Yellow mango beneficial properties. Mango desserts

An evergreen tropical plant, which recently appeared on the shelves of our stores, has already managed to win the love of customers. Firstly, thanks to the rich and good taste, and, secondly, the beneficial properties inherent in it. A fruit growing in India helped to cope with terrible diseases that claim the lives of thousands of people - plague and cholera.

In Sanskrit, the name mango is defined as “great fruit”. Indeed, for many thousands of years, having a mango tree growing in the garden was considered the privilege of kings.

Compound

The benefits of mango are determined by its chemical composition. The fruit is one of the richest sources of fiber, as well as carotenoids, which give its pulp its yellow or orange color. In terms of ascorbic acid or vitamin C content, mango beats even lemon. Micro- and macroelements present in large quantities give the fruit healing properties. A essential amino acids in the composition of the fruit play an important role in the course of metabolic processes in the body. Mango is enough sweet fruit thanks to the content large quantity various sugars.

100 g mango contains:

10 Health Benefits of Mango

Like all fruits, mangoes are a source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. And these components are known to help strengthen the immune system and protect our body from various infections and diseases. But scientists have noted the benefits of mangoes for the treatment of certain diseases.

1. Improved digestion

   Fiber, which is abundant in the pulp and peel of mangoes, helps to get rid of constipation and intestinal problems. The healing enzymes of the fruit are able to neutralize the acidic environment of the stomach, as well as break down proteins, thereby making them better absorbed in the body.

2. Good for diabetics

   The sugar contained in mangoes is not harmful, and the fruit itself has a low glycemic index. This suggests that it can be included in the diet of people with diabetes. And some of the complications that this disease provokes will disappear with periodic consumption of mango.

3. Eye health

   Many years ago, mangoes were used to combat night blindness. Indeed, vitamin A and other substances essential for vision can have a beneficial effect on this sense organ and help with itching and burning of the eye mucosa, and with dry eye syndrome.

4. Cancer Prevention

   The antioxidants contained in mangoes block the development of malignant tumors of the mammary glands, lungs, colon and prostate. This exotic fruit also slows down aging. human body. Potassium normalizes blood pressure. Vitamin E has positive influence on the heart muscle.

5. Healthy heart

   Macro and microelements contained in mangoes have hematopoietic properties, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and therefore normalize the functioning of the heart. High levels of vitamin C, pectin and dietary fiber, help reduce blood cholesterol levels. Fresh mangoes are a rich source of potassium, which is also extremely beneficial for the heart.

6. Stress Prevention

   Strong, long-lasting and sometimes negative emotions are relieved by vitamin B6, which is found in abundance in mangoes.

7. Healthy pregnancy

   The iron and vitamin C included in its composition complement each other perfectly and contribute to the health of the body of both the mother and the unborn baby.

8. Preventing asthma

   Eating foods rich in beta-carotene dramatically reduces the risk of asthma. The highest levels of beta-carotene are in mangoes, papaya, apricots, broccoli, melon, pumpkin and carrots.

9. Healthy Bones

   Vitamin K, contained in large quantities in mangoes, helps better absorption calcium, thereby reducing the risk of fractures.

10. Improved brain function

    Mango contains sufficient amounts of the amino acid glutamine, which helps improve attention, learning and memory.

Those who decide to lose weight should also try this fruit. Low calorie and a small amount of carbohydrates will only contribute to weight loss. Mango helps remove excess fluid from the body.

• Bacterial infections;
• Vaginitis;
• Diarrhea;
• Dysentery;
• Eye diseases;
• Pore ​​blockage;
• Constipation;
• Fever;
• Violations menstrual cycle;
• Baldness;
• Obesity;
• Heat rashes;
• Kidney problems, including nephritis;
• Liver disorders;
• Asthma symptoms;
• Sinusitis;
• Toxicosis;
• Scurvy;

Contraindications

Individual intolerance and emerging allergies will become an obstacle to eating mango. In addition, the fruit is contraindicated:

• children under 3 years old;
• prone to stomach ulcers and gastritis.

You shouldn't eat mangoes together with alcohol. Also avoid eating unripe fruits, as this can lead to intestinal and stomach cramps.

Persons taking mango should refrain from eating warfarin.

When burned, mangoes release harmful gases that can cause vision loss and even be fatal. The leaves of the plant are also dangerous; they are considered poisonous and unsafe for pets.

In India, which is considered the world's main supplier of mangoes, several centuries ago they figured out how to breed yellow tint fruit. To do this, they used the urine of sick cows. But soon this method came to naught, since the use of a sacred animal was mortally punishable.

In India, the mango tree is symbolized as something sacred and wish-fulfilling. In order for happiness and the blessing of the gods to come to your home, you need to hang a mango on the front door on New Year's Eve.

What else is useful?

Sometimes supermarket fruit counters can amaze shoppers. We are talking not only about the variety of varieties and types of fruits, but also about their cost. Surprisingly, often the familiar apples or pears that grow in our area can exceed the cost of exotic ones. More recently, mango was something amazing and inaccessible for us, but today everyone can afford it. This sweet and aromatic fruit is loved by Russians and is becoming more popular every day. At home this sweet fruit called the “king of fruits” - and it fully justifies this title.

What kind of fruit is this and where does it grow?

Now mangoes are grown in almost all countries with a humid tropical climate: India, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka. But Myanmar is considered to be the birthplace of the “king of all fruits”. On our shelves you most often find fruits from Thai or Indian producers.

The mango tree is a giant evergreen plant. Its height often exceeds forty meters. Relatively recently, breeders bred several hundred dwarf fruit-bearing mango trees and actively cultivated them. This is why mango fruits are rapidly becoming cheaper and more accessible. The mango tree is very picky; it will never bear fruit in unsuitable conditions. He needs high temperatures, good watering, but not excessive moisture.

In addition, mango is a self-pollinating plant, so it is extremely important for it to have wind or air currents.

