MANGOES

MANGO(Magnifera indica) (YORUBA: Mangolo, HAUSA: Manguaro, IBO: Mangolo)

When you hear the word mango, what comes to your mind? Amongst Nigerians, mango is a seasonal popular stone fruit known for its juicy pulp, sugary taste and yellowish or greenish colour. Its fruit is seen from March till May.

Mango originated in South Asia. Portuguese traders brought the mango seeds to Nigeria in the 16th century. See as we con dey chop mango like say na here the thing first come, na wa ooh. As I was saying…

Some persons may not like the mango fruit for its sugary taste or the manner at which it is eaten. All the same it is a fruit loved and cherished by all, young and old in Nigeria.

Mango comes in at least 4 different specie in Nigeria, the yellow one, green one, the large one

yellow mango

 

Green mango

Bush mango

and the bush mango which produces the ogbono seed used in preparing the local delicacy of the Edo state people, ogbono soup.

 

The mango is also known as the king of Asiatic Fruits.

CONSTITUENTS OF MANGO FRUIT

The pulp of mango contains 81.7% water, 0.27% fats, 15.2g/100g portion Carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and saccharide) and 0.51% protein.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS ON MANGO

Mango fruit also contains;

225g of mango- 105 calories.

25% Vitamin A, 9% healthy biotic fibre, 9% Copper, 76% Vitamin C and 7% Potassium.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGO

1. SKIN GLOW: 

The Vitamin A present in mangoes helps to maintain beautiful and healthy skin, it can also fight eczema or dermatitis.

2. EYE: 

For good vision, mango provides the human eye with vitamin A, C and E. Vitamin A is also shown to help in reducing the risk of vision loss from macular degeneration AMD. 

3. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:

 Mango is rich in 3 powerful antioxidants, A, E & E which helps in the circulation of blood, reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis, angina/heart attack.

4. CANCER FIGHTER: 

This amazing fruit contain antioxidants (quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin and gallic acid) which aids the body in protecting cancers (prostrate, leukemia, etc).

5. HYPERTENSON KILLER: 

Mango contains potassium which has diuretic properties to aid ameliorating hypertension.

6. APPETITE WARMER:

 Mangoes contain bioactive ingredients like esters, aldehydes and terpens which can stimulate your appetite.

7. IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTER:

 The contents of Vitamin C, A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids in mango helps to combat illness in the body system. It resists frequent attacks of common infections such as cold etc.

8. DIABETES HELP: 

In treating diabetes, the tender leaves of the mango tree is used.

9. DIGESTION: 

As mangoes help in stimulating appetite, it can also help in the breaking down of protein to aid the digestion of the food you eat when appetite is stimulated or just the food you generally eat. Mango’s power to aid digestion is gotten from the enzymes it contains.

10. LIBIDO ENHANCER: 

The Vitamin E in Mangoes has been shown to improve sex drive and regulate sex hormones. (Some people are looking at mango differently now ooh, hmmm, egungun be kiaful).

11. CHOLESTEROL CONTROL:

 Vitamin C, fibres and pectin contained in fresh mangoes help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Mangoes can therefore be taken by older people avoiding high cholesterol levels or those controlling weight gain.

The benefits of mangoes are just too numerous to state here. Medicinal tips for mangoes can be found here

Mango is an amazing fruit created by God for man’s welfare. Just look at the awesome things mango can do for you.

Mangoes are available in local markets and superstores nationwide. In places like Kaduna, Abuja and rural areas of Edo state, you’d just see a mango tree on the road budding with vibrant fruits. You can decide to pluck one and eat. Please don’t say I told you, anything you see doing that, you take, you better go and buy it in the market.

How much mangoes is just enough for you? You decide. Just remember an overdose of mango in a single eating could cause diarrhoea. Not that bad right? Hahaha. Take advantage of the season, eat a mango fruit today. But no do longer throat ooh…

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Hi, I'm Jazzmine. I am a foodie and I love writing which spurned me to start up this blog. I am an advocate for natural healthy living. Do well to comment on this. I love feedbacks and hope to hear from you soonest.

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