Diet and nutrition is a big wellness concern during the summer. Not only are you looking after that bikini body, but the warmer weather makes you fancy something a little fresher and fruitier than your usual winter warmer. According to a new study, if you really want to take care of your wellbeing this season – and throughout the year – you can’t go wrong with a bit of mango.
Recently published in the Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, the new study found that there was a link between mango consumption and better diet quality and nutrition intake in adults and children. Not only did adults who consumed mango have a better overall diet, but they were more likely to consume more whole fruit and certain nutrients (including dietary fibre and potassium), have a lower body weight and lower levels of C-reactive protein. This is a measure of inflammation that may be associated with cardiovascular risk.
For the study, the researchers looked at the diets of more than 29,000 children and adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2001 and 2008. They then determined diet quality relative to federal dietary guidance using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). According to study author Dr. Victor Fulgoni III, of Nutrition Impact, LLC, ‘Overall, the results found in this study show that people who consume mangos tended to have better intake of nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and dietary fibre, contributing to better overall diet quality than those who do not. This research also underscores the importance of helping individuals identify fruits such as mangos that can be readily incorporated into their diets for greater variety.’
The study “Mangoes are Associated with Better Nutrient Intake, Diet Quality, and Levels of Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” was supported with funding from the National Mango Board (NMB) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. Megan McKenna, National Mango Board’s director of marketing, commented, “Mangos are by far one of the tastiest ways to consume more than 20 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants all in one bite. With such great flavour and nutritional benefits, mangos are clearly a smart addition to anyone’s diet.”
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