Mangoes are beautiful, sweet, fragrant, and best of all a super fruit! What makes mangoes a super fruit is all of the good nutrition they have that can benefit us health wise. With its sweet flavor and juiciness this fruit is ideal for many tropically inspired dishes and drinks.
The national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines is mango. In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha holds a ripe mango as a symbol of attainment and the mango blossoms are used in worship to Saraswati, a Hindu Goddess. In some countries mango leaves and flowers are used for decoration during weddings, public celebrations and religious ceremonies.
The “king of the fruits” originates from India, specifically the Himalayas where wild mango trees still grow. The small, tough and bitter fruits that come from these trees aren’t good for eating, the ones you’ll be wanting have had their cultivation perfected over thousands of years, about 4000 in fact. Now, growing mangoes happens in tropical and subtropical climates such as Brazil, India, the Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, China, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Mangoes are high in vitamins A, B, B6, C, E and K as well as antioxidants, fiber and potassium. These all help with protecting against heart disease and some cancers and improving regularity in heartbeat, blood pressure and hormonal system function. It may even help with asthma thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
When it comes to cuisine, mangoes are used frequently in South Asian dishes, such as chutneys, pickles, Mango lassi (a mango smoothie). Mangoes are also great raw, but usually the skin isn’t eaten unless prepared or if it’s of a soft skinned variety. In Mexico, mangoes are used in drinks, ice cream, sweet chili sauces, or pies. Another favorite way to eat a mango is raw with salt, chili, or lime.
The mango is a fruit of many talents, ranging from health, ceremonial, as well as wonderful flavor for dishes or by themselves. With all the variety a mango has, no wonder it’s considered a super fruit! Here is something to consider when thinking about a mango:
“A king asked a sage to explain the Truth. In response the sage asked the king how he would convey the taste of a mango to someone who had never eaten anything sweet. No matter how hard the king tried, he could not adequately describe the flavor of the fruit, and, in frustration, he demanded of the sage “Tell me then, how would you describe it?” The sage picked up a mango and handed it to the king saying “This is very sweet. Try eating it!” – Hindu Teaching
22. February 2010 at 5:11 pm
Very insightful, the kids love Mangos now I know why.
22. February 2010 at 5:41 pm
I’m glad to learn of all the health benefit that Mango have, before I just knew that I enjoyed the flavor. I also add Mango to my smoothie for breakfast. I like 1 banana, ½ Mango, 2 scoops raspberry sherbet 1 scoop vanilla ice cream ½ cup cranapple juice makes enough for 2.
23. February 2010 at 7:29 am
That sounds like a great recipe for a morning breakfast smoothie!
27. April 2010 at 11:23 am
Mmmm, I love mangos! Thanks for the info! I didn’t know it was a superfruit. I’m tempted to swing by the grocery store and pick up a few, but it might be too late in the season…
27. April 2010 at 9:13 pm
I didn’t know all of these facts about mango. Thanks for sharing. I now love it even more.