Mangoes; The fruit of Love and Life

They live; they know; they feel; they see.
Their spirits light the golden shade
Beneath the giant mango-tree. - Charles Kingsley

My official favorite fruit is undoubtedly the exotic delicious and fantastically juicy mango. Hailing from the foothills of the Himalayas of India where it has been around for over 4,000 years, it is considered the symbol of love and life. Heck, even the Buddha himself found solitude in a mango grove.

But apart from just being absolutely scrumptious with its creamy, smooth, silky texture and ambrosial flavor, what are the mangos health benefits that are so great as to deem it "The Symbol of Love and Life" in such a spiritually forward world as India? Let's take a look shall we?

Firstly the Mango's a vitamin powerhouse and a small mango contains ;

• one quarter of your daily requirement of Vitamin C
• nearly two thirds of your daily quota of Vitamin A
• great source of Iron
• Good amounts of vitamin E and Fibre
• a rich source of potassium
• good amounts of Vitamin K, phosphorous and Magnesium

Secondly the Mango is a powerful anti-oxidant food and one of the one of the best sources of betacarotene, quercetin and astragalin. These are powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and lead to heart disease, cancer, premature aging and degenerative diseases.

Thirdly studies have shown that Mangos may lower cancer risk due to a dietary soluble fibre called pectin which is found in the fruit. Scientists have found that pectin binds and inhibits a protein called Galectin 3 which plays a role in all stages of cancer progression. Due to its being a valuable source of fibre it's also believed to prevent against cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.

Fourthly, In chinese medicine mangos have long been use as a yin tonic due to their sweet and sour taste and cooling energy. They have been used to treat anaemia, bleeding gums, cough, fever, nausea and to aid weak digestion.

To finish up Mangoes are also rated as medium on the Glycemic index which means when it comes to spiking insulin, Mangoes will only raise it moderately, making them a healthy addition to a body beautiful diet. They are such a versatile fruit their exotic flavor and fleshy texture makes a delightful addition to many sweet as well as savory dishes. For a hot summers day here is a recipe for a carribean shrimp and mango salad that is so delicious you'll wonder how it could possibly be healthy (but i assure you, it is) ;

CARIBBEAN SHRIMP AND MANGO SALAD

Ingredients:

  1 pound medium shrimp, cleaned

and deveined

  Salt and pepper to taste

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 15-ounce can black beans,

rinsed and drained

1/4 red bell pepper, cut into

strips

1/4 red onion, halved and then

thinly sliced

1 ripe mango, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup citrus-flavored vinaigrette

dressing

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

  Dash cayenne

6 cups mixed greens

Directions:

• Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. 
• Cook and stir shrimp with garlic in oil in skillet over medium-high heat until done, about 5 minutes. 
• Remove from skillet and place in large bowl. 
• Add remaining ingredients except mixed greens, and toss to combine ingredients. 
• Just before serving, gently toss with the mixed greens. Serve immediately.