Mangosteen fruit useful properties. Mangosteen (mangosteen), what kind of fruit, the beneficial properties of a tropical fruit

Fans of exotic fruits should definitely try mangosteen - the fruit of a plant belonging to the genus Garcinia. Unfortunately, this tree does not grow in the CIS countries, but is common in Malaysia, Thailand, in the east and south of Asia and in the countries of Indonesia. However, in most large supermarkets you can find this unusual fruit on sale. What is it, how is it applied? What is the composition of the fruit? Let's talk about the benefits of mangosteen and the dangers, and also "Popular about Health" will tell you how to eat the fruit.

What is mangosteen?

The mangosteen fruit is no larger than a tangerine. Its peel is dark purple, thick and dense. The thickness of the peel of the overseas fruit is about a centimeter. Inside is white pulp. It looks like garlic cloves. It tastes sweet and sour with a hint of citrus, a bit like an orange. The lobules contain seeds and pits. The pulp is quite juicy, refreshing. How is mangosteen used?

The use of mangosteen

Mangosteen is eaten fresh, it is very tasty and healthy. Canned fruits can also be found on sale, but during storage they lose some of their taste and useful properties. Mangosteen is also used to make smoothies or purees. In Thailand, fruits are served for dessert, and Malaysians love mangosteen jam.

However, the use of fruit is possible not only in cooking. For example, the wood of the plant is often used to make furniture. I found a use for the mangosteen and the peel. It contains a pigment that is used in the leather industry to dye leather goods black. In folk medicine, Asians use different parts of the mangosteen tree. What is the chemical composition of fruits? What is special about it?

What is the composition and nutritional value of the fruit?

The composition of mangosteen is of interest to people who put their health at the forefront. Useful properties are found not only in the pulp of the fruit, but also in its peel.

It contains valuable phytonutrients that have an adaptogenic, tonic, tonic effect. Mangosteen is the record holder for the content of xanthones, powerful antioxidants. Mangosteen has a lot of vitamins A and C in the pulp, as well as trace elements - magnesium, zinc, calcium and potassium. About 60 varieties of them were found in this fruit! To date, this fruit has no equal, there is no other vegetable or fruit that would simultaneously contain such an amount of antioxidants.

The peel is enriched with pectins and essential oils. The calorie content of mangosteen is 73 kcal per 100 g. Most of all in its pulp are carbohydrates - 18%, protein - 0.4%, and fat - 0.6%.

fruit benefits

In view of the composition of the fruit comes the understanding that it must be very beneficial to health. It is so indeed. Antioxidants are of great value, of which there are so many. They easily neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals in the body, preventing the formation of cancer cells. That is, it is recommended to eat mangosteen for the prevention of cancer and the cleansing of the whole organism as a whole. If eating a mangosteen provided just that, that would be enough. But the benefits of fruit are not only this.

Mangosteen is also beneficial in that it helps to lose weight, but not only due to the low calorie content. Substances in its pulp speed up metabolism, improve digestion. By the way, with problems of the gastrointestinal tract, it is also useful, but not in the acute phase, but at the stage of remission. Due to its ability to relieve inflammation and heal, it can even cure peptic ulcers. Regular consumption of mangosteen helps to increase efficiency, gives a surge of vigor, relieves headaches, normalizes blood circulation and cardiac activity. Are there any contraindications to it?

Harm of mangosteen

In general, there is no need to talk about the dangers of the fruit, since mangosteen has no harmful properties. But! There are some known health problems in humans, in which it is not recommended to eat this fruit. For example, if you have poor blood clotting, refrain from tropical treats. The xanthones in its composition thin the blood. Also, from the fruit, harm is possible with an allergic reaction to it. This manifestation can become an obstacle to the use of the fetus.

How to eat mangosteen?

The pulp is eaten from the fruit. To get to it, you need to remove the peel from the fruit. Since it is quite thick, it is usually cut to a depth of about a centimeter and carefully removed by hand. Inside, under the skin, there are white slices, it is them that are eaten at the mangosteen. You can simply remove them with your hands or eat them with a spoon. The peel itself is rarely eaten fresh, although it is also extremely useful, it is used when cooking jam or for other purposes.

