10 Amazing Health Benefits of Mangoes

Mangoes are delicious, and you may have heard of some of their health benefits before, but the list of their health benefits might surprise you! Mangoes are loaded with fiber, making them helpful in preventing constipation, diarrhea, and other digestion issues; they also improve your immune system, they make your skin look healthy and beautiful, and more! Read on to learn about 10 amazing health benefits of mangoes.

After reading the health benefits of mangoes, you will never ignore the health benefits of mangoes.

 

1) Antioxidants

One reason mangoes are so good for you is their high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which otherwise can wreak havoc on your cells and contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. A study published in Food Chemistry reported that ripe mangoes have a total antioxidant capacity of 755 milligrams per 100 grams—the highest recorded for any fruit studied to date. Ripe mangoes also contain decent amounts (23 milligrams) of vitamin C. In addition, they’re loaded with carotenoids—anti-inflammatory compounds that offer protection against harmful free radicals and guard against macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases.

 

2) Fights Cancer

Studies have shown that mangoes may also help prevent cancer. The antioxidants in mangoes have been shown to protect against cancerous cell damage, while also inducing apoptosis (cancer cell death). According to research published in Nutrition and Cancer, mangiferin extracted from mango seeds can induce cancerous cell death. In addition, mangos are loaded with Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps boost immune function and fight inflammation; both of these properties help promote overall health and may lower your risk for certain types of cancers.

 

3) Protects from Free Radicals

Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. The high vitamin C content in mangoes helps prevent and eliminate free radicals from the body by neutralizing them. Vitamin C protects from cellular damage caused by free radicals that can lead to different diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer. This is how consuming healthy fruits like mangoes help improve overall health and well-being.

 

4) Cholesterol Lowering Properties

Pectin, a type of fiber found in mangoes helps reduce cholesterol levels. High-cholesterol is one factor that can lead to cardiovascular disease. By eating foods rich in pectin, you help to lower your total and bad cholesterol levels, reducing your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Plus, having high levels of good cholesterol lowers your risk for diabetes and certain cancers as well.

 

5) Digestive Health

Mango is a natural laxative, which means it can help people who struggle with constipation. But if you’re not battling chronic constipation, don’t worry—mangoes offer other digestive health benefits as well. Eating whole fruits is better than drinking fruit juice because they contain fiber and nutrients your body can’t get from juice alone. In fact, there are an average of 5.5 grams of fiber in every serving of mango! Mangoes are also high in antioxidants, vitamins C and E and manganese—all nutrients that have been linked to a reduced risk for heart disease and certain cancers.

 

6) Supports Immunity

One in particular, called beta-cryptoxanthin, is used to protect against cell damage that can lead to cancer. Mango juice has shown effectiveness at reducing DNA damage that could lead to cancer. Because mangoes are such a healthy fruit and one of the few foods naturally high in vitamin C, eating one a day can help support immunity from illnesses such as colds and flus. (Source: 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Mangoes)

 

7) Cleanses the body

Mango is one fruit that is great for controlling blood sugar levels. This can be particularly beneficial to people who have diabetes, as well as those with hypoglycemia. In fact, many diabetics use mangoes in their diets in order to help regulate their blood sugar without making drastic changes to their current diet. Mango's ability to help maintain steady blood sugar levels makes it a healthy fruit for diabetics and hypoglycemics alike.

 

8) Prevents Osteoporosis

The citric acid found in mango can prevent osteoporosis. Studies have shown that regular consumption of citrus fruits, like mangoes, can help to keep your bones healthy and strong. Regular calcium intake is an important part of preventing osteoporosis—and foods high in vitamin C, like mangoes, are known to increase calcium absorption by up to 10 percent. More calcium means healthier bones for years to come!

 

9) Removes Toxins

The antioxidants in mangoes detoxifies and removes toxins from your system. Toxins can cause a number of serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Research shows that even after one serving you’ll see an improvement in your complexion. You’ll be surprised how quickly those dark spots will fade away when you replace other foods with mango. Getting to your ideal weight is a lot easier when you start eating healthier—and there are few foods better for healthy living than mangoes!

 

10) Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

The fiber in mango helps slow down digestion and regulates blood sugar levels, which makes them a great choice for diabetics. If you’re healthy and not concerned about blood sugar levels, then eat up! They may help prevent diabetes by slowing down stomach emptying, which keeps insulin from being released into your bloodstream too quickly after eating. In fact, eating just one serving of mango has been shown to lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 25 percent. The fiber and pectin in mango slows absorption of carbs and thus lowers glucose peaks following a meal that occurs when some fruits are consumed. There is also emerging evidence that certain dietary fibers (like psyllium) can increase satiety without causing weight gain in non-diabetic people.