The ripening season for mango fruits is relatively short. Although the tree is evergreen, it bears fruit only once a year. The fruits ripen in April - May. It is during this period that you can buy the highest quality and cheapest fruits.

Mango fruits come in a variety of colors, from bright green to red-brown. Varieties with one-sided color are also common. The fruits of this variety may be mostly green, but have spots of orange or red. The presence of such a spot indicates that the fruit was ripening on the tree and was turned towards the sun by the place with the spot. The shape of a mango can be similar to an egg, a torpedo melon or a large pear. There are also flatter fruits, but they are considered second-class. It is not recommended to buy fruit that looks flattened. Average weight mango is 300 grams, and during the ripening season you can find giant fruits weighing up to 1.5 kg.

The real taste of mango is difficult to describe: it is a synthesis taste properties carrots, peach, melon and pumpkin. However, it is almost impossible to try such mangoes in our country: in order to deliver the fruit to us, they are picked unripe. To appreciate the real taste of the fruit, you need to find a mango that has ripened on the tree. Amazing fact about mango: chemical composition There is practically no difference between a fruit ripened on a tree and a fruit ripened in a store. The taste qualities are somewhat lost. Mango bought in a regular Russian store is similar to a melon with a peach flavor and pine notes.

Now shops specializing in the sale of exotic fruits have begun to appear. In such a store you can easily find a good one, matured in natural conditions fetus. There are also online services for selling fruits. Most often, they strive to earn positive customer reviews, so their product good quality, but there are also irresponsible sellers, so you shouldn’t take risks and choose young, unfamiliar online stores. In addition, it is very important to study reviews about the seller.

Compound

Mangoes are more than 80% water.

The composition of mangoes is very rich in useful substances necessary for a full-fledged human existence. It contains great amount vitamins: A, C, vitamins B, E, K and PP. All of them are important for maintaining immunity and the health of individual human organs.

It also contains no less microelements: magnesium, calcium, potassium, selenium, zinc, iron, copper, phosphorus and safe dose manganese It contains less glucose, starch and organic acids. 100 grams of mango contains more than 14 grams of plant fiber.

Despite the fact that mangoes are generally considered dietary product, this is one of the most high-calorie fruits: 100 grams of pulp contains about 80 calories, therefore, one average fruit contains approximately 150–200 calories. Mango juice significantly loses calorie content: 100 grams contains about 40 calories. But with dried mango the opposite is true: 300-350 calories per slice.

In 100 grams ripe mango contains 0.5 grams of protein and fat and 15 grams of carbohydrates.

Most often, mango fruits are picked unripe and ripen during transportation and storage.

In such fruits, the content of vitamins and minerals decreases as they ripen, and the amount of starches, fructose and sucrose increases, so it is better to eat naturally ripened or greenish fruits.

Benefit

The “King of Fruits” undoubtedly has a lot of beneficial properties for the human body.

Nutritionists highly appreciate its merits and often recommend it for use when losing or gaining weight, in diets that prolong youth or are restorative.

• Mango pulp significantly speeds up metabolism and removes excess fluid from the body, so its consumption makes any diet more effective.
• The high content of B vitamins, and especially vitamin B6, tones the nervous system and normalizes its processes. Mango is recommended for insomnia, nervousness, and stress.
• This fruit is very beneficial for the intestines. The fiber contained in it normalizes digestive processes and perfectly helps in the fight against constipation or flatulence.
• The huge amount of potassium contained in mango pulp alleviates the condition of hypertensive and hypotensive patients and helps maintain the alkaline and electrolyte balance of the body.
• Mango can be eaten to prevent cancer.

• Mango pulp has antiseptic properties. This makes it an indispensable ally in the fight against throat diseases.
• A large amount of vitamins, including vitamin C, will strengthen the immune system.
• The usefulness of mangoes in the fight against retinal aging has long been proven. With regular consumption of mangoes, vision improves, this is especially noticeable in the dark.
• Just one mango fruit per week will strengthen the entire circulatory system, improve the condition of blood vessels, and normalize blood composition.
• Mango pulp is acceptable in the diet of diabetics: it accelerates the removal of sugar and cholesterol from the body.
• Mango is recommended for use in case of bone fractures or skin injuries, as it accelerates recovery processes.

Harm

The huge list of beneficial properties of mangoes does not negate possible harm which can be caused by careless consumption of this fruit. Since this is an exotic fruit that has become widely available relatively recently, it is extremely popular.

Here's what you need to remember about the dangers that may lurk in it:

1. Most important advice advice that nutritionists give regarding mangoes is that you should not overeat. The process of evolution in our body has laid down the mechanisms for the production of enzymes for the assimilation of those products that grow on the territory of our country. This means that the Russian human body is not adapted to process large quantities of this product.
2. Mango fruits are a strong allergen, so they should not be consumed by children under three years of age and should be used very carefully by allergy sufferers.
3. Mangoes may have a laxative effect on some people.
4. People with gastritis and diseases of the mucous membrane should limit themselves to a small piece of this fruit: it can cause heartburn.
5. Mango peel should not be eaten. Also, after cleaning the fruit, it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly. Mango peel releases a small dose of oils and acids that can cause minor harm to the skin and mucous membranes.

The first time you use any exotic fruit, including mangoes, it’s worth doing an allergy test. To do this, you should eat a small piece and wait a few hours. If there is no reaction, you can safely eat this product. But the first time you use it, you shouldn’t get too carried away.

How to select and store?

Mango is an exotic fruit, relatively new to the Russian public. Despite the fact that everyone can afford it for some time, most still find it difficult to choose a good fruit. The pulp of a really ripe mango fruit should be bright yellow, soft and very juicy - these are the surest signs of a good fruit, but they impossible to determine in a supermarket.

In order not to make a mistake with your choice, you should pay attention to several external signs ripe fruit.

