Nutritional Benefits and Healing Properties of Mango

Sun dried mango

Mango season is truly a holiday. Most of the agricultural produce in Israel is grown locally, which means that when something is out of season - it’s out of season. Lucky for us, there’s a good selection of different mango varieties, which lengthens the growing season considerably. Over the years I’ve learned to preserve the taste of summer by sun-drying mango, creating a wonderful snack to munch on long after mango season is over. The only problem is - I have to hide the dried mango it if I want it to last.

Mangos help to heal a broad range of maladies – from stress to viral infections, and even help in cancer prevention.

Mangos are an amazing source of vitamins A, C, E and B-complex and have health promoting flavonoids such as beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. Mangos are a powerful anti-cancer food known to help prevent lung, breast, colon, prostate, blood, stomach, skin and oral cancers.

The boiavailable trace magnesium and phenolic acids found in mangos calm the nervous system, which helps to prevent strokes and heart disease. Mangos help to flush out toxic acids and rebuild alkali reserves in the body which in turn help to prevent arthritis, cognitive disorders, respiratory and kidney disease. Mangos also contain compounds that stimulate and feed the good bacteria in the intestines which greatly aids in digestion.

For those who are afraid of eating too many mangos due to the high glucose content, they will be happy to learn that mangos actually help reverse hypoglycemia, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Mangos are essential in maintaining hormonal balance and proper immune function, and help the body in breaking down sugars, fats and proteins. If you have a tendency towards high blood sugar – I suggest you read the article on Diabetes and Insulin Resistanceto better understand how fruits help to stabilize normal blood sugar.

Due to their high fiber content, pectin and vitamin C, mangos help to lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels, while the high vitamin C and beta-carotene content promote good eyesight and help prevent night blindness and dry eyes.

Last but not least, the pyridoxine (B-6) in mango helps synthesis serotonin and dopamine in the brain, helping to stabilize mood swings and promote healthy sleeping patterns. The phyto-chemicals and amino acids in mangos combined with fructose and glucose help to restore depleted neurotransmitters in the brain, making mangos an ideal sleep aid that also helps to create spiritually enhanced dreams. Interesting enough, when mangos are eaten together with celery or in a salad they create the opposite effect - a surge in energy that can help you stay awake longer.

Who could benifit from a bit more mango?

In addition to the conditions mentioned above, if you have any of the following conditions, try bringing more mango into your life: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, colitis, ulcers, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, thyroid disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, kidney stones, urinary tract infections (UTI), eating disorders, adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibroids, fatty liver, sunburn, and infertility.

The spiritual side of mangos

Mangos are a tropical fruit that also grow well in a subtropical climate. These fruits are built to take the heat of summer. The high glucose content in mangos extinguish the fire in anger, jealousy, fear and other emotions that stem from an imbalanced fire element. Mangos help us to remain cool and calm when faced with immense stress. The mood stabilizing ability of mangos helps us in difficult times. The bright orange color indicates the presence of phytochemicals that support the sacral center, helping us to manifest our desires and abilities. Mangos contribute to creating a well balanced sacral center, which enhances our sense of security and the joy of existence.

Sun-dried Mango

Start out with a mango that is still a bit firm. Slice the mango with a sharp knife into approximately half inch slices. Remove the peel and place the pieces of mango on a tray lined with organic baking paper. Place the trays on a table in the sun or partial shade, depending of intensity of sun. Cover well with netting to prevent flies and ants from reaching the mango. Towards evening, take the trays inside so that they don’t get wet from the evening or morning dew. Take them out again the next morning, and continue drying until the mango is stiff and no longer sticky. When ready, store in refrigerator.

Enjoy them mangos,

Beth

Information in this blog was taken from:

Anthony Williams, The Medical Medium - Life-Changing Foods, Carlsbad: Hay House Publishing, 2016.