In Asia it is often revered as the ‘the Queen of Fruits’ and is believe to be cool (Ying) in nature and will neutralized the heat (Yang) from other fruit, eg. durian, the King of the fruits. This is why usually it is brought together with Durians and more interestingly they produce in roughly the same seasons.
The fruit has three major parts:
- the deep purple rind
- the white edible flesh which is segmented like oranges
- the seeds, found within the flesh.
The seeds are extremely bitter in taste and are inedible while the flesh has a soft fragrance with a sweet taste. The outer shell or rind of the Mangostein fruit (called the pericarp) is rather hard, yet can be opened easily. Each fruit will have normally 6-10 segments inside. It is delicately tasted and soft. There are stigmatic lobes at the bottom part of the external cortex that shows the number of segments of the fruit and will persist until the fruit ripens. To eat the fruit, you have to cut the thick but yet soft cortex. Be careful with the purple colour juice excretes from the cortex when you open it, it will stain your cloth and it is hard to wash off. Mangosteen is always eaten in ripen. However there are villagers eat when it is unripe by washing away the latex produces from the unripe skin.
Mangosteen has been a part of the traditional medicine of various Asian countries for a very long time, and was once brought all the way around the world so that it could be sampled by Queen Victoria. The health benefits of mangosteen are known since 18th century and it has been proven that these benefits are not just mythical. It is a storehouse of essential nutrients which are required for normal growth, development and overall nutritional well being. Different parts of the fruit and plant are used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders. Here are some of the mangosteen fruit health benefits.
1. Antioxidants:
Scientific Research has revealed that Mangosteen contains a class of naturally occurring polyphenol compounds known as xanthones. There are two types of xanthones in this fruit – alpha mangosteen and gamma mangosteen. Xanthones and their derivatives have been shown to have several benefits, including anti-inflammatory. Xanthones are an effective remedy against various cardiovascular diseases. These antioxidants have healing properties which heal cells damaged by free radicals, slow down aging and ward off degenerative diseases and physical and mental deterioration.
2. Low Calories:
This fruit is very low in calories (63 calories per 100 g) and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, it is rich in dietary fiber (100 g provides about 13% of RDA), which can be very important for individuals who are concerned about putting on excess body weight.
3. Vitamin C:
Mangosteens are rich in vitamin C and contains about 12% RDA per 100g. Being a powerful water soluble anti oxidant, vitamin C provides resistance against flu like infectious agents and scavenge harmful pro-inflammatory free radicals. Therefore consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C is vital for developing resistance against diseases. Folate plays an important role in foetal development and evolution of new cells in the body. This particular vitamin is vital during pregnancy and protects neutral tube effects.
4. Bloodflow:
Mangosteen aids in promoting red blood cells and prevents against anaemia. It improves the blood flow by causing dilation of blood vessels which helps to protect us against certain diseases like atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, heart congestion and severe chest pains.
By increasing the amount of blood flow to the eye, Vitamin C in mangosteen is effective against cataracts.1000mg Vitamin C per day is said to be effective in curbing cataracts and improving vision.
5. Reduces Cholesterol:
Diet rich in mangosteen is helpful in reducing the level of cholesterol in human body. It also helps to control the level of triglycerides to take care of proper working of human heart.
6. Tuberculosis:
Mangosteen fruit contains strong antibacterial and antifungal properties besides being highly effective in boosting weak immune systems. Its inhibitory action against harmful bacteria is effective for patients suffering from tuberculosis.
7. Cancer:
The antioxidants found in mangosteen help to prevent cancer and other cardiovascular diseases. It is a powerful and effective antioxidant that protects our body from free radicals that cause oxidative stress, or” cellular rust” that can lead to host of severe medical conditions.
8. Blood Pressure:
Mangosteen also contains high amounts of of minerals like copper, manganese and magnesium. Potassium provides protection against strokes and coronary heart diseases as it is an important component of cell and body fluids and controls heart rate and blood pressure.
