Known as the king of fruits, mangoes are tropical fruits with a variety of names depending on the region or nation including mangos, mangot, manga and mangou. Beyond the sweet, luscious taste, they contain an abundance of vitamins and minerals and antioxidants that assure your optimum health. They are rich in potassium and magnesium and are a great remedy for high blood pressure.
They also contain selenium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Mangoes are vitamin powerhouses as they are rich in riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K among others. These components help you avoid a host of diseases that can come from deficiencies of these vitamins and minerals.
The vitamin E content in these fruits can even help boost your sex life by triggering the activity of your sex hormones. Powerful antioxidants in mangoes can neutralize free radicals throughout the body and help prevent heart disease, premature ageing, cancer and many other degenerative diseases.
1. Soothes stomach and improves digestion
Similar to papaya, mangoes contain certain enzymes with stomach comforting properties. Mango is rich in fibre thus preventing constipation, piles and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Dietary fibre has a positive effect on eliminating degenerative diseases including certain cancers and heart conditions. The more you participate in strenuous activities, the more potassium you lose, which is yet another helpful effect of mangoes – high potassium content.
2. Boost Immune System
One cup of mango provides about a quarter of the daily target for vitamin A, a nutrient that’s essential for proper functioning of the immune system (including the production and activity of white blood cells). Not getting enough of the vitamin is associated with greater susceptibility to infections.
3. Promote weight gain and weight loss
Here’s a conundrum for you, eating mangoes can help you gain weight and also, wait for it, lose weight.
Eating mangoes is one of the easiest and I would wager fun ways to gain weight. 150g of mango has around 86 calories, which can be absorbed easily by the body. Moreover, they contain starch, which transforms into sugar and aids in gaining weight.
Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.
4. Improves eye health
One cup of mangoes supplies 25% of the needed daily value of Vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents blindness and dry eyes. The antioxidants found in mangoes which protect the retina and lens have been shown to increase visual range, lessen discomfort from glare, enhance visual contrast and reduce the time it takes the eyes to recover from the stress of bright lights. They also protest the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays and fight or slow the progression of cataracts.
5. Improve blood sugar regulation and may help with diabetes
Unlikely as it seems of the sweet fruit, mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood. Mango fruit also has a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.
6. Useful in pregnancy
Mangoes are beneficial for pregnant women since they fulfil the iron requirements during pregnancy. Doctors often prescribe iron tablets during pregnancy, but instead of supplementation, you can enjoy a healthy iron-rich diet with juicy mangoes. The taste buds during pregnancy usually lose their sensitivity, so mangoes will surely prove to be the delight of your day beyond just the health benefits.
7. Promote brain health
Mangoes have abundant quantities of vitamin B6, which is vital for maintaining and improving the brain’s function. These vitamins aid in the amalgamation of the major neurotransmitters that contribute to determining mood and the modification of sleeping patterns. With mangoes as part of your diet, you can be assured of a healthy brain and effective nerve functioning. The glutamine acid content in mangoes also improves concentration and memory.
8. Prevents Cancer
Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukaemia and prostate cancers.
Convinced? Go ahead and treat yourself to a mango or five.
Check out these other fruits that boost your brain function. Also, check out 6 Different Ways You Can Use Mangos
