Diabetes: Mangoes are beneficial to arteries – Nutritionist

Yemisi Olowookere, a Nutritionist in Garki Hospital, Abuja, has said diabetic patients could benefit from eating mangoes for the fruit’s positive effect on the arteries.
Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that mangoes helped to prevent the circulatory complications associated with diabetes.
According to her, mangoes are of great benefit to the circulatory system and should be included in the diet of all who experienced poor blood circulation or in the coronary arteries.
She said: “Mango is a fresh fruit with the greatest vitamin A content.
“Sixteen types of carotenoids have been identified in mangoes that are responsible for its vitamin A action.
“The most abundant of these is beta-carotene.
“Carotenoids are potent antioxidants that neutralise oxidising free radicals, which are molecules responsible for cellular arguing.”
Olowookere said that mango was a good source of vitamin C.
A medium sized mango provides 138 per cent of the adult daily requirement of this vitamin.
Olowookere said mango was one of the richest fresh fruits in vitamin E as it provides 33 per cent of the daily requirement.
She said: “Mangoes also contain significant amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and niacin.
“In terms of minerals potassium, it is most notable, with smaller amounts of magnesium and iron.
“Eating mangoes help maintain a healthy skin.
“It has been proven that Vitamin A deficiency produces skin dryness and scaling.
“Mangoes contribute to proper skin hydration and tone.”
Olowookere says eating mangoes is recommended in cases of eczema, dermatosis (skin degeneration), skin dryness and as a preventive skin aging.
She says fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
She said: “Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels.
“Mangoes are rich in the three most powerful antioxidant Vitamin A, C and E, and its consumption is recommended whenever there is vision loss due to conditions such as night blindness.”
Olowookere advised Nigerians to eat more mangoes or make juice often to impart flavour to dishes.
Olowookere said there were several cuisine all over the world that used mangoes to add spice to a main course.