Health Benefits for Mangosteen

Its size can be analogous to a small apple or peach.

Who would have thought that this tropical fruit thriving in humid and hot temperatures with a dark purple color skin can be recognized for its medicinal abilities?

What’s the secret behind why Mangosteen was labeled as the "Queen of Fruits" in Asia, and "Fruit of the Gods" in the French Caribbean? Why this fruit has gotten the attention of medical practitioners and health enthusiast worldwide?

• Mangosteens are exotic tropical fruits that come in a range of delicious varieties, for instance, the purple Garcinia mangostana ,Imbe – Lemon drop and African mangosteens.

• It is widely regarded as the “Queen of all fruits” and is rightly named so because of the abundance of anti-oxidants, phytonutrients and xanthones.

• Mangosteens have been popularized because of their anti-aging properties and ability to improve immunity immensely.

• This is one of the fruits that carries very little saturated fats and cholesterol thus, naturally, its calorific content is very low.Conversely it is a good source of dietary fibre, providing atleast 13% RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowance) per 100g serving of the fruit.

• The high moisture content in the fleshy fruit is reason enough for the fruit to gain repute in the hot and sunny tropical regions.

• 100g of the mangosteen fruit contains notable quantities of Calcium, Phosphorous, Iron, Thiamine and Ascorbic acid.These constitute for the nutritional repertory of the fruit.

• Protein and Fiber each constitute 5% of the fruit. Sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose make up 16% contribute to the sweetness of the mangosteen.

• Apart from Thiamine, other B complex compounds found in mangosteen, like folates and niacin are useful because they assist the body in synthesizing carbohydrates, proteins etc.Unquestionably, mangosteens boost the metabolism of the body.

• Essential micronutrients like potassium help maintain body fluids and pressure hence reducing any risk of heart disease or stroke.This is advantaged by the absence of sodium.

• Mangosteen juice is said to have reduced symptomatic diseases like arthritis,diabetes, asthma , certain types of cancer etc.

• A mangosteen in the morning immediately rejuvenates the body and refreshes one instantly.

• Anti-tumour, anti-leukemic, and anti-proliferation properties of mangosteen are essentially used in cancer treatment for early stages.

• Mangosteen , the X-factor is a book by Dr.J.F.Templeman that details the holistic effects of this exotic tropical fruit.

Improving immunity: With its rich Vitamin C content , it bares the immune system to the incoming infectious agents and renders better defense against them.Inflammation due to the lack of Vitamin C can also be overcome by consuming mangosteen regularly.

Anti-aging : Xanthones are compounds with potent antioxidant properties are seen in excess in mangosteens. Infact 40 different types of Xanthones are seen in the fruit.Other amazing pharmacological activities are providing flexibility to joints and controlling the microbial invasion into the body.Xanthones are seen on the pericarp of the fruit, i.e., the rind part that surrounds the fleshy region.So whole fruit juices and puree will be healthy additions to one’s diet.

Free radicals are toxic to the body.By destroying these radicals one can achieve a younger and healthy tissue.Incidentally a mangosteen is seen to have nearly 30 times the free-radical absorbing capacity when compared to most fruits and even vegetables.This is proved by the ORAC(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity )test.

Apart from these nutritional qualities of the fresh fruit, the dried up fruit , pericarp and rind are used to cure various symptoms like diarrhea , eczema, rashes and other urinary disorders.