GET HEALTHIER THIS SUMMER WITH THE KING OF FRUIT

Ask anyone what they feel is the best part of Summer, and they will definitely say – Mangoes! Across India, when the mercury rises, so do our hopes for the King of Fruit to come out in the fruit markets. We are anxiously looking at the mango trees in our yards, and scanning the vendors’ carts on the roads for all the different varieties of mangoes that we can enjoy through the hottest days of the year. What is the allure of this fruit?

You may have heard your grandmother say that it is important to eat the fruit of the Season because the nutrients present in that fruit is exactly what your body requires for that time of year.  Hence, feast on mangoes for the summer, as their benefits are said to reinforce your system until the next summer.

Apart from the fact that mangoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, here are some of the health benefits of this delicious fruit:

Mangoes are believed to prevent Cancer as they contain carotenoids, ascorbic acid, terpenoids and polyphenols. They are also found to contain unique antioxidants that are not present in other fruit and vegetables. The anti cancer properties of mango are also due to the presence of Mangiferin, a compound found in this fruit, which has been found to inhibit the growth of colon and liver cancer cells.

Mangoes are believed to reduce body fat and control blood sugar as they contain numerous minerals and phytochemicals that have been found to have a positive effect on body fat and glucose – apart from the fact that they are a rich source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals that cause heart disease.

Mangoes lower Cholesterol as they contain pectin, that has been found to decrease serum cholesterol levels, while Mangiferin, one of the primary compounds in Mangoes, was found to increase the levels of HDL Cholesterol (the good cholesterol).

Mangoes may help treat Diabetes, owing to the presence of fibre and Mangiferin. Studies have also proved that the extract of mango peel has anti-diabetic properties, while other studies have shown that Mangiferin might have beneficial effects on Type 2 diabetic patients.

Mangoes improve digestion, owing to their fibre content, in addition to certain digestive enzymes that break down proteins and thereby aid in the digestive process.

Mangoes help in weight loss owing to the phytochemicals that act as natural fat busters. If you want to get the full benefit of the weight loss properties of a mango, eat the peel!

These are just some of the reasons why you need to be eating mangoes this summer! There are numerous other benefits too – they improve eye health, promote brain health, regulate blood pressure, enhance skin health, improve immunity, help in the treatment of kidney stones, boost bone health, treat anaemia, improve hair health and fight heat stroke!