The Properties and benefits of the handle Are numerous: it protects the liver, the heart, improves digestion, strengthens bones, prevents anemia, strengthens the immune system and others that I will discuss below.
The caloric intake of the mangos ( Mangifera indica) Oscillates according to its variety, although in general terms they are similar, especially its high caloric level. Each 100 grams (g) of mango pulp provides approximately 65 Kcal.
As for its nutrients, per 100 g contains: 12.8 g are carbohydrates, 0.5 g protein; 0.3 g fat; 17 g of water; Minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Of the carbohydrates it has, 1.70 g are fiber, being 1.07 g insoluble fiber and 0.63 soluble fiber.
In addition, the mango has vitamins as Vitamin C (28 mg, which represents 30% of the recommended daily amount); he folic acid (11% of recommended daily value), and vitamin A precursors.
11 benefits and properties that mango brings to our health
1- Is an ally against cancer
It has been considered that The handle is an anticancer . This is due to its content of mangiferine, a substance that functions as an antioxidant. Mangiferin can be extracted from the pulp, the husk, the seed, the leaves and the bark of M. indicates .
Mangiferin belongs to the chemical substances called Polyphenols . These compounds have a great antioxidant power that tends to decrease the amount of free radicals of oxygen, reducing the damage to the DNA of our cells. In this way, it helps to reduce the growth of cancer cells.
Therefore, it has been proposed that mango may be effective in preventing cancer.
2- Love your liver
Studies at Cairo University in Egypt , Demonstrated that polysaccharides (long chains of carbohydrates) extracted from the pulp of the mango M. indicates Protect the liver from harmful effects produced by the so-called medicine Cyclophosphamide , Which is used as a treatment against certain types of cancer.
The protective effect of the handle is because it reduces the amount of free radicals that are produced from cyclophosphamide. In such a way, with less free radicals, the damage in the liver cells is reduced.
Therefore, the mango might be a candidate to be used as a supplement against the hepatotoxicity generated by cyclophosphamide in patients undergoing chemotherapy .
However, most likely its benefit is not exclusive to people who require cyclophosphamide, but it can also be extended to people who want to purge their liver.
3- Make your heart happy
The mangiferine turns out to be interesting due to several positive effects for our body.
In the magazine European Journal of Pharmacology , Researchers from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences published in 2016 that mangiferine extracted from mango leaves can reduce damage to the heart caused by lack of blood and oxygen (a disease called ischemia).
And how do you do it? Mangiferin is able to reduce the inflammation present in the heart. We know that inflammation in some cases is good, but when it is for a long time, paralyzes the proper functioning of cells.
Further, other studies Have shown that it is able to modulate the inflammation of our body in general.
4 - Improve your digestion
Mango helps the digestion of food, in part because it contains dietary fiber.
The proteins known as Proteases Help degrade other proteins such as those present in meat. Therefore, the consumption of mango along with meat would help us to have a good digestion.
The Actinidine Is also contained in the kiwi. In addition, fruits such as papaya and pineapple also have proteases in their composition.
5- Helps reduce"bad"cholesterol
The composition of mango dietary fiber is mainly pectin, which is part of the soluble fiber. This type of fiber helps decrease the absorption of"bad"cholesterol.
It should be mentioned that the greatest amount of dietary fiber is not found in the pulp, but in the shell.
A study Published by the Autonomous University of Coahuila found that per 100 g of dried peel 15 g of pectin is obtained. So think twice before tossing the peel off.
6- Strengthens the bones
Among the minerals found in the mango, The most represented are calcium and potassium . These minerals are part of the bones, so the consumption of mango would help the strengthening of our bone system.
Additionally the mango has vitamin A, which also helps the repair of the bone system.
7- Maintain healthy skin
The handle Contains per 100 g a Quarter of the recommended portion a day of vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for the repair of tissues especially the skin, bones and bowel cells.
Today, ultraviolet (UV) rays are a major cause of cell damage and skin cancer.
A study published in 2015 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine , Performed at the University of Chulalongkorn, Thailand, showed that thanks to the antioxidant role of mango, this fruit is effective in protecting and repairing skin cells damaged by UV rays.
Therefore, the consumption of mango would help to improve the health of our skin.
8- Prevent anemia
Iron is a very important mineral in the physiology of the human body, since it forms part of the hemoglobin (Molecule that carries oxygen to different tissues).
The handle brings iron To the diet which can help reduce diseases such as anemia
9- Help your body eliminate bacteria
The bark wood of the mango plant can also be used as an antimicrobial agent.
In the Traditional ayurvedic medicine In India, the wood of this plant in volvo is used as a bactericidal agent.
Recently A study Led by Dr. Garg showed that the mango wood powder has antimicrobial effect against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi.
10- Keep your vision healthy
As mentioned above, the mango contains a good amount of vitamin A. This vitamin also requires it for the good health of our eyes, as it is a precursor of the pigments that are needed to capture the light in the retina.
Additionally, the handle contains Vitamin E , An antioxidant that protects against the effects of oxidative stress on the body. Recall that the eye is an exposed organ that is directly in contact with the ambient oxygen.
10- Antiamebial effect
A study Showed that extracts from the bark of the mango plant have Anti-amoebic effect .