1. The color of a mango's skin does not indicate its ripeness. There are many varieties of this plant in the world, so the color of mango skin can be green, pink, red, brown or burgundy. However, the color of the fruit must be bright. A dull color indicates that the product has not been stored properly.
2. In addition, the skin should be shiny, dense and undamaged. Mango - very juicy product, therefore, even through the smallest crack a large amount of juice can escape, causing the taste of the pulp to become significantly worse.
3. The wrinkled skin of a mango indicates that the fruits are not ripe and are already drying out - this is a bad mango.
4. Flat fruits have little pulp and large bones, so you should choose the roundest fruit.
5. A ripe fruit should feel firm to the touch, but slightly soft. When you squeeze the fruit lightly, it should be pliable, but not break.
6. The flesh of a ripe mango should be bright yellow or orange, very juicy, and may taste like melon, carrot or peach with a distinct pine flavor.
7. The surest sign of a ripe fruit is its rich smell, so before buying you should smell the mango near the “tail”. If it does not smell, most likely the fruit is not yet ripe.

Considering all these recommendations, it is not difficult to learn how to choose a truly ripe product. If there is no ripe fruit in the store, but you really want mango, don’t be upset - you can put it in a warm place for several days: it ripens perfectly in room conditions.

Store mango long time almost impossible: ripe fruits quickly lose their taste qualities. They can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature not exceeding 9 degrees. Temperature changes are harmful to them, so it is important to avoid opening the refrigerator frequently. These measures will help preserve the fruits, but not more than 3-5 days.

If you want to stock up on fruits for future use, you should choose frankly green mangoes. They can be placed in a crisper drawer and stored for up to 3 weeks. Before use, such a fruit will need to be put out of the refrigerator in a warm place for a while.

Ripening can take from 6 hours to 3 days depending on the degree of maturity of the fruit.

How to use?

Although mango is sweet and aromatic fruit, it is used in cooking absolutely different dishes. Famous chefs around the world choose the sweet pulp of the “king of fruits” to prepare salads, snacks, cocktails and, of course, desserts. Jamie Oliver admitted in one of his interviews that he had long avoided using mangoes in the preparation of his dishes: it is quite difficult to peel it in a restaurant kitchen and a large flow of orders. However, the taste of mango bewitches visitors so much that he had to invent his own method of peeling mangoes.

Jamie Oliver's Chicken Salad

For refueling you will need:

• 1 small chili pepper;
• 100 g spinach;
• a small bunch of green cilantro;
• several green onions;
• medium bunch of mint.

All greens need to be washed thoroughly, pick off the cilantro and mint leaves, and place them in a blender bowl. Green stems should not be used. Add spinach, onion and pepper and grind thoroughly until pureed.

For the salad you will need:

• 100 g quinoa or couscous;
• 2 chicken fillets;
• salt, pepper, ground paprika;
• vegetable oil;
• 1 large mango;
• 1 ripe avocado;
• 1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper.

Prepare quinoa or couscous according to package directions.

Wash and dry the chicken with paper towels, place on parchment, salt and pepper to taste, cover with another layer of parchment and pound with a rolling pin to a thickness of 1–1.5 cm. Then sprinkle the meat generously ground paprika and fry in a frying pan with hot oil until golden brown crust. When the chicken is fried on one side, turn it over, put the pepper cut into large slices into the frying pan and continue cooking until the chicken is done. The pepper should be al dente (half raw).

Peel the mango and cut into large cubes. Ready-made cereal drain, place on a dish, top with herb puree and pour over everything olive oil and lemon juice. Place peppers and mango on top. Chicken breast and cut the avocado pulp into slices and place on the salad, sprinkle with feta cheese crumbs on top.

Gordon Ramsay's Crab Rolls and Mango Salsa

To prepare the rolls you will need:

• a head of iceberg lettuce;
• 350 grams of crab meat;
• a bunch of cilantro;
• 1 shallot;
• a piece of chili pepper;
• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard;
• 5-6 tablespoons mayonnaise or natural yogurt;
• salt pepper;
• teaspoon lime juice.

Boil crab meat, chop large pieces, add finely chopped cilantro, onion and pepper and mix thoroughly. Add mustard and mayonnaise, lime juice to the mixture, mix well, add salt and pepper to taste.

Wash the salad thoroughly, disassemble into sheets and dry. Cut the sheets into wide strips, spread the filling on each sheet and form into small rolls.

To prepare the salsa you will need:

• 2 large mangoes;
• 50 grams of mint leaves;
• 1 small chili pepper;
• 1 small red onion;
• 1 tablespoon each olive oil and sesame oil, a tablespoon of lime juice.

The mango needs to be peeled, boned, and the pulp cut into cubes. Wash the mint and chop finely. Peel and chop the pepper and onion. Combine all prepared ingredients, add oils and mix. The salsa needs to be cooked before serving to prevent the mango juice from running off.

Place salsa on serving plates and place rolls on top.

Ready dish Drizzle lightly with olive oil.

Mango muffins

To make mango muffins you will need:

• 1 ripe mango;
• 2 cups of flour;
• 2 eggs;
• 2 teaspoons baking powder;
• 6 tablespoons sugar;
• a pinch of salt;
• 1 glass of milk;
• a tablespoon of vegetable oil;
• orange zest to taste.

Pour sugar into a deep bowl, beat in the egg and beat until fluffy foam is obtained. Add mango pulp, salt, milk, butter and zest to a bowl and beat for another 5 minutes. Pour flour and baking powder into the resulting mass and mix everything until smooth. Ready dough Place in muffin tins and bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees until done.

You can check readiness with a toothpick. To do this, you need to pierce the cupcake with it. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready. Finished goods Remove from pans and cool. If desired, they can be decorated with icing or buttercream.

Panna cotta with mango from blogger AndyChef

To make mango panna cotta you will need:

• 1 large mango;
• 250 grams of heavy cream;
• 250 g milk;
• 2 tablespoons sugar;
• 1 sachet or 2 sheets of gelatin;
• a glass of water;
• vanilla - to taste;
• pistachios or other nuts - for decoration.

