Mangosteen is a small purple fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. In recent years, news reports and internet influencers have stated that the fruit has a range of health benefits. It is now famous as a “superfood”.
This article will define what mangosteen is, look at the science behind its claims of health benefits, and explain how to take mangosteen.
Growers tend to grow mangosteen in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand. In these countries, people consume it as:
- fruit
- juice
- traditional medicine
Fresh mangosteen is hard to find in the United States for two reasons.
First, mangosteen trees need a full tropical climate and a long time to grow. Small farms in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, which began in the 1990s, are now beginning to bear fruit.
Second, fresh mangosteen can harbor quarantine pests or non-American native insects that can threaten the ecosystem. This means that importers of mangosteen must sterilize the fruit before entering the country. Sometimes this affects quality, taste, or shelf life.
Mangosteen has many benefits. It contains a group of compounds and substances beneficial to human health.
Mangosteen benefits include:
highly nutritious
According to the USDA, all fruits provide vital nutrients for good health.
1 cup canned mangosteen, drained
Most fruits, including mangosteen, are low in fat, sodium, and calories, which helps people maintain a moderate weight. It is also free of cholesterol, which can contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Fruit is also a good source of nutrients that people in the United States lack, such as:
- Potassium, an essential mineral to help maintain a healthy blood pressure
- Dietary fiber, which helps people maintain a healthy gut
- Vitamin C, which helps the body heal wounds and cuts and maintains healthy teeth and gums
Contains antioxidants
Antioxidants fight free radicals or harmful substances that can build up inside the body. Free radicals can contribute to health problems including:
Studies have indicated that mangosteen contains antioxidants. one study
At the end of the thirty days, I had a mangosteen variety
Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is a normal part of the immune system. It is the body’s way of removing foreign matter, such as bacteria, viruses, or chemicals.
Sometimes, inflammation occurs unnecessarily. Other times, it persists after the body has removed the threat. Doctors call this chronic inflammation. It can contribute to health problems including:
In the 2015 study described above, scientists found that mangosteen may also act as an anti-inflammatory. They concluded this by measuring C-reactive protein, a substance that indicates levels of inflammation. Over the 30-day study, levels of this protein in the mangosteen group decreased by
Medicinal properties
Some medications include mangosteen as an ingredient, including:
It is important to note that studies on the health benefits of mangosteen have so far been small. Scientists need more research before they can be sure.
The National Library of Medicine says there isn’t enough evidence to say that mangosteen can help:
It also advises not to use mangosteen medicines in the following cases:
- When pregnant or breastfeeding, as there isn’t enough evidence to say it’s safe
- If a person has a bleeding disorder, as mangosteen might slow blood clotting
- For two weeks before surgery, as it may increase the risk of bleeding during or after the procedure
Mangosteen and other herbal supplements may also interact with some medications, such as liraglutide (Saxenda).
People can peel the outer peel of the mangosteen and eat the fruit wedges inside raw.
However, fresh mangosteen is difficult to find in the United States. Lots of products containing mangosteen, including supplements and juices, are available for people who want the health benefits of mangosteen but have a hard time finding the fresh fruit.
Things to consider with these products include:
- Some mangosteen juices contain
Only small amounts of fruit . - Fruit juices do not contain the same dietary fiber as fresh fruit.
- mangosteen
you can lose Some of the substances that confer potential health benefits when manufacturers turn the fruit into juices or supplements.
Mangosteen is a small purple fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. Difficult to grow and import into the US
Studies have indicated that the fruit has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is not enough evidence yet to prove this conclusively.
Some medicines include mangosteen as an ingredient. These medications include obesity and gum disease. People who are pregnant, nursing, have a blood disorder or are about to have surgery should avoid medicines containing mangosteen.
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