Mangoes contain over 20 vitamins and minerals, with high levels of fiber, vitamins A, and C, meaning your body will thank you for eating them.
The vitamin A will help your skin glow as it slows down oil production, but more importantly, the humble mango is linked to a reduced risk of developing asthma, protects against cancer and improves bone health, among many other health benefits.
Rightfully so, the mango has earned the name ‘king of fruit’ and is the most commonly eaten fruit on the planet, generating $8.3 million in sales of fresh mangoes.
Skin And Hair Benefits
Just one cup of mango provides 35% of your recommended vitamin A and 100% of your vitamin C for the day. These vitamins are essential for good skin, hair, and nails. Vitamin A is required for sebum production which keeps hair moisturized.
body also uses it for skin and hair growth, along with all other body tissues. Vitamin C builds and maintains collagen levels in the body, which helps to keep skin wrinkle-free and provides nutrients to hair follicles so it grows faster.
Cancer Fighting Abilities
Studies have found that mangoes can reduce the risk of developing many types of cancers. Texas AgriLife Research tested mango polyphenol (a micronutrient packed with antioxidants) extracts on colon, breast, lung, leukemia, and prostate cancer tissues and found that it was effective against all types, and particularly stood out for breast and colon cancer.
Mangoes also fight against ‘free radicals’, which are unstable molecules in the body that can lead to cancer. Not only do mangoes reduce the risk of cancer developing, but if you already have it they can be just as beneficial by slowing cancer down.
Mangoes contain beta-carotene, which has cancer-fighting antioxidant features, and it’s believed they have other unique antioxidants that help work against cancer cells. For cells that are about to mutate or become damaged, research has shown that mango polyphenolics can help prevent this.
Digestive System
Mangoes provide the highest amount of fiber out of all tropical fruits at 3g per 100g of fruit. It’s believed that they are more effective at treating digestive problems than other high-fiber foods. According to Texas A&M University, other foods and fiber-packed powders relieve constipation, but they don’t address the inflammation the way mangoes do due to the number of other vitamins and minerals they contain.
Fiber helps food move through the digestive system, avoiding constipation and reducing the risk of gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn’s disease. Mangoes fiber content is digested and fermented, meaning less water retention and less inflammation.
Conclusion
If the delicious, sweet taste of mangoes wasn’t enough to get you eating them, maybe their disease-fighting properties will. Protecting from cancer and helping the body to fight it is quite a feat for a fruit, combined with better digestion, skin and longer hair.
Not only are mangoes full of vitamins and minerals, they’re a healthy and low-calorie source of them. A mango a day is the ideal amount to consume to see the full health benefits, but even just one or two a week will have a good impact on your overall health.