Originally published March 13 2013
Mango's health benefits include heart health, anemia prevention, detoxing and healthy skin
by Talya Dagan
(NaturalNews) Mangos have been used for centuries as medicine and food. The mango fruit contains vitamins A, C and D along with beta-carotene. In Unani medicine, mangos are used to remove toxins, treat anemia, and heal the nervous system. Ayurvedic medicine uses the dried mango flowers to treat diarrhea, dysentery, as well as urinary tract infections (UTI). Mango leaves, seeds, roots, bark, as well as the fruit all contain healthy nutrients, especially the phenolic acids, flavonoids like catechin, and the xanthone mangiferin. Mango has a high ORAC score because of the presence of natural antioxidants found in the fruit. While the high iron count in mangos treats anemia, mango pulp is added to facial products because of its ability to prevent acne by cleaning pores.
Healing the heart with mangiferin and mango polyphenols
Research has shown that mangiferin can improve heart. This nutrient from the mango tree can lower blood sugar and lipid levels. Mangiferin is a mild diuretic. There is some evidence that mangiferin also acts to prevent tumor growths in some cancers. The OREC rating for the mango fruit is 4500 umole TE/g. This denotes the amount of antioxidants per gram.
About the mango tree
The mango fruit comes from a tree that is related to the cashew. Its scientific name is Magifera indica, and it's a member of the Anacardiaceae family. The mango tree originated in India, Burma, and eastern Asia but can now be found in most tropical regions. The shape of the mango fruit varies depending on in which regions it is found. Mangos can range in size from five pounds to the size of a small plum. Their shapes vary as well; from round to oval, heart shaped, long and skinny, or kidney shaped. Colored from red, to yellow, to green, the mango fruit on the 50-foot tall trees provide shade and food for birds as well as people.
History of the mango tree and mango fruit use
The name mango was given to the fruit by the Portuguese when they ventured to India. Previous to that, the mango was called man-kay or man-gay. The Portuguese brought the mango with them to Brazil in the 1700s and from there, its use spread throughout the Western hemisphere. In religious history, the Buddha was given a mango grove in order to find "repose in its grateful shade."
Sources:
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mango-fruit.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/027992_mango_breast_cancer.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/034540_Indian_gooseberry_Amla_mango.html
About the author:
Talya Dagan is a health advocate and health coach, trained in nutrition and gourmet health food cuisine, writing about natural remedies for disease and nutrition and herbal medicine. You can follow her blog at www.talyadagan.com
Talya Dagan is a health advocate and health coach, trained in nutrition and gourmet health food cuisine, writing about natural remedies for disease and nutrition and herbal medicine. You can follow her blog at www.talyadagan.com
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