Mangoes may very well be the king of all fruits. And if you take a trip down to the Suva market, one thing you’ll notice, mangoes galore.
That’s because it’s in season in most part of the country. Market vendor Ilieasa Tukuna of Nasukamai in Ra, said this was one of his produce, where he could rake in enough income for his family for a week.
Mangoes’ he said came twice in a year and judging from his story, they were enjoyed by many. For Mr Tukana, this was the only time of the year where he would be up as early as 2am to pick up mangoes from the nearby trees.
“In our village, it’s like the early bird catches the worms,” he cited smilinging.
“If you’re up early, you’ll get the best and sometimes, by the time I get to the mangoe trees, there are none left, because some villagers had beat me to it.”
His market trip maybe tiring, but he said, a good decent life did not come easily. He would sell mangoes for $2 a heap and $1 a heap after 4pm. For him, this is the only time he comes to the market and sells.
“I am a part-time worker for a construction company in Ba, but when it’s mangoes are in season, I choose this business, because I get more in a day than my wages fortnightly in that company,” he said.
He would go home with $50 a day, from selling mangoes. He said most people bought half-ripe mangoes because they were ideal for chutney’s, kutchula, jams and pickles. And if you take a closer look at this fruit, there’s a reason why its termed — the king of all fruits.
This is because it fights cancer, alkalizes the body, aids in weight loss, regulates diabetes, helps digestion, cleans your skin, and makes the perfect snack.
Other healthy benefits of mangoes you should know, from the website www.care2.com are:
* Prevents cancer
Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.
* Lowers cholesterol:
The high levels of fibre, pectin and vitamin C help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (the bad stuff)
* Clears the skin:
Can be used both internally and externally for the skin. Mangoes clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.
* Eye health:
One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 per cent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.
* Alkalizes the whole body:
The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.
* Helps in diabetes:
Mango leaves help normalise insulin levels in the blood. The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.
* Improved sex:
Mangoes are a great source of vitamin E. Even though the popular connection between sex drive and vitamin E was originally created by a mistaken generalisation on rate studies, further research has shown balanced proper amounts (as from whole food) does help in this area.
* Improves digestion:
Papayas are not the only fruit that contain enzymes for breaking down protein. There are several fruits, including mangoes, which have this healthful quality. The fibre in mangoes also helps digestion and elimination.
* Remedy for heat stroke
Juicing the fruit from green mango and mixing with water and a sweetener helps to cool down the body and prevents harm to the body. From an ayurvedic viewpoint, the reason people often get diuretic and exhausted when visiting equatorial climates is because the strong “sun energy” is burning up your body, particularly the muscles. The kidneys then become overloaded with the toxins from this process.
* Boosts immune system
The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangoes, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.