Peel the mango and puree thoroughly in a blender. Place the finished mango puree into bowls, filling them no more than 1/3, and place in the refrigerator for 30–50 minutes.

Pour a tablespoon of gelatin or 1 sheet warm water and leave to swell. Pour the cream into the pan, add sugar and vanilla and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Pour milk and gelatin into the resulting mass, mix thoroughly and pass everything through a fine sieve to remove possible gelatin lumps. The resulting mass must be cooled to room temperature. It is important to stir the panna cotta occasionally to ensure it cools evenly. Then pour the mixture into the bowls with mango puree and put it in the refrigerator again until it hardens completely.

Milkshake according to the recipe of Yulia Vysotskaya

For cooking milkshake According to Yulia Vysotskaya's recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 glass of coconut milk;
• half a glass of milk;
• 1 ripe mango, 1 lime;
• 5 tablespoons of sugar;
• a pack of white coconut flakes.

Two tablespoons of sugar need to be dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water and rub the crown of the glass with the resulting syrup. Dip the still wet glass into coconut flakes and leave to dry.

It is necessary to remove the zest from the lime, avoiding its white layer. It is best to remove the zest special knife or using a fine grater. The zest shavings should be mixed with 3 tablespoons of sugar. The mango must be peeled, pitted and cut into medium-sized cubes. Beat the prepared mango and lime in a blender, pour regular milk and coconut milk and continue whisking until foamy. Pour the finished cocktail into the prepared glass.

In the homeland of mango, steamed pilaf with its pulp is especially popular. In addition, in Thailand received recognition dried fruit, it can also be found on the shelves of our supermarkets. Dried slices are no less useful than the pulp of a fresh fruit. You can make compote from them, add them to cheesecake or decorate a cake - whatever your imagination allows.

Dried and fresh mango is a very tasty dessert.

Use in cosmetology

Pulp, oil and even mango seed have very wide uses in cosmetology. Since ancient times, girls in Thailand have used mangoes to nourish their skin and strengthen their hair, and today their secrets are also available to Slavs. Homemade cosmetics Mango makes it very nutritious and multifunctional. Mango masks can serve a variety of purposes. It’s not for nothing that they are extremely popular among professional cosmetologists, who leave only positive reviews about them.

Pulp for facial skin

As part of masks, creams or facial scrubs, mango pulp can have a variety of effects: cleanse, tighten, remove age spots, pimples and acne, moisturize or dry the skin. To achieve the desired effect, it is important to correctly combine mango pulp with other ingredients.

The skin of adolescents in adolescence is characterized by: acne, pimples, acne. A mask based on the pulp of 1 mango with the addition of half a glass of white wine and a teaspoon of yeast will help overcome this problem. You need to apply the mask no more than 2 times a week; you can store it in a closed plastic dishes in a refrigerator.

For people with oily skin a mask made from the pulp of 1 mango or a glass of mango juice, a tablespoon is perfect apple cider vinegar and 1 whipped egg white. This mask should be applied to the skin, avoiding the areas around the eyes, and left for no longer than 3-5 minutes.

After using it, be sure to use a cream with a light structure.

For those with dry skin, a sour cream mask with mango is suitable. To prepare it, you need to mix 1 tablespoon of mango pulp, sour cream, cottage cheese and 1 teaspoon of hazelnut oil or oil of any other nut. This mask can be used frequently, and the procedure can last up to 10 minutes.

There is also a rejuvenating effect from mango. You can use boiled oatmeal as the basis for a mango mask to combat wrinkles. A glass of oatmeal should be lightly ground with a blender, but not to a puree, but rather to a paste. Grinding too intensively destroys fiber, which is most important in the fight against wrinkles. Add the pulp of one mango and a tablespoon of honey to the resulting pulp and mix thoroughly. This mask should be used daily after washing your face in the evening.

Mango can also help in the fight against age spots. To prepare it you will need 1 tablespoon each of mango juice and natural yogurt, a teaspoon of lime juice, 2 pinches of white clay and 15 drops of salicylic acid. All components must be mixed until homogeneous mass, apply to problem areas and leave for 5-7 minutes, then rinse. After the procedure, be sure to wipe the skin with a mattifying agent.

Pulp and peel for healthy hair

Mango fruits are a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. All these components can significantly improve the condition of damaged hair. The most simple mask for mango hair - this is a mixture of 1 mango pulp, 20 grams of natural yogurt and 2 egg yolks. Beat the pulp, yogurt and yolks with a blender until smooth, apply to hair, wrap in cellophane and a towel and leave for half an hour. This mask will improve the structure of your hair, make it easier to comb, make it shiny, shiny, and protect it from the scorching sun or frost.

For deeper nourishment of your hair, you can make a mask of avocado with almond oil. For it you will need: 1 ripe mango, a tablespoon of honey, half a teaspoon of almond oil. For this mask, it is very important to choose a ripe fruit, maybe even slightly overripe, since such fruits have thin and soft skin. The fruit must be thoroughly washed, the pulp and skin pureed in a blender until smooth, add oil and honey and mix thoroughly.

Apply the finished mask to the roots of freshly washed hair, massage your head and distribute the mixture along the length of your hair. Then wrap your hair in cellophane and a towel to create a bath effect. You can walk with such a mask for half an hour or more. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that mango peel is rich in amino acids, which can lighten hair slightly with prolonged contact (more than an hour). This mask nourishes and strengthens the hair very well, it has a cumulative effect similar to hair lamination. You should not do it more often than once every 2 weeks.

