Mango has been served on the table as a dessert or snack for more than 4,000 years and it was native to Southeast Asia and in India. It was coined as “king of fruits” as there are over a hundred types of mango with different colors, sizes, shapes, and tastes. Also, it is known as stone fruit, meaning it has a large seed in the middle of the fruit.
The fruit is not only popular because of its delicious sweet taste because it is also packed with health benefits of mango. Individuals who love eating the fruit will surely get a lot of mango benefits such as a healthy digestive system, good eyesight, and lower their risk of having certain kinds of cancers. The following are lists of nutritional and health value that you can reap out of eating one.
1. Enriched with Nutritional Value
Some might think that eating mangoes is not good for them especially if you are diabetic because of its sweet taste, but surprisingly you will find benefits of eating mango like having a very low calorie and fat. It is also a great source of dietary fiber that is essential for good digestion and regular bowel movement. Just by eating one fruit a day, you can get a daily dose of vitamins such as B vitamins, C, A, E, K, and other nutrients and minerals like Copper, Manganese, Folate, and Magnesium.
2. Rich in Antioxidant
Mango good for you as it is loaded with plant compounds which are known as antioxidants called polyphenols. Inside the fruit are dozens of plant compounds namely catechins, mangiferin, rhamnetin, anthocyanins, kaempferol, and quercetin. These are essential for the body to fight free radicals that can damage the cells. The accumulation of free radicals in the body can result in the development of many chronic illnesses and premature aging. One of the best mango benefits is its polyphenols and mangiferin compounds that are known as “super antioxidant”.
3. Immune Boosting
It is imperative nowadays to have a strong immune system, and benefits of eating mango can provide you with immune-boosting nutrients like 10% of your requirement for Vitamin A and more Vitamin C. These are an important component to produce white blood cells which are known as the body’s immune response to viruses.
4. Healthy Heart
Everyone wants to attain a healthy heart and you can easily get to this condition by eating mango good for you. Aside from having potassium and magnesium that is known to provide healthy blood vessels and pulse, its mangiferin is a special antioxidant that can safeguard the heart from oxidative stress and inflammations. There are promising studies to prove the efficiency of mangiferin to heart health, but human trials are not yet done.
5. Help in Proper Digestion
When it comes to digestive health, mango is known to contain an important digestive enzyme called amylase which is responsible for breaking down food into molecules for easy absorption. This enzyme is more present in ripe mango that is why it is sweeter and it helps to breakdown complex carbohydrates such as glucose and maltose. Another health benefits of mango are its fiber and water content that can aid in solving digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation.
6. Help in Eye Health
Mango benefits are undeniable as it can also aid in having good eyesight. The fruit has two important antioxidants namely zeaxanthin and lutein that can be found in the retina, the part of the eye that translates light to signal to the brain so that it can interpret what the eye is seeing. Also, this antioxidant can serve as a natural blockage of excess light especially the harmful blue light.
7. Healthier Skin and Hair
If you are conscious about your looks especially skin and hair then mango good for you as it can help in the production of collagen because of its Vitamin C content. Collagen gives elasticity, prevents skin from sagging and aging while Vitamin A encouraged healthier hair growth by producing more sebum that can make the hair shine and moisturized.
8. Alkaline rich Food
One of the amazing health benefits of eating mango is its ability to alkalize your body. This is possible because of its malic acid and tartaric content and traces of citric acid that can provide a good reserve of alkali in your body.