Mangoes are the best way to beat the summer heat. Super tasty, the fruit is not just delicious but also boasts an impressive nutritional profile.

Packed with vitamin C, mango provides nearly 67 percent of the DV aiding your immune system, helping your body to absorb iron, and promoting cell growth and repair. Mango is also a good source of the minerals copper and folate, which are especially important nutrients during pregnancy, as they support healthy fetal growth and development.

However, it is a common belief that mangoes should always be soaked in water before you eat them. Do you know why?
According to experts, soaking not only helps remove surface dirt or pesticides but also removes phytic acid, leading to better absorption of essential body nutrients. Mangoes are loaded with phytic acid - which affects how the body absorbs some minerals, including iron. It also contributes to mineral deficiencies over time. It also leads to headaches and constipation. "Soaking mangoes in water helps remove pesticide residues, dirt, grime, and debris that harbor microbes. The phytate-rich milky sap and stickiness also come off by soaking. Soaking for an hour or two with at least 10 cups of water and half a cup of 5 percent white vinegar added, is an ideal solution to wash mangoes," Dr. Dilip Gude, Senior Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals stated in an interview with Times Now. Occasionally, soaking mangoes in water for some time can also result in softening their skin, making them easier to cut. Experts say this technique also works well for mangoes with tough skins. According to Dr. Gude, other ways to remove harmful contents from the mangoes include soaking 2 percent sodium carbonate for 12 hours to remove carbide and arsenic. "Place cut mango piece in warm water for 10 minutes, and if it makes the water yellow or cloudy then it is highly likely that calcium carbide has been used to ripen it," he added.

Some Unfamiiler Yet Juicy Facts about Mangoes ~

Fill In Your Mangoes for various Health benefits ~ 
(Source: Google Images) 

1. Mangoes come in the same variety as apples or plums
Mangoes come in several types that are unique to each place. Some flavors are creamy and sweet, zesty, spicy, pineapple-flavored, and just plain, which are frequently seen in our stores. If you have the opportunity, try the sweeter kinds, such as the Alphonso.

2. It is the national fruit of three nations, not just one.
The national fruit of the Philippines, India, and Pakistan is the mango. It is Bangladesh's national tree as well.

3. India gave rise to the word "mango."
The Tamil word "monkey" or the Keralan word "mangga" are most likely the sources of the English term "mango." Portuguese traders took up the moniker "manga" after they immigrated to Southern India. The name "mango" originated during the British Empire's trade with South India in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

4. Mango production reaches over 43 million tons globally.
Nearly all of them are Tommy Atkins mangoes, which are known for their rapid growth, excellent size and color, resistance to various fungi, resistance to bruising, and extended shelf life. Because of all these qualities, it is ready for international export. Regretfully, it's also somewhat bland and stringy.

5. The world's largest mango grower 
 India ranks first among world's mango producing countries, accounting for 54.2% of the total mangoes produced worldwide. 

6. India was the birthplace of mango cultivation around 5,000 years ago.
It is believed that the wild mango first appeared in India and Myanmar, on the foothills of the Himalayas. The Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, Southern India, and Myanmar are where the fruit was originally recorded to have been cultivated around 5,000 years ago.

7. The oldest mango tree is hundreds of years old.
East Khandesh, in Central India, is home to the oldest known mango tree, which is estimated to be 300 years old. The old plant surprisingly still bears fruit!

Health benefits of eating mangoes to look out for ~

• Low in calories ~ Mangoes are low in calories. A cup of fresh mango contains fewer than 100 calories and has low-calorie density.

• Helps prevent diabetes~ Fresh mangoes are high in natural sugar compared with other fresh fruits, but they are not at all worrisome for people living with metabolic conditions like diabetes. According to studies, those who add 10 grams of freeze-dried mango to their diet daily for 12 weeks experience significant improvements in blood sugar levels.

• Regulates heart health ~ Doctors say mango contains nutrients that support a healthy heart. Packed with magnesium and potassium, mangoes have nutrients that help your blood vessels relax, promoting lower blood pressure levels. It is also rich in mangiferin, which protects heart cells against inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death.

• Improves digestive health ~ Mango is excellent for your digestive health, as it contains a group of enzymes known as amylases, which break down complex carbs into sugars like glucose and maltose.

Mangoes + summer = pure bliss!