By Dr Forkan Ali

In Bengal the months of Boishakh and Jyoishtho are called Madhumas, the honey months, and there is a reason: the year's sweetest fruits come in Jyoishtho. At this time the markets fill with jackfruit, the national fruit, and mango, the king of fruits. Though Asharh is knocking at the door, in the fierce heat nothing beats the sweet taste of palm fruit kernels, and there are jamun and lychees too. But when it comes to popularity, it is almost impossible to beat the mango.

The mango tree was declared the national tree on 15 November 2010. Mangoes are rich in vitamin A or carotene, vitamin C, minerals and calories. In vitamin A the mango ranks above almost all other fruits in the world. According to the USDA nutrient database, 100 grams of mango provide 60 kilocalories of energy, along with carbohydrate (15 grams), fat (0.38 grams), protein (0.82 grams), various vitamins and minerals. So, at the end of Jyoishtho, here are the benefits of mangoes.

1. Energy: mangoes contain plenty of carbohydrate, which helps boost energy. For diabetics, a moderate amount of mango keeps blood sugar in check. Mango leaves are also very useful for people with diabetes: boil five or six washed mango leaves in a pot, leave them overnight, strain in the morning and drink, which the writer says helps regulate insulin levels. The fruit also plays an important role in improving concentration and memory.

2. Eye care: mangoes contain plenty of carotene, which keeps the eyes healthy and also relieves colds and coughs. One cup of ripe mango can meet 25 per cent of the daily vitamin A requirement. It helps improve eyesight and prevent dry eyes and night blindness.

3. Digestion: the mango is a prebiotic fruit, good for the various gut bacteria in the stomach. Three-quarters of a cup of mango contains about 7 per cent of dietary fibre, which helps keep digestion normal.

4. Sleep: mangoes contain tryptophan, melatonin and magnesium, which help bring on sleep and relieve insomnia.

5. Weight loss: mangoes contain various vitamins and nutrients, so eating one mango meets the whole day's vitamin needs, the writer says. The fibre in it also aids digestion, so you can eat mangoes to lose weight.

6. Preventing heat stroke: heat stroke is common in this heat. Mangoes keep us cool inside and protect the body from overheating.

7. Bone formation: mangoes contain calcium, which helps build bones, so everyone should eat mangoes to keep bones and teeth healthy.

8. Relieving constipation: mangoes are full of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. Being high in fibre, they are very good for health, aid digestion and are very effective against constipation, so people with digestive problems will benefit.

9. Protecting the heart: the high levels of vitamin C, pectin and fibre in mangoes help lower harmful cholesterol. Mangoes are a very good source of potassium, which helps control high blood pressure and heart rate. Sweating drains sodium from the body, and green mangoes can make up that shortfall. The pectin in green mangoes is also very useful in treating gastrointestinal disease. With high fibre and antioxidants, mangoes reduce the risk of heart disease, and their potassium relieves anaemia and helps keep the heart working.

10. Cancer prevention: mangoes play an important part in preventing cancer. Researchers have said that because of their antioxidants and high fibre, mangoes help prevent colon cancer, breast cancer, anaemia, leukaemia and prostate cancer. Carotene, iso-carotene, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and other enzymes also play a considerable role in preventing cancer.

11. Staying youthful: the vitamin C in mangoes helps produce collagen, keeping skin fresh and firm. Mangoes contain plenty of vitamin E, which is essential for skin and hair, and which the writer says also helps regulate sex hormones.

12. Morning sickness: green mangoes help reduce the severity of pregnancy symptoms and the tendency to frequent morning sickness. Eating green mangoes regularly gets rid of morning sickness completely, according to the writer.

13. Preventing scurvy: the vitamin C in mangoes helps prevent scurvy and helps keep teeth, gums, skin and bones healthy. Mangoes also contain vitamin A and about 25 kinds of carotenoids, which are very effective in boosting immunity.

Despite all these qualities, beware of mangoes treated with toxic chemicals in the market. These days almost all the plump mangoes in the market are ripened with a poison called carbide, because the mango is a highly perishable fruit. By mixing in formalin and other chemicals, traders can keep the fruit for six to seven months. That does not mean we should stop eating mangoes: eating seasonal fruit in its season can reduce the amount of chemicals, because in season there is hardly any need for substances such as carbide and formalin.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.