So your acquaintance with the mangosteen fruit took place. Perhaps you will someday be able to find it, being somewhere in the resort, or in another place. If you get the chance, be sure to taste the Thai fruit, which is a real source of health.

The inhabitants of our country first heard about the mangosteen in the popular film “Guest from the Future”, when Alice shared the recipe for the usual “bramboulet” with her friend Yulia. True, according to her recipe, the mangosteen had to be fried. It turns out that mangosteen is not an invention of Kir Bulychev, but a completely existing fruit, but it is not fried, but eaten raw, as it is a sweet and sour fruit.

Tropical fruit mangosteen (mangosteen, garcinia) in Southeast Asia - the birthplace of these fruits, is very popular and widespread. According to Buddhist legend, Buddha was the first to find this fruit and gave it to people, which is why it is called the “king of fruits”. According to another version, Queen Victoria was very fond of mangosteen, which is why they are also called the “Queen of Fruits”.

Where and how does it grow

Garcinias grow in India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia. From these countries, fruit trees came to Africa and America.

Mangosteen grows on tall 20-25-meter evergreen trees. The trees have large oval-shaped leaves with dark green tops and yellowish bottoms. Young leaves appearing on the tree are painted in an unusual pink color. The flowers have fleshy green petals with red spots.

The fruits are similar to dark purple in color, under the dense skin of which there are from 4 to 8 juicy segments with stones that look like a head. For the appearance of fruits, flowers do not require pollination - they are pollinated by parthenogenesis (self-fertilization). Fruit ripens twice a year: in summer and winter.

Mangosteen trees begin to bear fruit late - not earlier than the tenth year of life, but yield crops up to 25-40 years of their life.

Chemical composition

Mangosteen contains a lot (up to 18 g), while up to 1.8 g of dietary fiber (and). The content of other nutrients in the pulp of garcinia fruits is low: - up to 0.4 g and - up to 0.6 g. 100 g of edible pulp is up to 73 kcal.

Garcinia fruits contain a record number of xanthones among all plants - polyphenolic compounds that are powerful. For comparison: aloe juice contains only one xanthone, in the golden mustache - 3, and in the pulp of mangosteen there are 43 of them.

The vitamin-mineral complex of mangosteen is diverse, but there is no predominance of any of the vitamins or minerals over others.

In addition to the pulp, many useful substances are also found in the inedible peel of fruits and bark. Xanthones are also extracted from the peel. An extract from the bark, which was called "amibiasin", was used as an anti-amebic agent. A general tonic is produced from whole fruits - Xango juice.

Beneficial features

The dietary fiber of garcinia fruits improves intestinal motility, preventing constipation, and also absorb toxic substances dissolved in it. Due to this, fruits have a diuretic and detoxifying effect.

A significant content in mangosteen contributes to the normal functioning of the intestinal microflora, thereby increasing immunity.

Copper, zinc and phosphorus contained in the pulp of mangosteen:

• participate in the synthesis of hemoglobin;
• promote the transition of immature reticulocytes into mature erythrocytes;
• normalize the acidity of the biological environment of the body, since they participate in redox reactions in the composition;
• take part in the construction and regeneration of bone tissue;
• enhance the hypoglycemic effect of insulin;
• prevent the breakdown of glycogen in the liver;
• increase the activity of pituitary hormones;
• contribute to the antitoxic function of the liver.

Potassium is involved in the regulation of intracellular pressure and stimulates the excretion of excess fluid from the body. Together with calcium, potassium regulates the tone of striated muscles, improves nerve conduction, and activates a number of enzymes in the human body.

Mangosteen manganese enhances the hypoglycemic effect of insulin, reduces the concentration in the blood, increases the body's defenses, and has a beneficial effect on digestion.

Mangosteen in their homeland are famous for their anti-aging effect, the ability to improve digestion and promote weight loss. They normalize the hormonal background.