Heel stone scrubs

The mango seed contains a huge amount essential oils, which is why it has such a bright pine aroma. Extracts of these oils can significantly improve the quality of the skin, but it is extremely difficult to use the seed, and it is only applicable to rough, keratinized epidermis. To use the pit, it must be thoroughly washed with a steel dish brush to remove any fibers remaining from the pulp. Then it must be split and the inner part removed. It contains toxic substances, so it should not be used. The bone fragments should be laid out on a sheet of paper and dried for 5–7 days in a dry place. Then it must be ground until small grains are formed. A blender is not suitable for this purpose: the mango seed is too hard. It’s better to ask your spouse for help; he will probably have a tool that can sufficiently crush the bone. The crumbs should be no larger than sugar crystals.

The resulting crumb is an excellent abrasive for rough skin. In order for the scrub to be not only cleansing, but also nourishing, you need to add the appropriate components to it. So, you can make a scrub from a glass homemade kefir, a tablespoon of mango bone crumbs and a few drops of vanilla extract. This product will cleanse your heels of rough, dead skin, moisturize them and soothe them after a long day.

If vanilla extract is replaced with oil or orange zest, the product will help tone the skin, making it more elastic and fresh.

On a note

The exotic fruit mango can cause allergic reactions and as part of cosmetics. Even if no reactions were observed when eating mangoes, this does not mean that the cosmetics are safe. In order to check the individual tolerance of mango to your body, you need to perform a simple procedure: grind the mango pulp into a paste and apply a thin layer to a small area of ​​skin. After 15 minutes, it should be washed off and the treated skin should be assessed. If there are no redness, rashes or other signs of allergy on it, mango is acceptable for use for cosmetic purposes.

You will learn more about mangoes in the following video.

In recent years, mango fruits ( ) have gained enormous popularity among visitors to Russian supermarkets. At the same time, the benefits and harms of this gift of the tropics are known to the residents of our country only superficially.

This sweet fruit belongs to the Sumacaceae family and grows in almost all tropical countries of Asia, in some countries of Latin America, as well as in Spain and the Canary Islands. But India is considered its homeland. According to legend, the mango tree (mangifera) was created by the god Shiva as a gift for his beloved. In modern India and Pakistan, the plant is revered as sacred. It is not surprising, because mango fruits have a lot of useful properties, so that countries that cultivate this fruit annually sell hundreds of thousands of tons to other countries.

Mango fruits are round, elongated, with smooth thin skin and juicy fibrous yellow-orange pulp. The large stone consists of a strong shell and a soft nucleolus.

The weight, color of the peel and even the shape of the fruit depend on the variety. To date, more than 69 varieties are known. There are more than a dozen of them in Thailand alone; Moreover, some are in great demand and are mainly exported, while others are considered fodder, so in many areas their fruits are not even collected from trees.

Composition and nutritional value

Mango pulp contains an impressive part of the periodic table. The composition of the fruits includes:

• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• zinc;
• iron;
• manganese;
• potassium;
• selenium;
• magnesium;
• copper;
• trace amounts of other trace elements.

Mangifera fruits contain amino acids important for the human body, including essential ones.

Vitamin composition: A, B, D, E, K, PP and high doses of vitamin C. In some varieties, 100 g of pulp contains up to 175 mg of ascorbic acid. For comparison: in lemons its content does not exceed 40 mg per 100 g.

• Fruit pulp contains a large amount of extremely healthy carotenoids, which give the fruit a rich yellow-orange color.
• The peel is rich in tannins - polyphenolic compounds with wide range useful properties. Let us remind you that there are especially many such substances in black, green and other types of tea.
• Mangosteen is extracted from mango seeds (not to be confused with the tropical fruit of the same name) - Chemical substance with pronounced antipyretic properties.

The fruits have enough high calorie content: 67 kcal for every 100 g. This is due to the presence of a large amount of carbohydrates: over 11%. Proteins and fats, on the contrary, make up no more than 0.5% of each nutrient group.

We consider useful properties

Mango can safely be called a king tropical fruits. The fruits and leaves of this plant contain a lot useful substances, explaining it healing properties With scientific point vision.

1. The fruits are an excellent remedy for weight loss: cleanse the body, normalize water-salt balance, speed up metabolism. There is even a special mango diet that allows you to lose excess weight quickly and without much harm to your health.
2. The pulp contains a large amount of fiber, which stimulates intestinal function - a note for people suffering from constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
3. In Russia, with the onset of cold season, the demand for fruits rich in vitamin C increases sharply. consumer basket it turns out to be lemons and oranges; but in order to increase immunity, you can also buy mangoes. These sweet fruits help cope with infectious diseases, increase body tone and serve as an excellent flu prevention.
4. Beneficial for kidney diseases and Bladder. The substances contained in the fruits improve the functioning of these organs, prevent the development of urolithiasis, and help reduce inflammation in pyelonephritis.
5. Thanks to retinol in the pulp, mangoes are good for vision. With regular use, the risk of developing myopia and night blindness is reduced. Helps cope with dry cornea and eye fatigue.
6. The role in preventing cancer is beyond doubt. Given that frequent use This fruit reduces the risk of developing many types of cancer several times.
7. The antiseptic properties of mangoes are often used to prevent gum and dental diseases. Thus, in medieval Spain, these fruits played an important role in the fight against scurvy, along with citrus fruits.
8. Positively affects work nervous system. Plant endorphins in fruit pulp improve memory, activate thought processes, elevate mood, and help cope with stress.
9. An important and recently confirmed by scientists beneficial property of mango juice concerns the prevention of atherosclerosis, a disease that increasingly affects not only representatives of the older age group, but also middle-aged people.

Despite the fact that the highest concentration of nutrients is contained in the pulp, the peel, fruit seeds and leaves also have several trump cards up their sleeve.

For example, nucleoli are used for asthma, and a decoction of mangifera leaves is used to treat and prevent the following ailments:

• varicose veins;
• poor blood clotting;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas;
• heartburn;
• caries, etc.

Finally, mango leaves are a real salvation for diabetics. A decoction of this plant material normalizes blood glucose levels and helps preserve vision, which often deteriorates with this disease.

