Magnifera Indica is the most popular fruit with its unique flavor and fragrance. It is one of the nutritionally rich tropical fruits, a seasonal fruit with its delicious flavor. Mango tree is originated in the subcontinents of India. According to botany, this fruit belongs to the family which includes pistachio and cashews. Its fruits have oval or round shape, its grows at the end of its peduncle and weighs about 150 to 750 g.
Mango is called as the King of fruits, with a pleasant and sweet flavor with minimal tartness. It has various varieties like different shapes, sizes and color. These fruits have a great aroma. It grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of India from sea-level to an altitude of 1500m, in temperature around 27 degrees. Mango fruit varieties are alphonso, banganapalli, dashehari, kesar, chaunsa and langra etc.
Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of mango after India, China, Thailand and Mexico.
Mango fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals and various antioxidants. It will make feel better for patients of various diseases. This fruit contain soothing enzyme for stomach. It is a source of vitamin A, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, and also contains beta-cryptoxanthin.
According to an American study, 25% of vitamin A present in mango is recommended daily. It is very essential for vision. Mango fruit is used for reducing blood pressure due to its potassium content. Due to the presence of pyridoxine in it, it is helpful to develop resistance against free radicals. Copper present in this fruit is a cofactor for many vital enzymes. Copper is beneficial for producing new red blood cells in the body and increases the hemoglobin levels of blood.
Mango fruit can be eaten as a raw form to experience its delicious flavor. It can be cut to represent as a salad form.
In Pakistan, total area under mango cultivation is 171.9 thousand acres. Pakistan produces almost 8.5% of world’s mango. This fruit is mainly produced in Punjab and Sindh.
Mango for Kidney Patients:
It is a famous fruit among all people due to its amazing taste and great reputation. This fruit is being loved by much of the persons. It is good for CKD patients in following ways:
- It is a diuretic, increases the urine output and washes and cleans your kidneys.
- Mango fruit enhances the immune system which will prevent from several kidney infections.
- It will reserve the alkali of the body, due to its great taste and due to the constituents present in it like citric acid, tartaric acid and melic acid.
Kidney stone patients have to pay attention on their diet. Mango has rich nutritional value. It can help to prevent high blood pressure, kidney problems and kidney stones.
The patient with kidney stones has to avoid the food which is rich in oxalates. The foods which are high in oxalates are unfavorable like beans, pepper, chocolate etc. Mango fruit is also not much good for kidney patients if it is being consumed in high amounts. So the patients with CKD have to take moderate amounts of this fruit in their diet.
Some of the contents which are harmful for kidney patients are as under:
- Sodium content:
Patients suffering from kidney diseases or having hypertension had told to avoid sodium rich fruit in their daily diet. Instead of high sodium foods, low sodium containing foods or fruits are used as a substituent.
- Phosphorus content:
Kidney patients should have the information about the food they eat. They should know which food has phosphorus and which food have not.
- Potassium content:
Potassium rich fruits are also dangerous for your kidneys, so one should avoid them. Potassium is also present in mango but in very small quantity. If you are consuming too much mango, then it will worsen your kidney diseases. Just add a moderate amount of this fruit to consume daily into your diet.
Mango for Diabetic Patients:
Mango fruit is a good supplement for diabetic patients. It will normalize the insulin levels in the body. To use this fruit for diabetics, one should have to boil the leaves of the mango fruit in water and use it in the morning. This fruit has low glycemic index, so its moderate amount will control the diabetes.
Mangoes contain omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids but overall they have low fat. It has high fiber content which can absorb the sugar in the body. This fruit contain a very important compound called magniferin, which is an anti-viral and anti-inflammatory compound which will lower the blood sugar levels, and will stabilize the blood vessels. Some of the studies have proved that these compounds like quercetin and magniferin present in mango fruit will act as anti-diabetic agent and they will also prevent the fat absorption in the liver.
It has also proved that frozen dried mangoes can also help to reduce blood sugar levels of the body. Human beings are not able to make Vitamin C in their body. This Vitamin C can be taken from several fruits; one of the most amazing source of Vitamin C is mango. Daily consumption of this fruit will lower the resistance of insulin and enhances the glucose tolerance in the diabetic patients.
Mango for Cancer Patients:
In addition to the benefits of mango for diabetic patients, they have some of more benefits for cancer patients. This fruit has Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and much of the dietary fibers which functions to limit the cancerous cells of the body. It contains Vitamin C in very rich amount which is also known as a cancer fighter. It also contains Gallic acid and gallotannins that will act as anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory compounds.
The extract made from pureed mangoes inhibits the growth of cancerous cells. They are unique in flavor as well as their anti-oxidant properties which are seldom present in any other fruit.
Some mangoes have a pulp like texture; some are soft while some may be firmer or fibrous. It is good for eating and it has several benefits which are important for our life.