Mangosteen
Unique for its appearance and flavor, mangosteen
is often revered as queen of the tropical fruits, especially in the
oriental regions. This exotic, purple color tropical-fruit is quite
popular for its snow-white, juicy, delicious arils all over the Asian
countries and in recent years grabbing the attention of European and
American fruit lovers as well!
Botanically the fruit belongs to the family of Clusiaceae, of the
genus: Garcinia.
Scientific name: Garcinia
mangostana.
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Health
benefits of Mangosteen
Delicious and juicy, mangosteen is one of the
popular tropical fruits. It comprises an impressive list of essential
nutrients, which are required for normal growth and development and
overall nutritional well-being.
This fruit is very low in calories (63
calories per 100 g) and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol.
Nonetheless, it is rich in dietary fiber (100 g provides about 13% of
RDA), which can be very important for individuals who are concerned
about putting on excess body weight.
Mangosteen is good in vitamin C and
provides about 12% of RDA per 100 g. Vitamin-C is a powerful water
soluble anti-oxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the
body develop resistance against flu-like infectious agents and scavenge
harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
Fresh fruit is a moderate source of
B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin and folates. These vitamins
are acting as cofactors the help body metabolize carbohydrates,
protein,
and fats.
Further, it also contains a very good amount
of minerals like copper, manganese and magnesium. Potassium is an
important component of cell and body fluids and helps control heart
rate, and blood pressure; thus, it offers protection against stroke and
coronary heart diseases.
Sources for this article: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mangosteen.html image:www.wisegeek.org
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