Mango Mania: Add Superfoods to Your Diet

Mango Mania

According to an article by Jenny Ivy published on Delicious Living.com, "The National Mango Board is touting multiple studies that found potential health benefits associated with eating mangos. These health benefits include improved blood pressure, blood sugar control and gut health."

Money Saving Tip

Stock up on mangos and start to include this superfood in your diet. I stock up on mangos when they are reasonably priced and enjoy them fresh as well as freeze some for later to use in smoothies!

Recipes

Next time you are at the store and find mangos, pick some up and prepare my Mango Overnight Oats Recipe. Pictured below are a few images of the Overnight Oats process.

Mangos are Nutritious

Mangos are SUPERFOODS containing over 20 different vitamins and minerals. Mangos are fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free. According to the National Mango Board, 1 cup of mango has:

• 100 calories
• 100% of daily Vitamin C
• 35% of daily Vitamin A
• 20% of daily folate
• 12% of daily fiber 
• 10% of daily Vitamin B6

Mangos are Available Year Round

There are seven varieties of mangos and one is always in season. Each has a unique flavor and texture.  Read about the varieties at Mango.org.

Health Benefits of Mangos

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Researchers from Texas A&M University examined the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of gallic acid, galloyl glycosides, and gallotannins in lean and obese individuals that consumed 400g of freshly frozen mango pulp daily for six weeks. The study’s lead researcher suggests that extended mango consumption may offer increased anti-inflammatory benefits compared to sporadic mango consumption.

Gut Health
In a randomized pilot study, researchers from Texas A&M University, investigated the potential role of mango consumption in changes of the gut microbiota, bioavailability of galloyl metabolites, and anti-inflammatory activities in lean and obese subjects. They concluded that after six weeks of eating mangos, the fruit helped improve gut health in obese people.

Mango Trivia ... Allergies

Did you know mangos are related to cashews and pistachios? Some people have allergic reactions to mangos as they are not only related to cashews and pistachios but also poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. If you have had a reaction to the other foods or plants, be cautious when considering whether a mango is the best choice for you.


Read more at Delicious Living ... New Studies Show Mangos Can Boost Health.

Mango Mornings: Overnight Oats

I have made many varieties of OVERNIGHT OATS and come back to the mango recipe variation quite a bit. The recipe is simple to make and other fruits can be substituted for mangos to make the recipe fit your taste preferences and seasonal fruit availability.

Simple Formula 

Add the following to a jar (I rinse and use glass nut butter jars to reduce waste):

• 1 cup of mango (I layer mine)
• 1/8 cup organic chia seeds
• 3/4 cup gluten free oats
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1 TBSP honey or agave (OPTIONAL)
• 3/4 cup milk of choice - I use almond or cashew

TIPS:

You can make a couple of jars ahead of time. The night before you wish to enjoy the breakfast, add the milk of choice and shake. In the morning, stir the jar and add additional milk if the oats absorbed more milk than you wish. I start with a ratio that errs on the dry side so that more liquid can be added at the last minute. It is difficult to soak up additional liquid last minute, especially if you want to eat the breakfast on-the-go.

NOTE: for details on mango availability, how to pick a mango, and how to store a mango can be found at Mango.org.