The mango is my favorite fruit in the whole wide world. There isn’t even a close second. Mango is the only fruit that I can eat by itself without feeling that it could be better. There is simply nothing like the soft, sweet luscious flesh that is refreshing, comforting and exhilarating all at once.
Perhaps, for me, it’s a reminder of the summers of my childhood. My father, who liked to take long drives to source the best fruits, vegetables and root crops, would buy mangoes by the kaing, the fruits in varying stages of ripeness carefully chosen so that we could enjoy the mangoes over several weeks and never eat anything that was underripe nor overripe.
That was long ago when fuel didn’t cost an arm and a leg. These days, we make do with mangoes that are available from the local market. They’re a-plenty these days at very reasonable because it’s summer. Although Philippine mango farmers boast that mangoes can be harvested all year ’round, before and after the summer months, they are not as sweet and they cost more than twice as much.
As with so many things that we take for granted because they are easily available, I have always eaten mangoes for the gustatory (and, perhaps, psychological) satisfaction that they provide. Truth be told, I have never considered the nutritional aspects of the fruit. Until now.
A quick search for “mangoes health benefits” easily yields pages that list surprising information. That the mango is a good digestive aid is nothing new to me. My brother downs mangoes like crazy to prevent constipation and it’s a trick I have imbibed (although prunes yield faster results for me).
But eating mangoes to boost sex drive? Ah, that is new to me. It’s the abundance of Vitamin E which regulates sex hormones. That piece of information is repeated in so many web pages.
And what else?
1. Mangoes can get rid of acne. Just rub the pulp on your face, leave for ten minutes before washing.
2. Mangoes are rich in Vitamin A which is good for the eyesight.
3. Glutamine acid in mangoes helps improve concentration and boost memory.
4. Mangoes are also rich in iron so they’re good for people suffering from anemia and women in post-menopausal stage.
No caveat? Of course, there is. There always is. For one, eating lots of mangoes is not recommended for diabetics. However, note this.
Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood. The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.
So, there. For mango lovers like me, next time you eat mangoes, remember that you are not only satisfying your sense of taste — it is very possible that you are also doing your body a lot of favor.
But, of course, as I always say, always read more to have a better grasp of the subject before deciding what sounds plausible and which appears to be plain crap.
Sam’s Rum, Lychee and Lemon Cocktail