Mango: Nutrition and Health Benefits for Diabetes, Immunity, Eyes, and More

 Dr. Neha Joshi  

 

Mangoes are delicious juicy fruit with various medicinal properties. The origin of mango was in India. Nowadays, it is cultivated all across the world. The botanical name of mango is Mangifera Indica and it belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. Mango in Hindi is known as aam.

Nutrition of Mangoes

1 cup of sliced mango provides 99 calories, 1.5 gm of protein, and only 25 grams of carbohydrates.

Mangoes are rich in multivitamins. 1 cup of its pulp provides 70 % of the daily need for vitamin C. Other than vitamin C it also has a good amount of Vitamin B complex, vitamin K, E, D, A, and folate.

It is also a good source of various minerals. It has almost all types of minerals like Iron, Calcium, Iodine, and others.

Mangoes are rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are plant compounds that work as anti-oxidants. Mangiferin is the most important polyphenol which is the load factor for all medicinal properties of it.

Health benefits of mango:

Mango is not only delicious but a very healthy fruit. In Ayurveda whole mango tree is used for the treatment of various diseases. In ancient Ayurveda literature, the benefits of mangoes are discussed in detail. Here are some of the important uses of mango fruit, mango leaves, and another part of the mango tree.

      Immunity Booster:

Rich in minerals and vitamins, it is delicious and beneficial fruit for an immunity boost.  It provides a good amount of vitamin A and C; both are necessary to maintain the immune system.  For patients suffering from low immunity, it is good to have a cup of it daily.

     For Heart:

Mangoes provide a good amount of magnesium and potassium. In various researches, it is evident that less amount of sodium and a good amount of potassium is good for heart health.

    Improves digestion:

Ripen mango provides a good amount of digestive enzyme Amylases. Amylase is a digestive enzyme that is necessary for sugar metabolism. Unripe or raw mango also has medicinal properties. For treatment of anorexia boil 1 unripe or raw mango in 200ml of water till then it becomes mellow. Allow the water to cool down. Mash it in the same water and drink this water after sieving it.

     For Eye Health:

It provides a good amount of vitamin A, which is necessary for maintaining proper vision. For better eyesight eat one mango every day.

     Mangoes for leucorrhea :

People have the tendency to throw mango seed as it is perceived to be useless. But these seeds are a good treatment for vaginal discharge. Take the seed after breaking its shell and dry it under the sun. Make the powder of the dried inner seed of mango and keep it in a glass jar. Take this powder twice a day with water at normal room temperature. seed powder is very beneficial for all types of vaginal discharge.

     Mango for Diabetes:

Mango pulp is juicy and sweet which raises the question, “are mangoes good for you if you are diabetic?” Comparative study of the pros and cons of mango makes it a good food for the diabetic person. A high amount of vitamin C prevents cardiovascular diseases. In Ayurveda, mango leaves are used for treatment for diabetes. Take 5 fresh leaves and boil it in 200 ml water to make a decoction. Take this freshly prepared decoction twice a day. It will prevent diabetes. Powder of mango seed is also good in the treatment of diabetes. Take 5 gm powder of seeds and mix it with 1 gm of ginger powder, take this mixture twice a day after 15 minutes of the meal.

     Mango for Blood Pressure:

Fresh fruit is good in preventing high blood pressure. For treatment of high blood pressure, its roots are used in Ayurveda. Decoction of mango root is a natural antihypertensive.

     For skin:

Vitamin C promotes healthy skin growth. Vitamin C is important in the preparation of collagen. Collagen is a protein that provides structure to the skin. An insufficient amount of collagen in the skin may cause wrinkles, thus foods rich in vitamin C should be regularly eaten for beautiful glowing skin.

     Prevention from Cancer:

Polyphenol in it reduces the oxidative stress of the body which is the main cause of various cancers. Studies support that a good amount of polyphenols reduces the growth of cancerous tumors. It also prevents the metastasis of cancer cells.

. Unripe or Raw Mangoes in Pregnancy:

Unripe or raw mangoes in pregnancy are safe and even good for health. Chewing slices of unripe or raw mango prevents nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The high amount of vitamin C it prevents infection and promotes fetus growth too.

Also, read 10 foods that prevent cancer