Could Mangoes help prevent heart disease and stroke?
Researchers suggest that eating about three- quarter of a cup of mangoes
a day might help prevent heart disease and stroke.
It appears that are loaded with antioxidants and other compounds
that work in harmony to keep blood vessels healthy.
Two studies were presented by the National Mango Board, on July 27, 2023,
showing why the fruit might be a superfood to keep on hand.
Study participants were tested for blood markers of oxidative stress
after either snacking on mangoes or low-fat cookies for 12 weeks.
They otherwise ate their normal diet.
The experiment included healthy, overweight,
or obese men and women - 16 men and 11 women who switched between
mangoes or low-fat cookies after taking a break for 4 weeks.
The markers tested in the study included vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),
which is thought to be a major player when it comes to promoting plaque in
the arteries, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) which helps prevent cell damage.
Mee Young Hong, Ph.D., the primary investigator for both studies
further explained in a press release “SOD and VCAM-1 play opposite
roles as risk factors for vascular issues. While the SOD enzyme
reduces risk by breaking down charged oxygen molecules called toxic
superoxide radicals the VCAM-1 gene causes cells to stick together
along the vascular lining, leading to increased risk for issues.”
Keeping blood vessels healthy means the VCAM-1 level should be
lower and SOD levels should be higher, which is what happened to
the study participants after they ate mangoes.
SOD is sold as a supplement, but the body can't absorb it,
making eating mangoes a savory and practical potential option
for cellular health.
Professor Hong shared the findings of the study are likely the result
of the bioactive compounds that are present in mangoes
that work in synergy to help blood vessels stay healthy
including Vitamin C, folate, and mangiferin.
If you’re interested in other healthy food options to help prevent disease:
yogurt might help lower your chances of lung cancer.
Could chili peppers save your heart?
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