Mango, popularly referred to as the king of fruits, taste so good that people almost forget how healthy it is. When you savor delicious and succulent mango every season, you probably don’t think about the immense health benefits coming with every bite, all you want to do is enjoy the amazingly luscious taste.

As the popularity of mangos has spread, many food manufacturers have introduced jellies, jams, squash , pickles , marinades, and spices that include pure mango flavor. Mango is rich in fiber, so if you have at least one mango every day, you are almost guaranteed to prevent constipation, piles, and symptoms of a spastic colon.
There are over 1,000 different varieties of mangos.

Now, let's do a little bit of history....

Mangos belong to the same family as that of cashews . Common names for mangos are mangot, manga, and mangou, depending on the region or nation. They originated in southern Asia, more specifically in Burma and eastern India , almost 4,000 years ago. Many stories in Indian mythology mention the mango plant, and Lord Buddha is said to have often meditated in a mango grove. Mango cultivation first spread to Malaysia, eastern Asia, and eastern Africa and was finally introduced to California around 1880. They were introduced to Africa and Brazil by Portuguese explorers, while mango cultivation started in Hawaii and Florida around the 19th century.

According to Indian beliefs, mangos symbolize life (the national fruit of India) and are used in almost every sacred ritual. Mango leaves are almost always used for festivals and wedding decorations. ‘Chutney’ made from Indian mangos has become universally popular. Today, India remains the world’s major producer of mangos, but Thailand, China, Brazil, and Mexico also cultivate this highly beneficial fruit.

Nutritional Value of Mango

1 cup (225g) contains the following. Percentages apply to daily value.

• 105 calories
• 76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)
• 25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)
• 11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)
• 9 percent healthy probiotic fiber
• 9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)
• 7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)
• 4 percent magnesium

Health Benefits of Mango

Mango offers a package of health benefits. These include:

1. Prevents Cancer:
Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.

2. Lowers Cholesterol:
The high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein.

3. Clears the Skin:
Can be used both internally and externally for the skin. Mangos clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.

4. Eye Health:
One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.

5. Alkalizes the Whole Body:
The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

6. Helps in Diabetes:
Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood. The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.

7. Improved Sex:
Mangos are a great source of vitamin E. Even though the popular connection between sex drive and vitamin E was originally created by a mistaken generalization on rat studies, further research has shown balanced proper amounts (as from whole food) does help in this area.

8. Improves Digestion:
Papayas are not the only fruit that contain enzymes for breaking down protein. There are several fruits, including mangoes, which have this healthful quality. The fiber in mangos also helps digestion and elimination.

9. Remedy for Heat Stroke
Juicing the fruit from green mango and mixing with water and a sweetener helps to cool down the body and prevent harm to the body. From an ayurvedic viewpoint, the reason people often get diuretic and exhausted when visiting equatorial climates is because the strong “sun energy” is burning up your body, particularly the muscles. The kidneys then become overloaded with the toxins from this process.

10. Boosts Immune System:
The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangoes, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.

Mangoes are unique among all fruits. Ensure you eat atleast one mango a day. Trust me, you will get lost in the land of sweetness.