If you are overweight consuming a small amount of fresh or dried mango daily could help you control blood sugar levels.
That’s the conclusion of a small pilot study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights.
This pilot study was designed to investigate the effects of mango consumption on anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and body composition in obese adults. Participants completing the 12-week study included 20 adults (11 men and 9 women) ages 20 to 50 years old with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 to 45.
The study subjects were asked to maintain their usual diet, exercise habits, and regimen of regularly prescribed medications but each day they consumed 10 g of freeze-dried mango, and dietary intake was monitored via 3-day food records assessed at the beginning of the study and after 6- and 12- weeks of mango ‘supplementation’.
Height, weight, and circumference of waist and hip were measured at the beginning of the study and after 6- and 12- weeks. Body composition and blood analyses of fasting blood triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, haemoglobin A1c, and plasma insulin concentration were also evaluated.
The researchers found that after 12 weeks, participants had reduced blood glucose levels. This effect was seen in both men and women, though the effect was slightly greater in men.
No significant changes were observed in terms of overall body weight, hip or waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, percent fat mass, and lean mass.
Overall and by gender, there were no significant changes in triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, or blood pressure either.
The blood sugar findings of this study are in agreement with the team’s previous animal research, which was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
“We believe this research suggests that mangoes may give obese individuals a dietary option in helping them maintain or lower their blood sugar. However, the precise component and mechanism has yet to be found” admitted lead author, Edralin Lucas, PhD, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University, College of Human Sciences.
A nutrient rich fruit, mangoes contain over 20 different vitamins and minerals, supporting optimal function of processes throughout the body. An average mango has numerous health benefits and nutrients, they are naturally high in prebiotic dietary fiber (substances that encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, not to be confused with probiotics), vitamin C, and antioxidant vitamins A and C, as well as vitamin B6. Mango contains triterpene and lupeol, which have been found to be an effective inhibitor in laboratory models of prostate and skin cancer.
The health benefits of mango consumption have been explored in previous studies. Texas AgriLife Research food scientists found that mango able to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the lab.
Feel free to email me at sisterjuanita@yahoo.com regarding your health questions or concerns.
Posted By: Sister Juanita From Memphis
Monday, September 22nd 2014 at 5:07PM
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