. Chickpeas — 3.58 mg per 100g (156% DV). Folate, manganese, iron
  7. Mussels — 3.40 mg per 100g (148% DV). Vitamin B12, iron, selenium
  8. Walnuts — 3.00 mg per 100g (130% DV). Copper, manganese, plant omega-3 (ALA)
  9. Brown Rice — 2.84 mg per 100g (123% DV). Manganese, magnesium, selenium (values for cooked)
  10. Sunflower Seeds — 2.63 mg per 100g (114% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, selenium
  11. Sesame Seeds — 2.46 mg per 100g (107% DV). Calcium, lignans, magnesium
  12. Flaxseed — 2.40 mg per 100g (104% DV). Thiamine, magnesium, lignans
  13. Pecans — 2.28 mg per 100g (99% DV). Manganese, copper, zinc
  14. Black Beans — 2.08 mg per 100g (90% DV). Folate, magnesium, anthocyanins (values for cooked)
  15. Quinoa — 2.02 mg per 100g (88% DV). Manganese, magnesium, folate (values for cooked)

How to actually eat more Manganese

A handful of additions usually move the needle more than a full diet reset. Manganese is best consumed from whole foods rather than supplements whenever possible. Try adding one new source each week, track how you feel, and build from there rather than forcing every meal to hit a target.

For broader context, see our Bone Health hub and the Manganese compound page.

Common questions

How much Manganese do I need a day? Needs differ by age, sex, life stage and health status. The figures here are not prescriptions; use them to compare foods, then apply your own context.

Are supplements better than food sources? Not automatically. Food provides co-factors such as fibre, fat and other micronutrients that help the body use Manganese effectively. Supplements are useful for filling confirmed gaps.

A note on health content. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical or dietetic advice. Where we cite research, links to the original papers are provided so you can read the evidence yourself.

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