Health
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Research findings have shown that mango, a seasonal fruit in Nigeria, has many medicinal properties which many consumers may not know
| By Chinwe Okafor | Mar. 31, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
ANOTHER season of mangoes is here again. Most people relish this seasonal fruit because of its many health benefits. Mango fruit is known as the king of fruits and one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruit with unique flavour, fragrance, taste, and heath promoting qualities which make it a common ingredient in new functional foods often called super fruits.
Mangoes are perfect to replenish salts, vitamins and energy after physical exercise. The enzyme of the mango, such as magneferin, katechol oxidase and lactase, clean the bowel of the filth within and is an ideal antidote for all toxic effects inside the body. They also provide sufficient resistance to fight germs. Mangoes contain phenols such as quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes which have healing and cancer-preventing capacities.
Mangoes contain also a lot of tryptophan, precursor of the “happiness-hormone” serotonin. It meets the vitamin and energy requirements of children of 6-24 months of age at three servings a day. The bark of the mango tree contains 16 to 20 percent vitamin and also mangiferine. It is believed to possess a tonic action on the mucous membrane. It is anathematic, useful in hemoptysis, hemorrhage, nasal catarrh, diarrhea, ulcers, diphtheria, and rheumatism and for lumbrici. It is also used to cure diphtheria and rheumatism.
Mango, a tropical fruit, is said to be an excellent natural source for pro-vitamin A. Findings have shown that eating mango slices with the skin on could help to reduce weight. A study by Australian researchers showed that mangoes could help a person to lose weight and stay slim, but only if it’s eaten with the skin which would normally be thrown away.
According to some researchers at the Oklahoma State University, consumption of mangoes may potentially have positive effect on blood sugar in obese individuals and help limit inflammation. Experts say that extracts from mango skin appeared to inhibit development of human fat cells because the secret is in phytochemicals that act as natural fat busters and are found only on the outside of the fruit. According to Uche Ogbanufe, a nutritionist, mangoes have many excellent nutritional properties and eating them may help lower blood sugar and cancer risks. Mangoes, she said, help in digestion because they are rich in fibre, beta-carotene and vitamin A.
Recent studies have linked eating mangoes regularly for a month to healthier blood fat profiles, including slashed levels of triglycerides that increase the risk of heart disease. Beyond this, eating mango helps to lower cholesterol because of its tinnginya fibre, pectin and vitamin C contents, helps the eyes for clarity of vision and also prevents dry eyes. Mangoes provide alkaline due to the tartaric, malic and citric acid which they contain. Mango leaves help normalise insulin levels in the blood. Mango contains gallic acid which is very good for the digestive tract. The content of the enzyme present in mango can also help the process of digestion and breaking down protein. In addition, it is also able to prevent constipation and sooth the stomach.
Mangoes contain vitamin C, which helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Vitamin C can also help absorb iron and can inhibit the production of natrosamin which is a substance that can cause cancer, the vitamins A and C, plus 25 types of carotenoids in mango help keep the immune system healthy and strong.
Tags: mango mangoes Oklahoma State University researchers tropical fruit Uche Ogbanufe
