Have you ever heard of the King of Fruits?
(Well, ha ha, that’s actually another nickname I have, along with Prince of Popcorn and the
Duke of Desserts.
Hey, enough about me.)
If you’ve ever enjoyed some mango on a hot summer day, then you’re already acquainted!
So, what earned mango the King of Fruits title?
(Yeah I was kidding earlier.)
Besides the mouthwatering taste, this fruit has so many amazing health benefits!
Eat just one mango a day, and you’ll be happy to see…
1.
A radiant complexion Mangoes are full of vitamin A. This is a common
ingredient in skincare products, and that’s for good reason.
Your body needs vitamin A to grow and renew cells.
But even brand-new skin cells won’t look that great if they’re not boosted up by
collagen, a protein that makes skin look youthful and plump.
To produce collagen, your body also needs vitamin C. Good news: you can get that from
mangoes as well!
2.
Beefed up immunity Those two vitamins aren’t just going to
have you looking fabulous, you’ll feel better too!
That is, if you tend to get sick pretty often.
Mangoes can help you steer clear of the seasonal cold and flu by strengthening your immune
system.
They do that by aiding in the production of white blood cells.
That’s your immune system’s soldiers that fight infections and illnesses!
Not to mention, with a stronger immune system, you’ll see cuts and scratches healing faster
too.
3.
Eternal youth Mangoes contain a whole alphabet soup of antioxidants.
You’ve probably heard that word thrown around a lot, but what does it mean?
Antioxidants help protect your cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
Those things are everywhere in our environment, and, in short, they age you!
4.
A bright shiny smile Don’t throw away the leaves and sprigs of
a mango – chew on them for a couple minutes instead.
Dentists say this helps strengthen the gums and lighten the tooth enamel.
There ya go, a Hollywood smile to go with your glowing skin!
5.
Sweeter dreams Mango contains a considerable amount of vitamin
B6.
Your body uses it to create specific neurotransmitters responsible for sleep quality and mood.
Sure, those two could be connected.
I mean, if you sleep well, you probably won’t be cranky and miserable!
But believe it or not, studies have shown that vitamin B6 helps fight depression too!
6.
Sharper thinking Speaking of the nervous system, mangoes also
contain glutamine.
It’s one of the most important amino acids necessary for good memory and concentration.
So, if you often feel kinda foggy or absentminded, you might wanna try eating more mango!
7.
Better digestion Fiber is something you’ll find in most fruits,
and your body needs it for good digestion.
It helps your system absorb the nutrients from your food.
It also plays a major role in moving that food through your gut.
In just one mango, you’ll get 20% of your daily recommended amount of fiber.
You’ll also get 16% of your day’s potassium.
This element helps in an interesting way – it improves the communication between your brain
and digestive muscles.
That way, they know when to contract and move food along through the system.
8.
A happy heart Eating a mango a day can be a nice practice
to lower cholesterol levels and improve your heart and cardiovascular health in general.
Scientists know that high levels of cholesterol increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes
later on in life.
With mangoes, it’s that power punch of potassium, fiber, and vitamins that’ll make your heart
happier and safer from disease!
9.
Improved vision One serving of mango contains 35% of your
daily recommended vitamin A. Yes, that same one that makes your complexion glow will also
help your eye health.
Well, at least it’ll help you maintain your good vision for longer.
Don’t expect that you’ll magically be cured of your nearsightedness or anything.
But if you can now, it’s always good to prevent vision problems in the future!
Carrots and berries also benefit your eye health, and they can be combined with mangoes
in smoothies.
Yum.
10.
Weight control Mango is a storehouse of fiber and pectins,
which is what gives us a feeling of satiety.
That is, when you feel full after eating.
What’s gonna help you with weight loss is that mango makes you feel really full, yet
it has very few calories.
So, if you’re looking to shed a few extra pounds or keep those inches off if you recently
managed to lose them, then have a mango for lunch!
So much good stuff in so few calories, you can’t go wrong!
Actually, if you want to achieve that “fullness” effect, you gotta eat the peel too.
Don’t worry, it’s totally safe to eat, especially if you buy organic.
It just might not taste all that great!
11.
Healthy bones I’m sure you’ve heard that your bones
need calcium to stay strong.
That’s absolutely true, but your body also needs vitamin K in order to absorb that calcium!
Mangoes will give you 8% of your daily recommended vitamin K, and your bones will thank ya for
it!
12.
Cancer prevention This fruit contains loads of enzymes and plant
compounds with high anticancer properties.
Studies have shown that regular intake of these substances through food reduces the
likelihood of developing breast, prostate, and colon cancer as well as leukemia.
13.
Liver protection You ever think about how much your body has
to put up with, especially when you live in the city?
Constant stress, malnutrition, pollution, and so on.
Well, it’s your liver in particular that takes the brunt of the force.
That’s why it needs protection from toxins and all that dangerous stuff that finds its
way into your body.
Antioxidants (those things that help your cells fight free radical damage) are just
what the doctor ordered!
So, help the ol’ liver out and grab a mango!
Now, Bright Sider, I must say, any time you’re dealing with certain foods that can affect
your body so much – even if it’s a good thing like lowering your cholesterol! – it’s
always best to get your doctor’s stamp of approval before you do anything.
For example, when it comes to eating mangoes, doctors strongly advice those who have pancreatic
diseases, gastritis, or hepatitis to be extra careful!
So, if you’re interested in what mangoes can do for your health, see what the doctor
has to say about it first and foremost!
But if you don’t have any serious health conditions, try eating mango on a daily basis.
In a month, you’ll find yourself healthier, happier, and even looking younger!
The best thing about incorporating more of this fruit in your diet is that it’s so
versatile.
You can eat it raw, throw it in a smoothie, have it in a salad – your options are limitless!
Here’s one of my favorite recipes:
- Mango Chia Pudding You’ll need about 1 cup of coconut milk,
2 cups of chopped mango, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, and 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt.
First off, put the chia seeds in the milk, and leave it in the fridge for 20 minutes
so that the seeds swell.
While your seeds are swelling and chilling, throw the mango pieces into a blender along
with the yogurt.
Combine it all in the end, and you’ve got one delicious nutritious pudding!
If you’re not a fan of Greek yogurt, you can substitute some honey for it!
And before you head to the store and try all kinds of mouthwatering mango recipes, let
me share one last tip with you…
How to choose the best mango: First of all, the fruit itself should be a
good-looking one.
No bruises, insect marks, mold, or anything like that, obviously.
Like any fruit, your main task is to check if it’s ripe.
Since not all mangoes change color as they ripen, you’ll need to give it a gentle squeeze.
A mango fruit shouldn’t be too hard or too elastic.
The perfect ripeness is when it feels almost like the palm of your hand or fingertips.
You can also smell it – some will have a fruity scent at the stem when they’re ready
to be eaten.
When in doubt, it’s always better to buy unripe fruit than an overripe one.
At home at room temperature, the mango reaches its perfect condition in just 2 or 3 days.
Well, those are my tips, so what about yours – any good recipes or advice on how to pick
the perfect fruit?
Leave them down in the comments!
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