The Mango Meltdown.

LifestyleNutrition

Aug 11

I wrote previously about Mangoes and I thought I would repost this summer.

It’s summer! And what do I think of when I think of summer? Fresh fruit! Specifically? My favorite: mangoes.

With all of the craziness going on in the world right now, including but not limited to the global pandemic happening, my family and I have turned to food to help us cope with being stuck at home for months. One of our favorites? Mangoes! We slice them up and eat them, put them in our smoothies, and so much more.

Two years ago, I was relaxing on the beach in Mexico with two of my best friends and we bought fresh mangoes from a man selling them in the sand. While that seems like forever ago, especially after I’ve been cooped up in my house for five months because of COVID-19, I’m trying to remain hopeful and positive.

From my daughters arguing over how to cut a mango properly to the whole family being in awe at how well our new blender worked for our mango smoothies, mangoes have given us plenty of laughs and smiles during our quarantine. This has been a summer of uncertainty and anxiety but mangoes have reminded me and my family to enjoy the time spent with each other and make the most of our summer, regardless of whether or not we’re on a beach in Mexico.

My oldest, better known as the picky child, who will only eat chicken (not from Publix or with sauce or if it is fried weird or with something on the outside) and cheese (only natural, not processed or white), will actually eat a Mango. It’s like the sky opened up and threw me a bone for once.

After doing some quick research, I learned that mangoes are the most popular fruit in the world! And for good reason. Not only do they taste great, but they're versatile and healthy, making them an iconic summer staple. While mangoes are in season during most of the year depending on the different types, they usually peak in the summer months.

And so all of this makes me wonder: what are the nutritional values of mangoes? Here’s a quick guide for the best fruit of the summer.

MANGO BENEFITS:

Hair and Skin Health: Mangoes contain lots of Vitamin A, which helps in the sebum production that keeps your hair and skin shiny and moisturized. It also contains Vitamin C, which helps collagen production and builds the structure of the cells.
Bone Health: Mangoes have lots of Vitamin K, which in low doses can help bone fractures.
Heart Disease: Mangoes have potassium, fiber, and many vitamins that ward off heart disease. To reduce symptoms of hypertension, doctors say to decrease sodium levels and increase potassium levels.
Digestive Health: The fiber and nutrients in mangoes help you avoid stomach issues.
Diabetes: For Type 1 Diabetes, fiber helps lower blood sugar levels. In Type 2 Diabetes, fiber improves blood sugar, lipid count, and insulin levels.
Cancer Prevention: Mangoes have proven to help certain cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon.
Macular Degeneration: The antioxidant zeaxanthin filters out harmful blue light rays and plays a protective role in eye health.

With all of these amazing health benefits, mangoes are a staple of the summer diet. Healthy, nutritious, tasty, and juicy; what can’t mangoes do?

Love,

Molly

Hey there!

I’m Molly, a fitness and nutrition coach for busy professionals who want to gain back their energy, feel stronger, and fit into their old clothes again.

Coaching services