Top 4 Health Benefits of Eating Mangosteen

Have you heard about mangosteens yet? Mangosteens have been called the queen of the tropical fruits.

In fact, there is a rumor that Queen Victoria offered to make anybody who could bring her one a knight.

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This unusual looking purple fruit comes from an evergreen tree that grows in the tropics. They're about the size of a tangerine.

The fruit is sweet and juicy and has sections that are much like those found in oranges and grapefruit.

They also have an inedible rind like those fruits. Some people say that the taste is like a mix of peaches and clementines.

Most importantly, mangosteens are loaded with health benefits.

In Southeast Asia where mangosteens were first grown, people have been using the fruit as medicine for centuries.

But the fruit is relatively new to modern medicine and is still being studied.

It's high in fiber and nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. It also has important vitamins, including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamins B6 and B12.

4 Health Benefits of Mangosteen (according to researchers)

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1. Fighting cancer – Mangosteen contains anti-inflammatory compounds called xanthones that have been shown to slow the growth of human colon cancer cells. They also may help to prevent cancer from forming.

2. Fight allergies – The anti-inflammatories in mangosteen have also been found to stop allergic reactions. They stop the body from releasing histamines in the body.

3. Weight loss – Mangosteens contain no fat or cholesterol and are high in fiber. They also can stop hunger in its tracks and boost metabolism. Add them to your list of other metabolism boosting foods.

The American Chemical Society has found that mangosteen juice helps to speed up lipid breakdown.

4. Boosts immunity – Mangosteen provides more than 10% of your daily RDA of Vitamin C. It helps to build up resistance to viruses and helps you fight off disease. They'd be a great addition to your diet in combination with other flu and cold fighting foods.

Tips on Buying and Using Mangosteens

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Up until 2007, you could not buy mangosteens in the United States. This was because of fears that tropical insects would be carried into the country.

They're still hard to find, which is partly because they have a short lifespan. The best place to buy fresh mangosteen is in Asian markets. It is also sold frozen and canned, but the taste is a bit different.

If you are lucky enough to find fresh mangosteens, you need to know how to choose the best ones.

  • Opt for fruits that have a little bit of give to them when you squeeze them.
  • Look for dark colored skin.
  • You can tell how many sections a mangosteen has by looking at the bottom. The more petal shapes you see, the more sections will be inside.
  • Eat it quickly, as it will not last long.

To eat a mangosteen, peel it like an orange. Throw away any yellow sections. The small seeds are edible (you might be shocked to learn how many things we think of as food scraps are great to eat).

And be careful! The juice of a mangosteen will stain your fingers and your clothes.

Yours in health and happiness,

Danette

P.S. Share this article to help spread the word about the magic of mangosteen fruits and I invite you to comment below. Have you tried mangosteen fruit yet?