Spotlight on the Mango: the King of Fruits
I really do not know if the mango is the “King of Fruits” but they at least it is a strong candidate for the throne. I must confess to have a strong bias towards this fruit because my grandfather and I used to plant mango trees in his garden. It was just one of the ways we connected, going to see how much the trees had grown from day to day and count how many mangos were in them. We would make contests to see who could spot all the mangos in the trees faster and then have fun picking them out. Eating the delicious fruit was just the culmination of a process that brought us closer together, two generations united by the art of growing one delicious fruit. One thing I did not know back then as a child was actually how good these fruits were for me.
The mango, turns out, is a nature masterpiece packed with antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. Here are a few nutrition facts about mangos
-Mangos are rich in vitamin C which plays an important role in supporting the immune system as well as growth and repair of tissues throughout the body.
-Mangos are rich in beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A through the digestive process. Vitamin A contributes to healthy vision as well as strong bones and teeth. Vitamin A also plays an important role in improving immune system function.
-Mangos are rich in fiber, low in fat, low in cholesterol and low in sodium. The calories in mangos are packed with minerals and antioxidants that will improve your health without a negative impact to your waistline.
-The sugar in mangos as well as all fruit is fructose which can be easily digested by the body unlike the glucose and high fructose corn syrup in artificial treats such as sodas.
-Mangos contain enzymes which facilitate digestion giving you an added good feel after eating them. This enzyme is also found in papayas.
-Mangos are also a good source of potassium which is an important mineral and electrolyte which contributes to heart function and plays a key rol in smooth and skeletal muscle contraction.
I know that my grandfather would have gotten a kick out me writing a about mangos but I do not think he would have been too
surprised. After all these things are delicious!
Buen provecho!
Luis