For children and pregnant women

The fruit is especially beneficial for the health of pregnant women. Contained in it nutrients help cope with anemia, support the proper development of the fetus, and improve a woman’s immunity. But due to the increased risk of allergies, the consumption of mangoes during pregnancy must be agreed with a doctor.

Young children can add a spoonful of mango puree to their daily diet, and older children can make sweet salads from this tropical guest. If there is no allergy, it has an extremely positive effect on the child’s body.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the many miraculous properties, it is not recommended to eat mango uncontrollably. It is not useful for everyone, and in some situations it can become truly dangerous to health.

Like many others tropical fruits, mango is a strong allergen. When trying it for the first time, you need to be careful. If after a small piece you notice a rash, runny nose, or indigestion, these are clear signals to give up exotic foods in your diet.

Bad news for people who prefer to have a glass or two at dinner: the fruit does not go well with alcohol and can cause illness.

Even completely healthy man may become unwell (heaviness in the stomach, colic, etc.) if he eats more than 2 pieces in one day. Since mango is quite heavy for digestive system product.

Unripe fruits are insidious: even in small quantities they can cause stomach cramps, constipation and even fever.

Gifts of the mango tree

Mangifera, in addition to fruits and leaves, gives people other useful products.

• The oil is used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. It has an almost magical effect on the skin. It is added to anti-aging and moisturizing creams, hygienic lipstick and many other products that help preserve youth and beauty.
• They produce in hot countries. It has a low strength, but thanks to its rich aroma and pleasant taste, it is in consumer demand.
• Mango juice is prescribed for intestinal and kidney problems, and is drunk as a vitamin tonic, a source of calcium and iron, and just for pleasure. Freshly squeezed juice has cosmetic properties that are beneficial for dry skin. External use can also help in the treatment of dermatitis.

How to choose

The most delicious and healthy ones are the fully ripe ones. But determining the ripeness of mangoes is not easy due to the large number of varieties. As a result, a green fruit may turn out to be juicier and sweeter than an orange fruit, and the putrid-gray tint of the fruit skin is not always a sign of spoilage.

• Smell the mango: it should have a pleasant, strong aroma. Unripe fruits have almost no smell, while fruits that begin to rot smell of alcohol.
• The skin should be shiny and smooth, without dents or softened areas.
• Try to apply a little pressure on the peel in the area of ​​the cutting. If it wrinkles a little, the fruit is completely ripe.

If you bought unripe fruits, do not despair: they will ripen easily if you put them in a warm place, first wrapped in paper or breathable fabric. The main thing is not to store fresh mangoes in the refrigerator, where they quickly become soft and lose their pleasant, refreshing taste and a significant part of their beneficial properties.

Culinary certificate

Most residents of our country are accustomed to perceiving mango fruits as a dessert, served cut or, in extreme cases, as part of sweet salads. But you can prepare many amazing dishes from this fruit. In the countries where it is cultivated, it is eaten in almost all forms: fried, dried, sun-dried and even stewed.

An exotic spice is produced from unripe mango fruits (greenish-gray powder with a sweet and sour aroma). In cooking they use:

• as part of marinades for meat;
• in the manufacture of confectionery products;
• as a seasoning for bean dishes;
• as an additive to cottage cheese;
• for flavoring cocktails.

In the family kitchen, amchur can be added in small quantities to almost any food, which will not be harmed by a sweetish and sour taste.

With the spread of fruitarianism throughout the world, interest in such healthy exotics as mangoes is growing rapidly. And healthy eating experts see only advantages in this.

It is supplied to Russia from different countries: Brazil, Guatemala, Bangladesh, India, Thailand. Mango is often called the “Asian apple”, and it is already common to see it on supermarket shelves. But does everyone know how to choose the right mango and how to eat it?

Basically, it is either green or yellow. Green fruits are recommended to be consumed salty, with meat and fish, for example, and yellow, sweeter fruits can be eaten as an independent dessert or as an addition to it.

How to determine the ripeness of a mango

It is important to determine whether the fruit is ripe, because this determines whether it can be eaten or not. How do you know if it is ripe enough? So, a ripe mango should have:
smooth surface of the peel (but there are exceptions: the peel of some varieties of fruit is uneven, as if in folds, and this is the norm);

• small dark specks on the peel;
• weight more than two hundred grams (if the weight is less, then most likely the fruit will be tasteless and harsh);
• soft, but not too soft, top layer (it should be easily pressed to the touch);
• not necessarily large size of the fetus ( large fruits do not guarantee good taste);
• a pleasant, noticeable aroma that intensifies towards the tail;
• a fairly large stalk, flexible at the base.

It’s great if, when choosing a fruit, you can see it in cross-section. A ripe mango should be bright yellow-orange when cut.

Mango flavor

Shades of taste vary from variety to variety, and also depend on the country of origin. There are suggestions that the taste of mango resembles:

• lemon-carrot flavor,
• pine-lemon;
• bright exotic taste, similar to om;
• strawberry-pineapple;
• with juniper notes.

How to peel a mango

Before eating, the fruit must be peeled. The difficulty is that the skinless fruit is very slippery, and you can easily cut yourself with a knife blade. Let's look at everything in order.

How to remove a pit

There are three ways to remove the kernel from a fruit while leaving the peel intact.

• First way. You need to place the fruit on a cutting board, fix it with your hand so that there is a place with a tail on top. Then you need to draw a knife along barely noticeable lines from top to bottom of the fruit on both sides. Are these lines really that important? They will facilitate the process of removing the seed, and in this case the fruit will be damaged minimally. If you were able to find the lines and the cuts were made along them, then the seed will be located along the halves of the fruit. And to get it, you just need to pull the halves in different directions. In this case, one half will be pitted, and a spoon will help you easily remove it from the second half. If the lines on the mango are invisible, you can make cuts anywhere, most importantly, on two opposite sides of the fruit. If the bone is located across the cuts or perpendicular to the halves, then you can twist the halves in different directions with both hands. Thus, separate them from each other. And remove the bone again with a spoon.
• The point of the second method is that, by removing the core, you end up with almost whole fruit. There will be an opportunity to cut it into rings. So, you will need a sharp knife. They make a cut along the fruit, small, the size of the kernel. Then the knife needs to be inserted into the slot and not scrolled all the way, but as if moving the halves apart. Then use a spoon to remove the bone. This case is suitable only if the fruit is ripe enough. Otherwise you will have to try very hard.
• And the third way. You can make a slit through the entire fruit so that it runs along the flat side of the pit. To do this you need a sharp knife and skill. IN in this case The core is also removed from half of the fruit with a spoon.

