10 Interesting Facts You Never Know About Mangosteen
In this period of increasing consciousness to health and wellness, almost everyone has been on the lookout for the “superfoods” or foods packed with nutrient powerhouses. The mangosteen fruit has carved its name in the category of the superfoods. Mangosteen is noted to be low in sugar and among the lowest in calories as compared to other fruits. It is high in Vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin B complex. Even if it scares in the United States in the early years, it was still sought after and highly acclaimed. It has received a lot of hype because of its benefits to the human body. Some call it the Queen of the Fruits, The Superfruit and even the Royal Fruit. These terms were used as a reference to the story that Queen Victoria once had a fascination for this fruit.
A native of Southeast Asia, mangosteen is notorious for its scarcity in the Western hemisphere. This is due to the fact that the mangosteen tree only grows in selective conditions, definitely in the tropical conditions of the Southeast Asian countries. The fruit is apple – shaped and ripens to a deep purple color. Inside, the pulp gives you a mixture of the flavor of sweetness and tanginess. It has a sweet, white and succulent flesh. Let us then look at the reasons why this fruit was high – acclaimed. Here the 10 things you probably don’t know about mangosteen:
- Maintains skin health
The rind was traditionally ground to paste and is known to soothe wounds and skin problems. Mangosteen is known to have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties thus preventing skin infections. The bark was commonly used because it has astringent properties. It has also been known to fight acne, thus it is famous for its cosmetic uses since the antioxidant properties fighting the free radicals will regenerate the cells, helping one look younger. In addition, the pulp has been used to stop bleeding when applied to minor cuts and wounds.
- Promotes oral health
The leaves and the bark are used as a mouthwash because it acts as an astringent. This mouthwash has been reported to relieve mouth ulcers. It has also been promoted as an adjunct treatment for periodontists or gum infection
- Good for the heart
It improves the function of the heart because it contains magnesium to regulate the muscular activity of the heart thereby regulating the heartbeat. Thus, it will regulate the blood pressure into its normal range.
- Prevents cancer
Mangosteen has compounds with antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-tumor activity. The antioxidant properties of mangosteen that helps to prevent cancer. This happens when the body is protected from free radicals that are causing the oxidation process, thereby damaging the cells. Cell destruction leads to different and often severe medical conditions. The antioxidants delay the growth of free radicals thus, this is a potential treatment to stop the spread of cancer cells. This natural antibiotic can be combined with the other chemotherapeutic agents to improve the efficacy of the medications and treatment. It can also reduce the effects of the toxicity brought about by the effects of the other medications.
- Prevents inflammation
The spectrum of conditions that involves inflammation and swelling will greatly benefit from this fruit. This would include respiratory conditions with symptoms that includes the inflammation of the passageways of air, in effect relieving problems in breathing.
The property of the mangosteen to prevent and reduce swelling may also be accounted for the prevention of severe conditions like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases.
- Improves mobility
The anti-inflammatory properties of the mangosteen will greatly help people with mobility problems. Examples of such conditions are arthritis and gout. Regularly intake of mangosteen has proven to relieve soreness of the joints allowing patients to feel better and attain improved mobility.
- Good for the stomach
In the past, the rind was used to prepare a unique tea that can cure diarrhea. This is to due to the tannins it contains. Concurrently, it can also prevent constipation. The fiber that is visibly in the fruit can held anyone who suffers from digestive problems. A healthy digestive system positively affects other organs and prevent health conditions.
- Prevents allergy
According to some studies, mangosteen has shown to reverse allergic reactions in the body. The fruit has a natural antihistamine property. It works by inhibition of histamine release and prostaglandin synthesis.
- The rind has it
The valuable content of the fruit is the Xanthone. Based on studies, the rind of the mangosteen has the highest concentration of Xanthone in nature. Due to this finding, the rind is an important component of the supplements and other mangosteen preparations.The power of the mangosteen comes from the fact that it is a very potent antioxidant, therefore, the rind rules and it should always be utilized.
- A rare fruit, truly the Unicorn of Fruits
If you are in the US or Europe, chances are that there will be no fresh mangosteen in your local supermarket. Only less than a decade ago that importation of this fruit mainly from Thailand was allowed. It grows well only in tropical countries. In the past, farmers in Hawaii and California have attempted to grow mangosteen, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful because mangosteen require such a specific environment for growth. If you are nowhere near Asia, this it will be very difficult for you to find the fresh fruit which is most desirable for its wonderful benefits to the body. The mangosteen fruit is very delicate and does not have a long shelf life. If the rind gets dark and looks dry, then the fruit is past its prime. The juice and even the canned fruit is not recommended as the processed forms of the fruit may contain chemical and definitely a large amount of sugar.
A lot of literature has been written about mangosteen, there were various studies presented to support the claims of this superfruit. However, it was also emphasized that most of these studies were done in a laboratory and the human researches are still insufficient. Most clinical research on the benefits of xanthones is still in its preliminary stages. Until then, its full benefits and even side effects cannot be fully ascertained.
Blog by: Lindy Schwartz of Amazingmachines.info