Introduction:
Mangoes have a deep history of appreciation for their sweet and juiciness. The very first documentation about mangoes is in Hindi written back in 4000 B.C. As Budha meditated under a mango tree, it is considered sacred by some people.
Mangoes are grown in the equatorial region where there is a warm climate like Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Haiti, Guatemala and Ecuador. The United States does not have a commercially growing operation large enough which doesn’t mean they don’t eat 3 - 4 pounds per person every year as an average.
Mangoes are sweet, exotic, yummy and nutritious. People with arthritis and diabetes are not supposed to eat mangoes daily.
Here are a few pro and con of eating mango daily. Keep reading and make life better.
High Sucrose level:
Mangoes contain approximately 45 g of sugar which mostly contains fructose and 50.3 g of carbohydrates.
As fructose can be digested only in the liver, consuming more mangoes can put more strain on the vital organs. This can lead to conditions like diabetes, heart ailments and even cancer.
Mangoes stand in the upper range on a scale of sugar levels. Other fruits which also have high sugar content are green and red apple, sweet cherries, banana, pomegranates, passion fruit, gold kiwis, fuji apples. Fruits like lemon, lime, avocado, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries contain less sugar content.
Delayed Response to Allergy:
Mangoes contain a compound known as urushiol. Urushiol is an oil known to be found in poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac. People allergic to this compound can develop rashes around the mouth, redness and can be itchy when eaten by any urushiol containing plants.
You will get these symptoms only after two to three days of consumption of the mangoes and will be difficult to identify the cause. If you develop rash-like contact dermatitis after regular intake of mangoes, then these are the signs of you to stop eating them and consult a doctor.
Sickness due to artificially ripened ones:
Due to the advancement of this world and the necessity of resources, people started advancing natural occurrences, thereby ripening artificially mangoes. This process includes a chemical called calcium carbide which is a known carcinogen. Consuming them causes numbness, tingling and peripheral neuropathy.
Artificially ripened mangoes are less juicy and don’t taste well compared to the naturally ripened ones. You can identify the artificially ripened ones as they have solid green patches rather than a uniform blend of green and yellow.
It’s always best to eat organically grown mangoes as they don’t contain pesticide residue.
Salmonella:
Taking mangoes on a daily basis has high chances of getting infected by salmonella. Salmonella is mostly present in mangoes as it gets into the fruit while washing the fruit.
Researchers state that the whole mango is as risky as the cut ones as they must have had less processing.
Salmonella is the bacteria that covers the skin of mangoes and enters the pulp. No amount of washing can eliminate the bacteria once the bacteria enter the pulp.
Fibre loss:
Though mangoes contain high sugar, it also contains a good amount of fibre which prevents sugar spike. When you drink it as juice all the fibre in it is removed. Despite the juice diets, it is not good for health.
Lack of fibre can cause constipation, weight gain, nausea and blood sugar level fluctuations. Drinking mango juice daily can lead to diabetes even with a small amount of sugar.
Disturbed the digestive system:
Unripe mangoes can disturb the digestive system. Generally, we don’t eat unripe mangoes, but we only know whether the fruit is ripe or not only after eating them. Eating unripe mangoes can cause stomach pain and upset.
If you have dietary fructose intolerance, whether you eat mangoes ripe or unripe you will experience bloating, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal pain and cramps. One experiencing these symptoms and having a regular mango intake must know the symptoms are due to the mangoes.
Nutrition:
If you are not allergic to any of the compounds in mangoes you are good to take them in your daily diet. Mangoes are a healthy fruit. They contain a high amount of Vitamin C which plays a vital role in immune function, maintaining healthy blood vessel walls and building strong connective tissue.
Mangoes have almost no sodium and a good amount of potassium. So, eating mangoes regularly can maintain body fluid balance and regulate blood pressure.
Besides, mangoes also contain Vitamin A and a high amount of folate, antioxidants including mangiferin, norathyriol and quercetin. Antioxidants play a vital role in fighting against the free radicals in the body which are the indicators for many disorders like cancer and also expedited ageing.
Skin cleansing:
Taking mangoes daily can cleanse your skin from the inside out. It treats pores and gives you smooth, glowy skin. So, if you want flawless skin you can take mangoes daily but in moderation.
Balance the alkaline level:
Mangoes contain malic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid. These help in maintaining an alkaline reserve in the body.
Good eye health:
As mangoes contain Vitamin A it is known to improve eyesight. Having a healthy mango diet can prevent dry eyes and night blindness.
Concentration and memory:
If you find it difficult to concentrate ad have poor memory then gorge on mangoes. Mangoes not only improve your concentration but also boost memory.
Iron:
Anaemic people can take mangoes as a remedy. Particularly women should take mangoes to increase the iron level and calcium level in the body.
Body Scrub:
Besides eating, mango scrub can also give you shiny glowy tender skin. Make a paste and you can also add honey and milk to it. Massage for 10 minutes and repeat regularly for better results.
Conclusion:
The main takeaway from this is mangoes are best to be eaten in moderation. It is healthy if you opt for the organic variety.
You can eat them as a whole or mashed but avoid juice or else you'll miss the fibres in them and spikes the blood sugar level. Mangoes are a popular fruit as they are a part of fruit salad.