In all three cases, you can remove the core of the fruit by first peeling it. It’s just that after this the fruit will become slippery and it will not be very convenient to continue manipulating it.

How to peel a mango

There are different cleaning methods. Knowing the following points will help you do this correctly.

• Clean with a kitchen knife. Like potatoes, but make the skin thinner. Or make two cuts on the side of the mango opposite the tail. And then use your fingers to stretch the skin to the other end, just like peeling.
• Use a vegetable peeler as a knife. It will take more time, but there is a chance that the skin will be cut thinly and neatly.
• Without using a knife. This can be done if the fruit is ripe and cut into two halves. You'll need a glass here. You need to take half the fruit in one hand. Glass - in another. Place the mango, skin side up, on the glass and press down lightly with your hand. The diameter of the glass is slightly smaller than the diameter of the mango, this will allow the pulp to be inside the glass when pressed, and the peel to be in your hand.

How to eat mango

Mango can be eaten fresh or after heat treatment - it all depends on the person’s preferences. This exotic fruit is easy to prepare at home.

Raw

Let's look at options for eating mango raw:

1. You can simply eat it with a spoon, eating the juicy pulp out of half.
2. Add to smoothie. Or make a cocktail, for example, grind pieces of its pulp in a blender, then pour milk or yogurt into it, and add ice cubes. Mango tastes like a combination of strawberries and pineapple, so it goes well with liqueurs and rum.
3. You can prepare a kind of side dish from it. To do this, the chopped fruit needs to be sprinkled with spices and salt.
4. The fruit can be added to a salad, for example, make a mango and shrimp salad. Cook the shrimp according to the classic method, then add arugula and mozzarella to them. This salad is dressed with olive oil, honey and mustard.
5. Sorbet. Frozen sorbet can be served with mint sauce.

In prepared dishes

Now let's look at how to eat mangoes after heat treatment.

1. The fruit is added to yogurt, mousse cakes, jelly, and simply baked goods.
2. It is eaten with seafood. For example, to add this fruit to fish sauce, first you need to let it go.
3. Oven-cooked chicken or duck will become more unusual and refined in taste if mango is baked with it.
4. Pieces of pulp can be preserved for the winter, making a wonderful dessert.
5. You can put it in soup, for example, from shrimp.

Can you eat mango peel?

There is one more important nuance: how to eat mango correctly: peeling it or with it?

If the fruit is ripe, then the color and general appearance of the skin are not particularly suspicious and many may think that it can be eaten with the skin on. Under no circumstances should this be done, because it contains a toxic resin called urushiol.
It can cause:

• intoxication or poisoning;
• allergies.

How to store mangoes

Mangoes come to us in Russia from different countries, but fruits from Thailand are considered more appetizing. How to preserve the fruit and what is the shelf life, we will consider below.
If the fruit was chosen correctly, its peel is not damaged, has a smooth and shiny surface, the shelf life of mangoes at home is only one week.

You can store the fruit:

• in a refrigerator;
• at room temperature, on the table;
• in a cellar or in a dark and cool place, wrapped in paper;
• in the freezer;
• after heat treatment.

It is advisable to store the fruit on a plate in the refrigerator on the middle shelf. The main thing is that if its surface begins to turn black, then it is no longer worth eating such a fruit. He's gone bad.
Mango storage temperature should not be higher than +5C, relative air humidity 90-95%.

How to store unripe mangoes

Often in stores you can only buy unripe fruit. You can’t eat this because there is a risk of stomach upset, flatulence and vomiting. You can help the fruit ripen at home.

An easy option is to store it on the windowsill. It will ripen in 3-5 days.

How to allow the fruit to ripen faster?

If you put mango and ripe mango in one bag, then place it on a windowsill where the sun's rays come, it will take 1-2 days for the fruit to ripen. This is due to the ethylene contained in the apple.

If you store unripe fruit in the refrigerator in the hope that it will ripen, then there is a possibility of its ripening. However, during such storage, sugar does not form in mango fruits, as a result of which the mango will be tasteless, as if bland.

The fruit brought to the required maturity is stored in the refrigerator.

Storing mangoes in the refrigerator

Of course, storing fruits in the refrigerator is the best option. But you need to do it right. For example, if a fruit sits in the refrigerator for a long time, then its taste will not become better, but rather the opposite. The pulp will also become tougher.

So that the mango taste remains for a long time juicy and sweet, you need to follow some rules:

• place the ripe fruit in a cool, but not cold place;
• Store unripe fruit on the windowsill.

You can store mangoes in the refrigerator.

Most the best option– this is in the “freshness zone” of the refrigerator. There is constant air ventilation, which allows you to always maintain the same temperature of +3C. The fruit is wrapped in paper, but not very tightly.

If the refrigerator model does not include a “freshness zone,” then the mango fruit is wrapped in paper bag and stored on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. The temperature is from +3 to +5C.

Mango, an exotic fruit for us, is one of the most common in South-East Asia. Its fruits are sold in local markets, supermarkets, or simply along the road in cars. But all this exoticism can be seen only during the period of its mass maturation. The name mango means “great fruit”, which is why you can often hear that locals call it the “Fruit King”.

Mango is an evergreen tree whose height sometimes reaches 40 meters. But modern breeders have bred dwarf breeds, which is very convenient for those who grow this fruit on an industrial scale.

