Mangoes have an illustrious history, having made their way from the Himalayan foothills all the way to your corner supermarket. While all fruits are full of vitamins and minerals, few of them are as nutritionally dense as mangoes. These tropical fruits, regularly available during the summer months, have a number of health benefits that a lot of people may be overlooking or unaware of. Here is a list of some common health benefits of mango that you can reap if you make this fruit a more integrated part of your diet.
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Cancer Prevention – Mangoes are rich in compounds called phenols that have a number of health benefits. Full of the phenols isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, these compounds have been shown to help ward off most types of cancers. These phenols function as antioxidants, removing roaming toxins and carcinogens called free radicals from causes cellular stress, preventing oxidation of bodily tissues which can lead to cancer. Mangoes are also high in fiber, a vital digestive substance that adds bulk to stool and aids in breaking down food by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies called probiotics. Fiber lowers the risk of many intestinal and colorectal cancers.
Eye Health – Mangoes are high in the eye health promoting vitamin A. One cup of mangoes provides a quarter of your daily need of vitamin. Regularly consuming mangoes can help counter eye impairments like night blindness, refractive errors, dryness of the eyes, softening of the cornea, itching and burning in the eyes.
Digestive Aid – The juice of a mango contains several enzymes that help breakdown food in the digestive track. These same enzymes are also able to help neutralize excessive stomach acid, helping quell indigestion and reduce the risk of heartburn and acid indigestion from occurring.
Diabetes Help – The natural sugars and enzymes of mangoes have the ability to regulate insulin sensitivity for people who have diabetes or sugar sensitivity. While individuals with these conditions often need to refrain from sweet foods, mangoes are one of the fewer fruits that can help balance out any sudden dips or spikes in a person’s blood sugar levels.
Sexual Aide – Mangoes are rich in vitamin E, an essential ingredient in producing sex hormones. An infusion of vitamin E can often kick start a lethargic sex drive.
Iron – For those who suffer anemia or women who are pregnant, mangoes are rich in iron. This mineral helps with red blood cell production and also increases oxygen flow throughout the body by allowing blood to carry my oxygen molecules.
Heat Stroke – Mangoes, true to their tropical roots, can help a person recover from heat stroke or heat exhaustion due to the presence of pectin, a compound that allows the body to recovery from intense periods of exhaustion better than it normally would.
Brain Aid – One of the health benefits of mango may actually boost your brain power! The presence of Glutamine acid in mangoes has been shown to be an effective memory booster and is recommended for young children and the elderly to help improve brain function.
