Beautiful, rosy cheeked, juicy, perfect summer fruit. If anyone doesn’t know what a mango is, then they’ve been living under a rock on some far off planet. This delicious stone fruit grows on a tropical tree known as the Mangiferaindica. Because it was cultivated in South and Southeast Asia since ancient times, it has resulted in two distinct types of mango. There is the “Indian type” and the “Southeast Asian type”. Across the world you can find hundreds of different types of mango. It is, in fact, such a popular tree that it is the national tree of Bangladesh. It is a tree that can live very long lives, and still produce fruit after 300 years. At 40 meters tall, that gives you a lot of mangoes to pick.
The variety of mangoes will also keep you busy, as you get to pick from Irwin, Alphonso, Ataulfo, Keitt and many more. They are grown in warm, tropical places across the world, but only about 30 types of the more than 300 types of mangoes are consumed on a global scale. In Australia the most common types of mangoes are the Kensington Pride, Calypso, Honey Gold, and Keitt. But what does a mango do to your body once consumed? What are the benefits? Let’s find out.
Are mangoes a citrus fruit?
The short answer to this question is no. Although it does have both sweet and sour varieties, it belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, and it is a stone fruit. Citrus fruits, on the other hand, belongs to the Rutaceae family.
Are mangoes acidic?
Mangoes are typically a lower-acid fruit, which means that it will not worsen something like heartburn, for example. Because mangoes are very rich in vitamins, it is an alkaline forming fruit. Now what does that mean? The pH scale is ranged from 0-14, and acidic foods fall below 7. Alkaline foods fall above 7. According to science it is better to eat foods that fall under the alkaline food group, purely for health reasons.
Is raw mango a blood thinner?
There has been some concerns and a lot of debating about people eating mangoes while on warfarin or other types of blood thinning medication. Because mangoes are low in vitamin K, it does not really help. Blood thinning medication works against vitamin K, which makes you blood clot slower. The answer therefore points to a steady no. Raw mango is not a blood thinner, but rather an anti-blood thinner. Leafy greens, which are high in vitamin K, is a better blood thinner. But, as always, it is best to speak to your doctor. Just because mangoes aren’t classified as not being a blood thinner, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a freshly sliced mango or a delicious mango smoothie. You just cannot rely on it to be a blood thinner and make it part of your daily vitamin K filler.
Is raw mango a blood thinner? Hematic food channel putted to the test.
Raw mango on an empty stomach
Yes! Go for it! Because it is so high in a variety of vitamins, it is actually considered a super fruit. It offers an energy boost, and gives you that rich alkaline fruit goodness that you need for your day. But, as always, too much of a good thing is never good. It also serves as a great mid-morning snack. But if you eat too much of it, you may find yourself having indigestion, abdominal pain, and throat irritation. Many advise to eat mangoes as a breakfast or lunch, but to take a proper break in between meals. It is also advised to avoid eating mangoes for or after dinner, as this may interfere with nutrient absorption.
Can diabetics eat mangoes?
The King of fruits! Although mangoes contain natural sugar, it is a fruit that can safely be included into their diets. There is a reason why mangoes are considered the king of fruits. They are full of a huge variety of essential vitamins and minerals, and is beneficial to anyone looking to improve their diet, which includes diabetics. Although 90% of the calories in a mango comes from sugar, the fruit also contains fiber and a wide variety of antioxidants, which both play a role in minimizing the overall blood sugar impact. The fiber slows down the rate at which the body absorbs the sugar, while the antioxidants helps to reduce any stress response associated with rising blood sugar levels. Mangoes are also a low GI food. What does this mean? GI stands for the glycaemic index, and is a tool used to rank foods according to their effects on blood sugar. This system works on a 0-100 scale, and any food under 55 is considered low on this scale, making it a better choice for diabetics. The GI of a mango is a mere 51, which classifies it as a low GI food. But still, I will reiterate, it is best to speak to your doctor before making choices about your diet.
Are mangoes high in sugar?
Yes, very high. In fact, one mango contains 46 grams of sugar. But one needs to remember that this is natural sugar, and that a mango also contains a lot of fibre. Furthermore, it is very rich in vitamins and nutrients, fibre, antioxidants, and minerals. If eaten the right way, there is no way that you will gain weight from eating a mango. Also in contradiction of it being so high in sugar, is the high water content and the high amount of dietary fibre that promotes digestive health. As an added bonus, it is also great for your hair and your skin.
Raw mango benefits
First, let’s take a look at what is in a raw mango. It is rich in vitamin C, which is self-explanatory. Vitamin K helps as a blood clotting agent which prevents anaemia. It also strengthens your bones, which is an added bonus. It is also rich in beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant. These fight free radicals, the nasty stuff that can cause cancer. Due to the high content of magnesium and potassium, it lowers your blood pressure and regulates your pulse. Mangoes also contain mangiferin, which reduces inflammation of the heart. Other vitamins and minerals found in a mango are vitamin A, potassium, folate, and choline.
If you are interested to see how other food impacts our blood condition you can follow natural blood thinners link
Green mango benefits
Although a green mango can make you quite sick, there are some benefits to reap from it. It can be used to treat gastro-intestinal disorders, by eating a green mango with salt and honey to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, morning sickness, piles, indigestion and constipation. Furthermore it can be used to treat bilious disorders, as the acids in green mangoes increases the secretion of bile and acts as an intestinal antiseptic. You can eat it with honey and pepper to cure biliousness, jaundice, urticaria, and to purify the blood. For blood disorders there is the ever magical vitamin C, which increases the elasticity of blood vessels, helps to absorb iron into the body, helps to form new blood cells, and fight off insomnia and weak memory.