Mango season is here and how! You’ll spot this luscious-looking fruit on almost every street corner. Read on for the good, the bad and the ugly of this summer delicacy.
Mango – the King of FruitsThey can be eaten raw or ripe, these mangoes! Called the king of fruits, it’s one of the most popular fruits found in umpteen varieties such as Raspuri, Badami, Malgoba, Alphonso. Native to our country, mangoes are now cultivated everywhere from California to Mexico, from the Caribbean to Africa, Australia and China.
The yummy health-booster
As we enjoy this fruit sliced or in delectable delicacies like aamras, mango lassi etc. – we have enough and more reasons to indulge guilt free.
- Keeps cancer at bay: The phenols and enzymes found in the fruit have cancer-preventing properties. Mango also has a high content of soluble dietary fibre, which according to scientists helps lower the risk of cancers in the gastrointestinal tract. The fruit is rich in vitamin C – which helps protect cells from free radical damage – reducing risk of cancer.
- Eye health: One cup of sliced mangoes supply 25% of the body’s daily vitamin A dose, which aids good eyesight. Eating mangoes helps prevent night blindness, burning in the eyes and more.
- Helps in digestion: Mangoes contain digestive enzymes that help break down proteins and aid digestion. It also combats acidity and poor digestion. The high fibre content helps prevent constipation.
- Benefits to skin: Mango is effective in treating the skin’s clogged pores. Which means, those who suffer from acne (which is mostly caused by clogged pores), will benefit from eating the fruit. Eating mangos also improves complexion and texture of the skin.
- Boosts sex drive: The vitamin E found abundantly in mangoes helps regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.
- Beneficial for anaemia: Mangoes are rich in iron and thus beneficial for pregnant women and those with anaemia. Further, vitamin C found in Mangoes enhances absorption of iron.
- Weight gain: Mangoes can be beneficial for those who want to gain weight, as it is a high-calorie food. Also, raw mangoes contain starch which gets converted into sugar as the fruit ripens.
Too much is too bad
There are two sides to every coin, and this nutritious and fibre-packed fruit too has its downside. Remember, anything in excess is harmful. Eating too much of this fruit can generate a lot of heat in the body leading to skin break-outs. As said earlier, the fruit is high in calories. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, mangoes are not a good bet!
Relish the fruit!
- Soak the mango in water to allow all the chemicals and pesticides to wine off.
- Moderate amount of mangoes in a day – maybe 1 or 2 – can supply the nutritional benefits of this fruit.
- Slice it and eat or just slurp on it. It might get messy, but it sure is fun!
- Get creative: add it to your milk, yoghurt or freeze the aamras in and enjoy the mango lollies.
- Top it with vanilla ice-cream or mix it in your salad.
Photograph by nazarius, via sxc.hu
You may also like:
Eating fruits and vegetables: Washing and cutting
Mango – the King of Fruits! is a post from: mDhil
