Does the king of fruits, often instructed to be avoided after one is diagnosed with diabetes, have health benefits? As low fruit and vegetable consumption continues to contribute to diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, two new research studies have found that regular mango consumption may improve diets and help manage key risk factors that contribute to chronic disease.
The studies were published in `Nutrients` and `Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases`.
Specifically, these new studies report findings in two areas: 1) mango consumption is associated with better overall diet quality and intake of nutrients that many children and adults lack at optimum levels and 2) snacking on mangoes may improve glucose control and reduce inflammation in contrast to other sweet snacks. With mangos consumed widely in global cuisines and 58 per cent of Americans reporting snacking at least once a day in 2021, this new research provided added evidence that regularly consuming mangoes may have health advantages and be relevant to cultural dietary preferences and current eating patterns.
A recent observational study found positive outcomes in nutrient intakes, diet quality, and weight-related health outcomes in individuals who consume mangoes versus those who do not. The study published in `Nutrients`, used United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2018 data to compare the diets and nutrient intakes of mango consumers to people who did not consume mangoes.
The study showed that children who regularly ate mangoes had higher intakes of immune-boosting vitamins A, C and B6, as well as fiber and potassium. Fiber and potassium are two of the four “nutrients of concern” as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which means many Americans are not meeting recommendations for these.
In adults, researchers found similar results, showing that mango consumption was associated with significantly greater daily intakes of fiber and potassium but also vitamins A, B12, C, E and folate, a vitamin critical during pregnancy and fetal development. For both children and adults, consuming mangoes was associated with a reduced intake of sodium and sugar, and for adults was associated with a reduced intake of cholesterol.
“We have known for a long time that there is a strong correlation between diet and chronic disease,” said Yanni Papanikolaou, a researcher on the project. “This study reveals that both children and adults eating mangoes tend to have significantly better diet quality overall along with higher intakes of fiber and potassium compared with those who don`t eat mangoes. It is also important that mango fits into many diverse cuisines. Whole fruits are under-consumed, and mango can encourage fruit consumption, especially among growing diverse populations.”
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