When young, the leaves of the tree are colored reddish, but over time, the older the plant, the more intense the green color will appear.

During flowering, the crown is covered with small yellow flowers. There are several varieties of mango, each of them differs in color and size of the fruit itself. And some are even prone to self-pollination. Fruits do not set if the tree grows in inappropriate climatic conditions. Night air temperature should be above 13 degrees. Mango does not like high levels of humidity; for fruitful growth there must be fresh air and sufficient light. That is why they try to plant the plant in open areas.

What does a mango look like?

Mango fruits can be yellow, green, orange, red. In shape they resemble a slightly elongated egg-shaped structure. The average weight varies between 200-250 grams. But quite often you can find fruits that weigh up to 400-500 grams, and real record holders are considered to weigh up to 1.5 kilograms.

Mango peel is quite dense and smooth. The pulp is fibrous with a sweet taste. Located inside large stone light yellow in color, slightly flattened on both sides.

When is mango season in Thailand?

Mango is one of the most delicious fruits in Thailand. The country's climate is perfect for ripening this tropical delicacy. I just want to draw your attention to the fact that the fruit season is very short and lasts only from April to May. It is at this time that all the country's markets are overflowing with yellow fruits, and the price per 1 kilogram drops to 15-20 baht.

Mango flavor

To taste the real taste of mango, you need to find a fruit that has ripened on the tree. Fruits purchased from us in the store will have slightly different taste qualities, since they are picked while still green. Thai mango has a special taste, reminiscent of a combination ripe pineapple and peach. Its pulp simply melts in your mouth. An eaten piece can quench thirst, fill the body with freshness and coolness and at the same time awaken the appetite. More subtle gourmets generally find it difficult to compare its taste with any fruit familiar to us.

Beneficial properties of mango

You can talk about the beneficial properties of mango for hours. There are really a lot of benefits from it, which is why we will try to highlight the most important points:

1. First of all, it is the main “supplier” of ascorbic acid. It contains several times more vitamin C than lemons. Thanks to this feature, it is recommended to eat the fruit when you have a cold.
2. Mango can have a positive effect on human bone tissue and at the same time accelerates the healing process of wounds.
3. Mango fruits can lower blood cholesterol levels.
4. During an experiment, American scientists found that the fruit accelerates the elimination of sugar from the human body. Thanks to these features, the fruit is worth eating for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes or have a tendency to be overweight.
5. Fruits have no less impact on cardiovascular system. The components they contain can strengthen blood vessels and also alleviate inflammation and allergies.
6. Due to the fact that mangoes contain large quantities vitamins A and C, it is much easier for the body to tolerate colds. If the body does not have enough vitamin A, this can affect the quality of vision in the evening.
7. Mango components can destroy free radicals that negatively affect brain cells. It can also serve as a prevention of cancer, namely breast and prostate cancer.
8. Thanks to high content potassium, the fruit is able to regulate blood pressure, as well as maintain electrolyte, water and acid-base balance.
9. The high fiber content improves the functioning of the digestive system, normalizes the intestinal microflora and removes all toxins from the body.
10. Vitamin B6 is able to cope with stressful situations. Regular use Fruit helps to calm down and improve the health of the nervous system.

Mango is also a dietary product; it can improve metabolic processes and accelerate the elimination of fluid by the body.

Harm of mango

Despite such a huge list useful qualities mango, there is still a group of people who should be careful when consuming this fruit:

1. It is not advisable for children under 3 years of age to eat it. The thing is that mango is an exotic fruit that is practically not represented in our countries. It is not known how a child’s body may react to the introduction of a new product.
2. After you have eaten a piece of fruit, try to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 2-3 hours.
3. Mango is contraindicated for those with sensitive mucous membranes.
4. Those who are prone to allergic reactions also need to be careful.

How to choose the right mango?

Selecting a ripe mango can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Thanks to a rich range of colors, precise characteristics appearance simply doesn't exist. But there are still a few rules that you should pay attention to when buying mangoes:

1. Peel ripe fruit should be smooth, shiny and beautiful. The presence of small brown spots will also indicate the ripeness of the fruit.
2. The fruit is quite dense and heavy to the touch. By pressing lightly on it, a small dent should form, which will level out almost immediately. Fruits that are too soft will indicate that they are starting to deteriorate inside.
3. If the mango is overripe, its peel will be flabby with numerous deep wrinkles.
4. The aroma of the ripe fruit is pleasant and delicate with a sweet tint. Alcoholic notes and the presence of acid in the smell will indicate that the fruit is spoiling.
5. If you buy fruits that are too green, you are unlikely to be able to bring them to a ripe state at home.

How to store mangoes?

Mangoes can be stored either in the refrigerator or at room temperature. It all depends on the quality of the fruit you purchased. If the fruit is slightly green, it is better to leave it in the room. If you purchased ripe fruits, it is advisable to use the refrigerator compartment to preserve them. Those who wish to save tasty pulp for several months, it is worth placing the fruit in the freezer.

There are several ways to peel a mango:

The easiest way is to take a sharp knife and carefully remove the peel from the fruit. Then separate the pulp from the pit and cut it into small pieces. It should be borne in mind that the fruits are quite juicy and during such cleaning, their juice can stain your hands or clothes.

The second method will be more aesthetic. Using a knife, cut halves of the fruit along the seed. Then cuts are made on them crosswise. At the same time, the integrity of the skin must be preserved. Turn the halves slightly inside out and use a knife to cut off the resulting diamonds.

If the mango is slightly overripe, you can cut it into two halves and eat the pulp with a spoon.

Mango is truly recognized as one of the most delicious fruits, which is also rich in various vitamins and microelements. It is possible to feel the real taste and aroma of fruits only when traveling to tropical countries. That is why try to choose the right time for rest so that the trip will be remembered not only for swimming in the sea, but also for getting to know new fruits.