Mar

Mangosteen…

Mangosteen, The Queen of Fruits

Also referred to as the Food of the Gods, Mangosteen is the sweet and tangy fruit grown in various parts of South-East Asia like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. It’s also the national fruit of Thailand. This purple colored tropical fruit has a white fleshy pulp, segmented with seeds, and has won the fancy of many chefs and home cooks for its refreshingly sweet & tangy flavor, including that of Queen Victoria of Britain. Legend has it that Queen Victoria had kept a reward price of 100 pounds sterling to whosoever would bring her the fresh purple mangosteen.

Delicious, juicy and brimming with multiple health benefits, here are some of the many amazing benefits of this tropical fruit:

1. Source of Antioxidants

Mangosteen is a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins. The special antioxidant found in abundance that gives the fruit a superior edge, is a class of naturally occurring polyphenol compounds known as Xanthones. Mangosteen has two classes of Xanthones -alpha mangosteen and gamma mangosteen. The mangosteen fruit is said to contain at least 20 known Xanthones, majority of which are found in the fruit wall or pericarp of the fruit. These antioxidants protect the body from various diseases, ranging from common cold and flu, cancer risk and heart disorders.

2. Boosts Immunity

The Xanthones coupled with vitamin C found in abundance in mangosteen work wonders for an enhanced and improved immunity system. While Xanthones do their bit in fighting the free radicals, Vitamin C promotes the production and function of leukocytes or the white blood cells, which are majorly responsible for good immunity. The more the count, the more you are protected against infections.

3. Helpful for Menstrual Problems

Mangosteen roots have been traditionally used in different parts of Indonesia for regulating menstrual cycles in women.

4. Regulates Blood Pressure and Boosts Heart Health

The abundant quantities of potassium, copper, magnesium, and manganese containing in mangosteen can help regulate your blood pressure. Potassium especially weeds out the negative effect infused by excess intake of salt (sodium). It also promotes heart health by maintaining normal heart rate and keeping risk of coronary attacks at bay. Mangosteen also reduces the cholesterol levels in your body, thus further checking the blood pressure and the consequent heart ailments.

5. Anti-inflammatory Properties

Mangosteen has high anti-inflammatory properties. The inhibited release of Histamine and Prostaglandin helps in the anti-inflammation process. Inflammation can cause cold, flu, and increase pain in swellings.

6. Boosts Skin Care

Mangosteen’s high antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and the star component Xanthone can bring down the risk of many skin diseases to a great extent by repairing the damaged cells. And who can overlook the high component of Vitamin C, which further boosts skin health. Mangosteen has also been used traditionally to treat acne. Its ability of scavenging free radicals coupled with the suppression of production of Cytokines (major contributor to acne) can prevent your skin from developing acne.

Mangosteen can also reduce signs of aging. The signs of aging are also brought about by oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which is battled efficiently by the antioxidants of mangosteen. The antioxidant Catechin especially works wonders for your skin by preventing wrinkles.

7. Solution to Your Tummy Problems

Mangosteen is high on fiber, which makes it an effective aid to all your digestive problems. It can help ward off constipation. Consuming the pericarp and peel of the delicious fruit has been found effective in providing relief from diarrhea and dysentery. The high fiber composition of the fruit also increases your prebiotics intake, which is good for your intestines.

8. Weight loss

Yes, mangosteen can also aid your weight loss trail. The fruit is rather low in calories, 63 calories per 100 gram, has zero saturated fat, and is free of cholesterol. Plus, it’s rich in dietary fiber. Load up on the wondrous food already!

The Mangosteen has also been known to fight cancer, lower blood sugar and improve mental health! Although nearly impossible to find this amazing exotic fruit here in Hernando County at this time of year, we have ordered some 100% pure Organic Mangosteen Juice and will provide a “shot” of the slightly sweet crisp juice to everyone who indulges in April’s Mangosteen Radiance Facial of the Month with Frankie!