Mangoes Can Prevent Cancer

Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:22

Mango lovers have a new reason to savour their favourite fruit. It has been found out that mangoes are good preventives against colon and breast cancer.

Though mango is an ancient fruit, heavily consumed in many parts of the world, little has been known about its health aspects. However research and studies have revealed that mangoes can prevent cancer.

Talking about super food, people usually look for high antioxidant capacities. Compared to other fruits, mangoes are very low on antioxidants. Comparing antioxidants to blueberry, acai and pomegranate, mangoes do not even come close to them.

However, a study from Texas AgriLife Research food scientists found mangoes to prevent or stop breast and colon cancer growth. It has about four to five times less antioxidant capacity than an average wine grape, and it still holds up fairly well in anticancer activities.

Considering everything together, both physiological and nutritional standpoint, mangoes are a high ranking super food. It would be beneficial to include mangoes as part of the regular diet.
The researchers tested mango polyphenol extracts in vitro on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Polyphenols are natural substances in plants and are associated with a variety of compounds known to promote good health.

Mango showed some impact on lung, leukemia and prostate cancers but was most effective on the most common forms of cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.