Health gurus tell us that we should have five servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily. I got myself to doing that many years ago and surprisingly, when I don’t get my daily dose of the five helpings, my system does not function as smoothly. When I feel hunger pangs before sleep, I snack on fruits — usually, a banana, an orange or a mango, when in season. I often wondered what the health benefits of these fruits that I eat almost on a daily basis are so I did a research on them. I was most surprised at the results yielded by mangoes.
My source is a blog on health and lifestyle, posted by Mehboob Talukdar.
Mango is considered the king of fruits and for good reason. It is rich in amino acids, vitamins C and E, flavonoids, beta carotene, niacin, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
About 4,000 years ago, the wild mango originated in the foothills of the Himalayas, India, and Burma. About 40-60 percent of these trees still grow in India and Southeast Asia. Though native to Southern and Southeast Asia, the fruit is also grown in Central and South America, Africa, and Arabian Peninsula.
Here are the wonderful health benefits of mangoes, the king of fruits:
• For better sex. The vitamin E that is abundantly present in mangoes helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive! Men and women with low libido should eat a lot of mangoes.
• Anti-cancer. The phenols in mangoes and abundant enzymes have cancer-preventing capacities. Mango is also high in soluble dietary fiber known as pectin. Scientists have identified a strong link between eating lots of fiber and a lower risk of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. A cup of sliced mangoes, around 160 gms., contains 76 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant which helps protect cells from free radical damage and lower risk of cancer.
• For eye health. One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the daily needed value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight. Eating mangoes regularly prevents night blindness, refractive errors, dryness of the eyes, softening of the cornea, itching, and burning in the eyes.
• Help digestion. Mangoes contain digestive enzymes that help break down proteins and aid digestion. Mango is also valuable in fighting acidity and poor digestion, and helps in regulating bowel movement due to its high fiber content.
• Good for the skin. Mangoes are effective in relieving clogged pores of the skin. Therefore, they’re good for people who suffer from acne, which is caused by clogged pores. Remove the mango pulp and apply it on your skin for about 10 minutes before washing it. Eating mangoes regularly whitens the skin and makes it soft and shiny.
• Help in diabetes. Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood. Boil a few mango leaves in water and allow them to saturate through the night. Filter and drink in the morning. Mangoes’ glycemic index is low, (between 41 and 60) and do not have a significant effect in increasing blood sugar levels.
• Beneficial for anemia. Mangoes are high in iron, so they’re beneficial for anemic people and pregnant women.
• Boost memory: Mangoes help boost the memory level and concentration because they contain glutamine acid which keeps brain cells active.
• Relieve heat stroke. Unripe mangoes, a rich source of pectin, when steamed and juiced with cumin, rock salt, and sugar, provide an excellent remedy for heat stroke and heat exhaustion in summer.
With all these health benefits, we are lucky that mangoes are plentiful in our country. Make them a part of your daily diet, you have everything to gain!