In fact, in this study it was shown that the extract of the mango plant reduced 60 times the growth of the amoeba while the Metronidazole (Commonly used for amoebiasis) did so 200 times.
If we consider that metronidazole is the pure molecule and the other was an extract from the mango plant, it means that there is an active principle in the mango plant that if it were pure would probably be just as good as metronidazole.
11- Strengthens the immune system
In one study it was shown that extract from the bark of the mango plant increased the production of antibodies to foreign agents.
The more the bark of the mango administered to the mice, the more blood levels of antibodies were found against the foreign agent.
Antibodies are molecules that are part of the immune system that disable the pathogens so that they can not be established in our body, so consuming the bark of the mango plant would help to fight the pathogens.
12- Helps to recover from tiredness
The pulp of the mango in dry weight is practically sugar, If you feel powerless The handle could help you recover lost energy
13- Prevent hemorrhages
Eating mango would help you improve spontaneous bleeding or speed up the healing process.
The handle contains Vitamin k , Which helps the process of coagulation and healing.
If you have been bleeding from your nose you may have vitamin K deficiency.
14- Treats the cold
Consuming mango could be beneficial if you find yourself cold ill because it contains vitamin C .
In a study Conducted by the University of Wyoming showed that consuming vitamin C when you have a cold helps you recover faster.
However, it should be mentioned that this study mentions that taking vitamin C It does not decrease the chance of getting the virus that causes the cold, it only helps your system recover sooner.
Additionally the mango has vitamin A, which helps the repair of epithelia like the respiratory, which suffers damage when you come across a cold.
15- Protects against diabetes
Mango pulp tends to be a food with a high glycemic index, so it would not be recommended for people with diabetes.
However, a study published in the journal in 2015 Journal of Food Science and Technology , Demonstrated that the shell of the mango has the capacity to reduce the complications derived from the diabetes .
Thanks to the carotenoids, flavonoids and other substances contained in the skin, the mango has the ability to reduce blood glucose in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes.
You may find it strange to eat the mango shell, but you can look for mangoes that have a fleshy skin, which has a better taste.
Curiosities of the mango
-The tree is large: about 30 meters. Its growth does not require much care, since it is usually aggressive with other species of plants inhibiting its growth.
-The peel of the fruit is green in early stages of maturity, changing the color of its pigment at maturity, between reddish and yellow. Inside, its pulp has a coloration with shades between yellow and orange. It is very sweet and has a characteristic aroma.
- Its origin is precise in India, and was introduced to Brazil in century XVIII. The cultivation has spread to other countries mainly of warm climate like Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, among others; And some temperate climates like Italy, China, etc. This way, the mango is of the fruits with greater production.
- The mango occurs in the trees belonging to the species Mangifera indica (M. indica) Belonging to the family of Anacardiaceae, although there are 7 other species (scientifically described), for example, M. casturi, M. laurina, M. lineariflia, M. persiciforma , Etc., however M. indicates Has been gaining ground in the crop.
The mango industry
It may be that when you mention mango, the only thing that comes to your mind is to think of something sweet, juicy, drinks, desserts, but would you imagine that the mango can use it to bathe?
Recently the possibility of introducing components of the mango in the cosmetic industry has been studied, such is the case of research published in 2015 in l The magazine Journal of Oleo Science , Which suggests that the oils contained in the mango seed could be effective in soaps and lotions.
In addition, mango also has antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin A that helps repair tissues like skin, so it would additionally help to have healthy skin.
And what other properties of the mango do you know?
References
- Singh, R., Singh, S. K., Maharia, R.S., Garg, et al. N., 2015. Identification of new phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activity in stem bark of Mangifera indica (L.). J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 105, 150-155.
- Fahmy, S.R., Amien, A.I., Abd-Elgleel, F.M., Elaskalany, S.M., 2016. Antihepatotoxic efficacy of Mangifera indica L. polysaccharides against cyclophosphamide in rats. Chem. Biol. Interact. 244, 113-120.
- Suchal, K., Malik, S., Gamad, N., Malhotra, RK, Goyal, SN, Ojha, S., Kumari, S., Bhatia, J., Arya, DS, 2016. Mangiferin protect myocardial insults through modulation Of MAPK / TGF-β pathways. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 776, 34-43.
- Wu, P., Dhital, S., Williams, B.A., Chen, X.D., Gidley, M.J., 2016. Rheological and microstructural properties of porcine gastric digesta and diets containing pectin or mango powder. Carbohydr. Polym. 148, 216-226.
- Singh, R., Singh, S. K., Maharia, R.S., Garg, et al. N., 2015. Identification of new phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activity in stem bark of Mangifera indica (L.). J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 105, 150-155.
- Wilkinson, AS, Taing, M.-W., Pierson, JT, Lin, C.-N., Dietzgen, RG, Shaw, PN, Gidley, MJ, Monteith, GR, Roberts-Thomson, SJ, 2015. Estrogen modulation Properties of mangiferin and quercetin and the mangiferin metabolite norathyriol. Food Funct. 6, 1847-1854.
- A comparison of major and trace element concentrations in 16 varieties of cuban mango stem bark (Mangifera indica L., ). J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 2176-2181.
- Kim, A.S., Christiansen, S.C., 2015. Mango: pulp fiction? Contact Dermatitis 73, 123-124.