9. Anti-inflammatory:
Mangosteen contains anti-inflammatory properties which is highly beneficial for people who suffer from sciatica pains which cannot be controlled by drug treatment. Consuming mangosteen two to three times a day will help to relieve pain through its anti-inflammatory and cox-2 inhibitor effects.
10. Alzheimer’s:
One of the major health benefits of mangosteen is its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is accompanied by symptoms like confusion and perplexity and difficulty in remembering things.
Xanthones in Mangosteen
Our immune system tries to keep trillions of cells in our bodies protected from disease-causing toxins, free radicals, viruses, bacteria, fungi and other harmful agents.
At times, though, our immune system gets overwhelmed. Our bodies get sick, often because of free radical damage.
A free radical is an unstable atom with an unpaired electron. When a free radical comes in contact with a stable atom, it steals the electron it needs from the stable atom. This leaves the once stable atom irreparably damaged and prone to succumb to disease.
Antioxidants counteract free radicals. They have an extra electron that they can share with free radicals. Because of this ability, they are able to prevent free radicals from attacking healthy atoms or cells.
Mangosteen contains powerful antioxidants and immune system boosters called Xanthones, natural chemical compounds which were proven to possess a variety of potent medicinal properties.
Xanthones occupy a special place in the Mangosteen's arsenal of healing compounds. They have been shown to have more potent antioxidant activity than vitamin E, one of nature's most powerful known antioxidants.
A laboratory test known as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), for example, showed that an ounce of Mangosteen juice provides 20 to 30 times more capacity to absorb free radicals than an ounce of most fruits and vegetables.
Mangosteen’s Other Natural Compounds
Mangosteen also contains other potent natural compounds like catechins, polysaccharides, quinones, stilbenes and polyphenols.
Catechins were discovered to be five times more potent as antioxidants than vitamin C.
Polysaccharides are highly potent anti-cancer and anti-bacterial plant compounds. They help block a mutated cell's ability to stick to healthy cells to help stop the spread of cancer, and are specially effective against intracellular bacteria.
Quinones are known for their anti-bacterial properties and also are strong oxidants.
Stilbenes in plants defend these plants against fungi. Interestingly, stilbenes also maintain their anti-fungal properties even when ingested. They also are strong antioxidants.
Polyphenols were found to be far more more potent as antioxidants than vitamin E, considered one of the most powerful known antioxidants.
Long List of Mangosteen Healing Properties
To sum it all up, here's a partial list of the 200-plus, mind-boggling Mangosteen medicinal benefits and properties from the catalog of prominent ethnobotanist, Dr. James Duke.
- Anti-aging - helps prevent aging
- Anti-allergenic - helps prevent allergic reactions
- Anti-arthritic – helps prevent arthritis
- Anti-atherosclerotic - helps prevent the hardening of the arteries
- Antibiotic - prevents or modulates bacterial infections
- Anti-calculitic - helps prevent kidney stones
- Anti-cataract - helps prevent cataracts
- Antidepressant – helps with depression
- Anti-diarrheal – helps with diarrhea
- Anti-fatigue - helps relieve fatigue
- Antifungal - prevents or modulates fungal infections
- Anti-glaucomic - helps prevent glaucoma
- Anti-Inflammatory – helps with inflammation
- Anti-lipidemic - helps lower blood fat
- Anti-neuralgic - helps in nerve pain
- Anti-obesity - helps in weight loss
- Anti-osteoporosis - helps prevent the loss of bone mass
- Antioxidant-rich – rich in antioxidants
- Anti-oxolytic - anti-anxiety
- Anti-Parkinson – helps with Parkinson's disease
- Anti-periodontic - helps prevent gum disease
- Antipyretic - helps lower fever
- Anti-tumor and cancer-preventive
- Anti-vertigo - helps prevent dizziness
- Antiviral - prevents or modulates viral infections
- Cardio-protective - helps in the protection of the heart
- Hypoglycemic - helps stabilize blood sugar
- Hypotensive - helps lower blood pressure
- Immunostimulant – helps the immune system fight infection
This exotic fruit, used in traditional medicine for centuries, contains some of the most potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal compounds in nature.
Independent scientific research studies and clinical experience all show the remarkable health benefits of Mangosteen
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