Have a Mango!

There is a bounty of fruits available in summer, including mangos which are at their peak from May through September.  In addition to being delicious, they are also highly nutritious and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with the following benefits:

Stronger immune system.  Mangos are high in vitamins C and A to help protect you against illness and infection.  They also contain folate, vitamins K, E, and B vitamins which also boost immunity.

Reduced cancer risk.  Mangos are high in antioxidant polyphenols that help prevent cancer.  These include beta-carotene which fights free radicals that can damage cells and potentially lead to cancer, as well as mangiferin which is a bioactive compound in mangos that protects against cancer by suppressing tumors.

Heart health.  The magnesium and potassium in mangos help lower blood pressure and maintain a healthy pulse.  The mangiferin also appears to reduce inflammation in the heart.

Digestion.  The fiber in mangos helps keep you regular.  Mangos also have digestive enzymes called amylase compounds that help break down difficult food particles so they can be absorbed more readily.

Eye health.  The vitamin A in mangos is important for your eyes to improve vision, prevent dry eye and night blindness.

Anti-diabetic.  A recent study by San Diego State showed that regular mango consumption significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels.

Besides all the health benefits, you can enjoy the deliciousness of mangos in a lot of different ways.  Eat them on their own (you need to remove the peel and slice the flesh from the large seed in the middle); add them to salsas, smoothies, chilis or tacos; make a mango sorbet or daiquiri!