Monday, March 4, 2013

Health Benefits Run Beyond The Calories In Mango‎

Mangoes
By Arold Augustin


With so many people engaged in serious calorie counting diets these days, many people wonder about the number of calories in mango. While many experts agree that calorie counting can be taken too far, and that counting those from fresh fruits may be doing exactly that, people still want to know the calorie content in all the foods they eat. This is very common in diet plans that grant points based on calorie content, or those who measure all units of energy consumed against the units of energy expended.

Mangoes were grown in Southeast Asia for over four thousand years. Now many of the fruits that are shipped to the United States come from Mexico, Haiti, northern South America, and even parts of Florida. It has only been in the past twenty years that they have become very popular in North America.

Mangoes generally contain a calorie count of around eighteen per ounce, understanding that they are a heavy, dense fruit. Many smoothie aficionados will cut and weigh the ingredients of their favorite treat, and mangoes are especially great because they freeze well, and they have a shelf life of one to two weeks. Most smoothie lovers prefer the fruits they used to be frozen, and mangoes can be purchased in the grocer freezer section.

The full fruit skinned and without the large pit in the center, contains a calorie count of around one hundred thirty-five. It is important to note that fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, while they may have high calorie content, this type of calorie is used efficiently by the body. A calorie is, after all, simply a unit of energy which our bodies burn during the course of the day.

Finding a perfectly ripened fruit can be achieved by smelling the stem, or squeezing. It should be fragrant at the stem, and should give slightly when squeezed. If the fruit is not yet ripened, setting it out on a kitchen table or counter for a couple of days should give it plenty of time to ripen, and at that time it can be refrigerated or frozen.

These fruits are completely without any dietary fat, they are an excellent source of fiber, and are also high in potassium. Many regard them as a comfort food and eat at least one every day. Mangoes contain an enzyme that aids in the process of digestion.

By eating one each day, a person can prevent conditions such as constipation, piles, and hemorrhoids. There are many diseases which can come as a result of poor digestion, including several forms of cancer. Healthy digestion can also prevent heart disease and clogging of the arteries.

The enzyme that aids in digestion is also excellent as a meat tenderizer. As such, mangoes are often used in marinades. In India they take green mangoes and grind them up into a powder called Amchur which is used as a flavoring and a marinade. There is more to it than just the calories in mango.


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