Mango is a tropical fruit that is produced in India, has no particular contraindications and has many benefits!
Mango is one of the tastiest and most exquisite exotic fruits you will ever taste. Finding quality ones isn't easy but we're here to solve this problem! In addition to being excellent, it also has many nutritional properties that are useful to our body, it is used in cooking both sweet and savory and is a precious ally for the skin.
How does it look like?
The common mango has an almost spherical shape, slightly elongated but usually irregular. It reaches an average weight between 300 and 500 g , which however can reach up to a kilogram. The pulp (mesocarp) has a yellow-orange color and vaguely resembles that of a peach, also in terms of consistency - only slightly more compact but not crunchy; the taste tends to be sweet , with secondary acidic notes.
Types of mangoes
In nature there are different types of mangoes , one better than the other:
- Tommy Atkins
- Kent
- Keitt
- Nam Dok Mai
- Ataulf
- Kensington Pride
- Glenn
Tommy Atkins – the best-selling variety
It is originally from Florida, but has been imported for commercial purposes wherever it could be grown. It is not the best type in terms of flavor, but it is the most resistant to handling and duration. The peel is orange, the pulp is bright yellow and rich in fibre. Before being consumed, it should be left out of the fridge for about four days.
Kent – the largest
Also native to Florida, it is the largest variety compared to the others and typically ripens from July to August, sometimes even up to September. it is oval in shape and the color of the skin is green and yellow with some red hues when ripe. The pulp is bright yellow, it is soft and the taste is sweet and juicy.
Keitt – the second most commercially important variety
Late ripening, it comes from Florida. Its shape is oval, it is quite large and it is perfumed; both inside and out it is bright orange in color and its pulp is sweet , juicy and fibrous in consistency.
Nam Dok Mai – the most beloved and expensive variety
Coming from Thailand, it is the most widespread local variety . With a bright yellow color both outside and inside, this fruit is sweet, creamy and fresh to the taste.
Ataulfo – long live Mexico!
The mango that speaks Mexican, the Ataulfo variety is of a bright yellow color, has an elongated shape and generally weighs around 280 gr. The pulp is not fibrous, is yellow in color and contains many sugars. It is not easy to get it to Europe via air transport, which is why it is much more popular in the United States.
Kensington Pride – the Australian mango
Widespread in Australia due to its sweet and intense flavour, this variety of mango has also been imported to our beautiful island , together with the Glenn which we will see shortly. The fruit weighs about 500 g and is yellow in colour. The pulp is yellow and medium fibrous, with a sugary taste.
Glenn – the South Florida mango
As we said previously, this mango was also imported into Italy for commercial purposes, adapting perfectly to the Mediterranean climate . The fruit has an elongated shape, is yellow when ripe and generally weighs between 300 and 600 g. The pulp has no fibers and the taste is sweet. In Florida the fruit ripens from June to July, while in Sicily in August.
How do you eat mango?
Although the peel is full of properties, being very thick it is discarded. The mango is served cut into two slices, divided into many small squares that are not completely divided: it must give the impression of being a net. If you prefer to propose it in a different way, peel it like any other fruit, removing the peel and central stone.
Use its pulp for extracts, frozen desserts, ice creams, fruit salads .
The properties of the mango
Did you know that 100 grams of mango contains 55 kcal? It is a superfruit, perfect for diets and indicated in children's nutrition. In case of physical activity it is a source of energy and helps against heat-induced exhaustion. This fruit has antioxidant properties and promotes tanning, being rich in carotenoids.
100 grams of mango contain (mango nutritional table):
- Water: 83%
- Fibers: 1.6%
- Potassium 250 mg (100 grams of banana contain 350 mg)
- Phosphorus 11 mg
- Calcium 7 mg
- Magnesium 13 mg
- Vitamin C 28mg
- Vitamin B6 0.13 mg
- Iron 0.5 mg
- Carbohydrates: (12.6g - 15%)
- Fat: (0.2g - 0.38%)
If you want to fill up on vitamins A, B, C and E, mango is the ideal fruit, moreover, it has fibers and mineral salts that are very important for our body and daily needs.
Benefits and contraindications of mango
Let's start with the cons: mango has a high glycemic index so if you suffer from diabetes, forget about its existence. Also, if you suffer from primary arterial hypertension and high cholesterol , you should avoid eating it. Mango is considered harmless for: celiac disease, lactose intolerance and phenylketonuria.
The pros are many and we will list them one after the other:
- Protects from free radicals
- Prevents ageing
- Prevents seasonal ailments thanks to vitamin C
- Facilitates the absorption of iron
- Aids digestion (contains special digestive enzymes)
- Good for eyesight (vitamin A)
- Fights constipation (fibre)
- Prevents inflammation of the respiratory system (peel)
Does mango help you lose weight or make you fat?
It's definitely not on the list of least caloric fruits but that doesn't mean it makes you fat. It is simply not indicated in very strict diets for which vegetables are more recommended. So it makes you lose weight: no, it doesn't make you lose but some studies claim that its peel is a perfect fat burner, which prevents the formation of fat cells, thus counteracting the onset of adipogenesis .
