Mangosteen - beneficial properties and contraindications

Mangosteen or mangosteen, as they are also called, grow in the tropics and Asian countries (the Philippines, Thailand, the islands of East Asia), where they are widely known and quite familiar to the local population. There it is an ordinary fruit that people eat and consider it delicious and not indifferent to health. Currently, the mangosteen does not have much fame in the post-Soviet countries. However, they have excellent, rather unusual taste properties and, moreover, are very useful.

The homeland of the mangustins is the Malay Archipelago. Most often they are grown in Thai islands, in tropical and East Asian countries.

Royal fruits grow on evergreen and tall, up to 25 m trees, with pyramidal crowns covered with scaly brown or black bark.The plant has fleshy, dark green leaves with yellow-green below, they are smooth and dense to the touch. Mangosteen like warmth and sunshine, they die at temperatures below 5 degrees with a plus sign. Fruits require moderately humid climatic conditions and do not tolerate salty groundwater. Given their fastidiousness, the high price of these capricious and therefore rare fruits is quite reasonable.

How to choose and use mangosteen

This fruit is very fragrant with an incomparably pleasant, sour, refreshing taste. His skin is dark burgundy, almost black, and the flesh is white. In size and shape, it resembles the mandarins already familiar to us. However, its peel, in comparison with the favorite citrus, is rather thick, and can be up to 1 cm. Therefore, it is also suitable for human consumption.

The value of this exotic delicacy is in its rarity and high content of beneficial substances, namely: phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and many vitamins. In addition, the mangosteen peel contains xanthones - rare antioxidants that have a tremendous healing effect on the human body.The most effective way to use this fruit for the benefit of the organism is in the form of a slurry or freshly cooked together with the skins. Because it is in the skin that contains most of the valuable minerals and vitamins.

For export fruits are collected slightly greenish, immature. When you buy should pay attention to the color of the fruit, it should be bright, the skin should not have damage or be too firm to the touch. With a slight pressure, it should spring up a little. Chapped and hard mangosteen are overripe and do not have as pleasant taste properties as better ones. The fruit itself should be moderately soft and preferably larger. Since in large fruits pulp more than in small ones. In the freshness of the fruit, you can be sure if its tip is topped with a large number of leaves.

For consumption of the mangosteen need to remove the stem. Next, the fruit should be divided in the center with a knife and peel. Each fruit contains about eight slices of delicious, fragrant and juicy pulp with a bone.

Most often, mangosteen is consumed fresh, it is sweet enough, juicy and pleasant to taste.However, in the countries where it grows, the fruits are even canned. In addition, with the addition of mangosteen, you can cook exotic dishes.

Interesting Facts! Mangosteen loved Queen Victoria very much. What he earned the title of "king among the fruits."

How to store the mangosteen?

For storage of fruit need a dry indoor space, but in no case is not cold. The maximum shelf life is up to 25 days. After this period, the mangosteen fruit, as a rule, begins to dry out and loses its taste, it becomes dry and hard.

Unfortunately, freshly picked mangosteen can be enjoyed only in tropical and Asian countries, so greenish fruits are exported. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to store when changing temperature conditions. If you freeze it in the freezer, it will lose its structure, taste and will not have the good that was originally. In the refrigerator, this fruit can retain its taste and benefits for up to 7 days, not more.

Of course, mangosteen is better to use in countries where it grows, freshly harvested and fully matured.Only then, according to local residents, can one get the maximum benefit from him and appreciate his taste.

Benefit

1. Mangosteen has been thoroughly studied by scientists at the University of Bangkok. And it found a large amount of vitamin PP (nicotinic acid), which is extremely important for human health. A deficiency of this vitamin can be a dangerous condition that scientists have called 3D: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia (dementia). The content of vitamin PP, mangosteen is inferior except mango.
2. The use of this exotic delicacy as food strengthens the immune system, which enhances the body's capabilities in the fight against infectious diseases, and accelerates the healing of wounds and ulcers. Mangosteen also helps to fight parasites and fungi, which often affect people in hot countries. Strengthening immunity plays a leading role in the prevention of cancer pathologies.
3. This fruit has a positive effect on the endocrine system, which is important for people suffering from overweight associated with hormonal disorders. Increases overall vitality and strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes blood pressure and reduces the level of cholesterol in the body.
4. Scientists with the help of experiments on mice proved the effectiveness of this fruit in the fight against the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, causing gastritis and stomach ulcers. The negative effect of mangosteen is also noted for tuberculosis bacilli and even cancer cells. It turns out that in itself this fruit simply destroys them.

Healing properties

1. Mangosteen is an important source of vitamins E and C, thiamine, nitrogen, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium, and potassium. In the skin of a lot of pectin, and in the seeds - fatty acids, vitamin C, phytonutrients. Vitamins E and C help to free the body from free radicals, leading to premature aging. The xanthones contained in the skin have recently become an important medical discovery. And according to the latest research, their properties are simply amazing! They normalize microbiological processes at the cellular level, contribute to the activation of brain processes, strengthen the immune system. And mangosteen today - the only fruit, in the pulp and skin which contains such useful xanthones in the largest quantity.
2. In addition, the mangosteen contains dietary fiber, important for proper digestion. And all this with an extremely low calorie content of 70 kilocalories per 100 g of product.
3. The curative abilities of the mangosteen are identified several centuries ago, and today are justified by modern science. Kstanton have a unique opportunity to prevent the growth of malignant tumors. They prevent the development of the fungus and destroy microorganisms harmful to the body. American scientists have discovered the ability of xanthine compounds to destroy malignant cells.
4. Even the ancient shamans of Asian countries for centuries used the mangosteen for medicinal purposes, and today it has scientific grounds. They were treated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive diseases in women.
5. Thai beauties successfully apply mangosteen in cosmetology, it has an anti-inflammatory effect and has a pronounced effect on skin problems caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

The bark of the fruit-bearing tree mangosteen is also used for medical purposes.In its crushed and dried state, it is used for intestinal infections. With the help of it they prepare cream and ointment for the treatment of skin diseases. The decoction helps fight cystitis, urethritis, diarrhea, gonorrhea and has hemostatic properties when used externally. Infusion of the bark and leaves treat fever, stomatitis, diarrhea, dysentery.

Fruits have the ability to destroy fat cells. They can be used to prevent dangerous diseases:

• osteoporosis;
• atherosclerosis;
• hypertension;
• glaucoma;
• cataract;
• arthritis;
• Lyme disease;
• urolithiasis disease;
• crayfish.

Mangosteen helps fight depression, neuralgia and other nervous diseases.

Contraindications

In any case, before pampering yourself with mangosteen, you should consult with your doctor to avoid undesirable effects and get the maximum benefit for the body.

Asian salad

Take your favorite seafood: mussels, shrimp, squid. Add lime, cilantro, hot and black pepper, cherry tomatoes and mangosteen itself. Prepare seafood in the usual way. Cherry tomatoes fry in a small amount of vegetable oil. Mix the ingredients in the same bowl and sprinkle with lime juice.

Video: Useful Properties of Mangosteen