Mangoes are sweet, creamy fruits that have a range of possible health benefits. They are highly popular around the world.
The mango is a tropical stone fruit and member of the drupe family. This is a type of plant food with a fleshy outer section that surrounds a shell, or pit. This pit contains a seed.
In this post, Pritish Kumar gives a brief about Mangoes, their types, nutrition value and other benefit associated with them.
Other members of the drupe family include olives, dates, and coconuts.
There are many different kinds of mango. They vary in color, shape, flavor, and seed size. Although mango skin can be green, red, yellow, or orange, its inner flesh is mostly golden yellow.
Photographic composition of mangoes
Benefits
Consuming mangoes has a variety of health benefits that can help protect and strengthen the body. The sections below discuss these benefits in more detail.
Age-related macular degeneration
Mangoes contain an antioxidant called zeaxanthin.
A 2017 review suggests that zeaxanthin may play a protective role in eye health and could prevent damage from macular degeneration. This is an eye condition that gets worse with age.
The review cites the anti-inflammatory properties of zeaxanthin as a possible cause of this protective mechanism.
Cancer
A 2017 review found that mangiferin, a bioactive compound of the mango, can protect against several human cancer types, including lung, colon, breast, and neuronal cancers.
Additionally, the Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that a diet rich in beta carotene content can help protect against skin cancer. Orange fruits and vegetables, such as mangoes, contain beta carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body.
Research also suggests that vitamin A can boost the action of the immune system against disease.
Diabetes
A 2019 rodent study evaluating mango leaves found that some plant compounds had a powerful effect when it came to reducing risk factors for diabetes. These included lower body weight, reduced blood sugar levels, and lower levels of fats in the blood.
Research shows that functional compounds in the mango peel also have antidiabetic properties.
Neither study clarifies whether or not mango flesh provides the same benefits. However, one 2014 study found that eating freeze-dried mangoes reduced blood sugar levels in people with obesity.
Heart disease
Health experts consider mangoes to contain medium to high amounts of potassium. A 165-gramTrusted Source (g) cup of raw mango provides 277 milligrams (mg) of potassium, or 5.89% of an adult’s daily needs.
The content of fiber, potassium, and vitamins in mangoes helps keep the arteries working and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Increasing potassium and decreasing sodium in the diet can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Skin and hair
Mangoes also support hair health, as they provide a good amount of vitamin A. Substances that derive from vitamin A help provide sebum, which moisturizes the hair.
Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including the skin and hair.
A cup of sliced mango provides 60.1 mg of vitamin C. This is most of a person’s daily requirement, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Consuming enough vitamin C supports the development and maintenance of collagen. This provides structure to the skin and hair.
Nutrition
A 165-g cup of raw mango provides the following:
- calories: 99
- protein: 1.35 g
- fat: 0.63 g
- carbohydrate: 24.8 g
- sugar: 22.6 g
- fiber: 2.64 g
- potassium: 277 mg
- vitamin C: 60.1 mg
- vitamin A, RAE: 89.1 micrograms (mcg)
- beta carotene: 1,060 mcg
- lutein and zeaxanthin: 38 mcg
- folate: 71 mcg
Mangoes are a good source of vitamins and minerals. They can contribute to the daily requirement for several nutrients.
According to recommendations for adults aged 19 years and over from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025Trusted Source, a 165-g cup of raw mango provides the following:
| Nutrient | Approximate percentage of the daily requirement for adults |
| Vitamin C | 67% |
| Vitamin A | 10% |
| Folate | 18% |
| Vitamin B6 | 12% |
| Potassium | 6% |
Mangoes also contribute copper, calcium, and iron to the diet, as well as the antioxidants zeaxanthin and beta carotene.
Types of mango
There are over 1,000Trusted Source different types of mango in the world, but not all of them are available commercially. They all grow in warm, tropical areas, such as India and Africa, but they have their own unique flavors and textures.
Here are six of the most popular mangoes around the globe.
Honey
Honey, or Ataulfo, mangoes are sweet and sour and have a tropical, peachy aroma. The small, flattened exterior reveals a vibrant yellow color when peeled away. Honey mangoes have very small pits, with a high flesh-to-seed ratio.
Honey mangoes are primarily grown in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil.
Francis
This sweet and fruity mango variety grows on small farms throughout Haiti. Its skin is bright yellow and has green overtones. The fruit has a soft, juicy texture.
Francis mango has one large brown pit.
Haden
The Haden mango variety has a sweet and sour flavor and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The medium to large oval-shaped fruit is bright red with green and yellow overtones. It also features small white dots.
The Haden mango variety is primarily grown in Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. It is also grown in the United States in Florida.
Keitt
Keitt mangoes are large and oval-shaped, with a tangy, citrus flavor and juicy flesh. They turn a medium green color when ripe and have thin seeds.
Keitt mangoes are mainly grown in Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and the U.S.
Kent
Kent mangoes originate in Florida and have a sweet, peachy flavor with hints of sour notes. The skin is a dark green and may have a patch of dark red blush over a small section of the fruit.
The large oval-shaped fruit has seeds surrounded by a thick woody case.
Tommy Atkins
Originating in Florida, the Tommy Atkins mango is the most widely grown commercial variety coming into the U.S. The tart fruit is a dark red color and includes small hints of tropical fruit and citrus notes.
The Tommy Atkins mango is primarily grown in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, and Guatemala.
Storing mangoes
Every mango variety is different, but there is usually a color change in the fruit as it ripens. It also tends to soften and sweeten as it gets riper.
Here are some tips for storing mangoes:
- Keep unripe mangoes at room temperature.
- Place them in a paper bag to speed up the ripening process.
- Once they are ripe, store them in the refrigerator to slow down the process of ripening.
- Store whole, ripe mangoes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
People can store peeled and sliced mangoes in an airtight container for several days in the refrigerator. They can store cubed mangoes placed in an airtight container in a freezer for up to 6 months.
