Mangoes are as nutritious as they are delicious!
This tropical, sweet fruit is a favourite for anyone looking for fruit with lots of health benefits! Tune in to learn the top 5 health benefits of this fruit!
FAST FACTS:
- Mangoes contain high levels of fibre, pectin, and vitamin C, which help to reduce cholesterol levels.
- This fruit helps to clear clogged pores and improve the skin’s health.
- The vitamin A in mangoes helps eyesight and prevents eyes from getting dry.
- The high fibre content on helps digestion and elimination.
- Along with vitamin C and A, the carotenoids in mangoes help keep the immune system strong.
Mangos have been an important crop in India for millennia. Today, these colourful, sweet fruits are a mainstay of Indian cuisine and are popular throughout the world. Mangos can weigh anywhere from a few ounces to more than five pounds each, depending on the variety.
Regardless of the type of mango you buy, these fruits offer some impressive health benefits. While mangos were historically only available at the end of the dry season, today they can be found in grocery stores all year long.
Health Benefits
The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in mangos can provide important health benefits. For example, vitamin K helps your blood clot effectively and helps prevent anaemia. It also plays an important role in helping strengthen your bones.
Mangos are also rich in vitamin C, which is important for forming blood vessels and healthy collagen, as well as helping you heal.
Digestive Health
Mangos can help stabilize your digestive system. They offer both amylase compounds and dietary fibre, which can help you avoid constipation. Amylase compounds can help dissolve other foods in your stomach, breaking down difficult starches. Meanwhile, the fibre in mangos can be more effective for relieving constipation than equivalent fibre supplements.
Nutrition
Mangos are rich in folate, which is used for healthy cell division and DNA duplication. Physicians recommend that people who can become pregnant consume at least 400 mcg of folate daily, because it is critical for avoiding birth defects.
One medium-sized mango contains:
- Calories: 202
- Protein: 3 grams
- Fat: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 50 grams
- Fibre: 5 grams
- Sugar: 45 grams
Things to Watch Out For
Mango skin contains a compound called urushiol, which is also found in poison ivy. Urushiol is what causes the itchy red rash after touching the poison ivy plant. While mango skin contains less urushiol than poison ivy, it can still cause rashes and allergic responses. On rare occasions, some people can even react allergically when eating the peeled fruit. If you have a negative reaction to poison ivy, you should take care when peeling the fruit and never attempt to eat the skin.