Mangosteen, also known as queen of fruits, is one of the most popular fruits, best known for its high nutritional value and mouth-watering taste. The fruit originated in Indonesia and expanded its horizon to other parts of the world like Africa, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and many more. The fruit might be slightly more expensive than other fruits, but it is worth the money as its health benefits are tremendous. Read the article to find out the best health benefits of mangosteen, its side effects, and how to eat it.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Mangosteen?
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Mangosteen is one of the superfoods that has the potential to offer numerous health benefits. Here are nine health benefits that can be availed with the consumption of mangosteen.
1. Promotes Weight Loss
A few studies have been done on animals and humans, showing that consuming mangosteen can prevent obesity and help individuals lose weight.
Mangosteen consists of anti-inflammatory properties that aid in boosting fat metabolism, which ultimately assist in losing weight.
2. Boosts Immunity
Mangosteen brings along a high amount of fiber and vitamin C, which are known to be one of the best immunity boosters. It helps speed up the healing of your wounds and prevents the damaging of body cells.
Some studies also state that mangosteen contains antibacterial properties, which fights harmful bacterias and keeps the immune system healthy.
3. Improves Your Skin Quality
Another one of the best health benefits of mangosteen is that it improves overall skin quality. The antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties help protect your skin from damage, make your skin look vibrant and prevent aging signs. If you are suffering from skin issues like acne and dry or oily skin, including mangosteen in your diet may help.
4. May Help Cure Cancer
A few recent studies have found that fruits like mangosteen contain compounds like xanthones, which help prevent the development of cancerous cells in the body. However, more scientific evidence is needed to confirm that mangosteen helps cure cancer in humans.
5. Improves Heart Health
Mangosteen contains a good amount of magnesium–one of the most crucial components our body needs. It sends blood to the heart and other organs and also helps regulate blood pressure and heartbeat, keeping the heart healthy and reducing the risks of various heart-related diseases.
6. May Help Balance Your Blood Sugar Levels
Mangosteen has properties like xanthomas and fiber, which help balance blood sugar levels and cure diabetes. Xanthomas in the mangosteen destroys harmful free radicals and toxins from the body and helps in insulin’s functioning and keeps blood sugar level under control.
However, make sure you do not over-eat mangosteen. Otherwise, it may have a reverse effect on your blood sugar levels.
7. Reduces Body Pain
Pain from joint pains, arthritis, injuries, etc., can be improved by eating mangosteen. Its various beneficial properties, like xanthones, help relieve tension from the affected body parts, making it an excellent natural solution for people to relieve pain.
8. Deals With Dental Problems
Mangosteen uses its antimicrobial properties to prevent the building up of calculus and plaque on your teeth, which ultimately helps in preventing various dental problems like periodontitis. You can either take mangosteen by mouth or directly apply its gel to your gums to avail its benefits.
9. Improves Brain Function And Memory
Components like antioxidants and vitamin B9 in mangosteen enhance the transmission of signals between nerves and the brain. Studies on mice show that mangosteen extract helps with various brain-related issues like inflammation, cognitive decline and depression. However, there’s still a need for more human studies on the link between mangosteen and brain health.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Mangosteen?
Apart from the health benefits of mangosteen, there are also some side effects that you must be aware of. Mangosteen is considered to be safe to consume for more than 12 weeks. But, in some cases, it may result in various side effects, which include the following:
- Stomach-Related Problems – Mangosteen brings along a vast amount of fiber, leading to stomach problems like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation when consumed in large quantities.
- May Cause Allergies – Mangosteen can cause allergic reactions in various people, especially the ones who are hypersensitive. If you experience any allergic reaction after having mangosteen, reach out to your doctor immediately.
- May Not Be a Good For Pregnant or Breastfeeding Woman – Mangosteen is generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women as there are insufficient scientific studies on the subject. However, if you choose to add mangosteen to your diet, make sure to consult your doctor first.
- Bleeding Issues – Consuming mangosteen during or after surgery increases the risk of bleeding. Mangosteen may also cause a slowing down of blood clotting in an individual, increasing the risk for people suffering from bleeding disorders. For that reason, be sure to consult with your doctor before introducing mangosteen to your diet.
What is The Best Way To Consume Mangosteen?
Mangosteen are delicious and very easy to eat. Just peel open the purple rind using a tool like a sharp knife or spoon, and you will find white flesh popping out. You can eat it raw. It is one of the easiest ways to consume mangosteen.
If you don’t like to eat it raw, you can also opt for mangosteen juice or mix it in a fruit salad and take its full benefits.
Conclusion
Mangosteen is a highly beneficial fruit that doesn’t only taste good and promotes health. There are various health benefits of mangosteen that you can include in your diet to level up your health. Just make sure not to over consume the fruit as it can leave negative impacts on your health.
Generally, mangosteen is considered safe to eat, but it is recommended to talk to your doctor before you begin consuming mangosteen. It will help eliminate any potential risks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How Many Mangosteen Can You Eat In a Day?
A dose of more than 560 mg daily for around 12 weeks is ideal for most adults.
2. Why is mangosteen so expensive?
Mangosteen tend to be expensive because they are quite difficult to grow.
3. What does mangosteen taste like?
Mangosteen tastes like a mixture of many fruits like peach, lychee, pineapple and strawberry.
4. Is mangosteen a hot or cold fruit?
According to Chinese culture, mangosteen is believed to be a cold fruit.
5. Is mangosteen good for the kidney?
A study done on animals found that mangosteen can help improve kidney function and structure. It’s recommended to talk to your doctor first if you want to use mangosteen to improve your kidney.
6. Is Mangosteen a Superfood?
Yes. Due to the abundance of vitamins and antioxidants, mangosteen is considered a superfruit.