The benefits of xanthones

Due to the high content of xanthones, garcinia fruits are an excellent antioxidant. Mangosteen xanthones:

• prevent damage to cell walls and intracellular structures by free radicals;
• inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi);
• improve microcirculation in tissues;
• increase immunity and vitality of the body;
• help reduce joint pain;
• reduce itching and other allergic manifestations;
• increase skin elasticity;
• normalize metabolic processes in the body;
• reduce blood levels.

Xanthones prevent the occurrence of chromosomal mutations in the genome of human cells, as a result of which they have an anticancer effect. Large-scale clinical studies conducted by the New York Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that regular consumption of mangosteen fruits, due to the presence of a large amount of xanthones in them, triggers the process of self-destruction of cancer cells.

Thanks to xanthones, these fruits relieve inflammation. Possessing tropism for connective tissue, these compounds are able to reduce pain that occurs with arthritis, arthrosis, and sprains.

Mangosteen peel products have an antidiarrheal effect. Extracts from the bark of the Garcinia tree are used as an anti-amebiasis agent.

Harmful properties

It has been scientifically proven that some mangosteen xanthones can impair blood clotting, so these fruits are contraindicated in:

• thrombocytopenia;
• deficiency of blood clotting factors;
• hemophilia;
• bleeding.

With caution, they should be eaten by women during pregnancy and menstrual bleeding. It is forbidden to use mangosteen and blood thinners, such as aspirin, at the same time.

In some people, these fruits can reduce the reaction rate, so it is better not to use them before working with complex mechanisms or driving a car.

Application in medicine

In the off-season, mangosteens are expensive, and the amount of nutrients in them decreases sharply during storage. Therefore, it is recommended to eat them for medicinal purposes during the harvest period of these fruits. Oriental medicine has appreciated the beneficial properties of juicy mangosteen fruits.

For diseases of the digestive system

Garcinia fruits are used in the treatment of:

• diseases of the oral cavity (gingivitis, stomatitis);
• inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, enteritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis);
• stomach ulcers;
• intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• intestinal infections (dysentery, amoebiasis, candidiasis);
• helminthic invasions;
• hemorrhoids.

Eating 2-3 fruits helps relieve spastic abdominal pain.

For diseases of the genitourinary system

The use of mangosteen in food is indicated for various diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems:

• urolithiasis;
• urethritis;
• cystitis;
• gonorrhea;
• prostatitis;
• menstrual irregularities;
• premenstrual syndrome.

They help to remove excess fluid from the body.

With metabolic disorders and the endocrine system

The rich chemical composition of garcinia allows its fruits to be used for:

• diabetes mellitus;
• overweight;
• hormonal disorders;
• gout.

Improving immunity with prolonged and regular use of mangosteen normalizes metabolism and improves the resistance of the human body to various infections. There is information in the literature about the benefits of mangosteen in tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease) and febrile conditions.

With brain disorders

The use of these exotic fruits is also useful for disorders of the nervous system:

• Alzheimer's disease;
• transient disorders of cerebral circulation;
• neuralgia;
• apathy;
• depressions;
• migraines;
• glaucoma.

Minerals and B vitamins of mangosteen have a beneficial effect on brain function in stressful situations. They are used by students during exams to improve brain activity.

With pathologies of the circulatory system

The rich vitamin and mineral composition and the content of a large amount of xanthones make it possible to use mangosteen for the treatment of:

• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• ischemic heart disease;
• arrhythmias;
• varicose veins;
• thrombophlebitis;
• anemia.

For diseases of the skin and connective tissue

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of xanthones, mangosteen is good for dermatological pathologies and inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue:

• burns;
• acne;
• eczema;
• acne
• seborrhea;
• dandruff;
• dermatitis;
• allergies;
• osteochondrosis;
• arthritis;
• arthrosis.

At the same time, garcinia fruits show their positive properties not only when their pulp is ingested, but also when used externally for products made from whole fruits or their peel.

Mangosteens are recommended for use by patients with oncological diseases of any localization. Fruits cannot replace the main anti-cancer treatment, but they can be used to strengthen the immune system, speed up recovery after treatment.

How to choose and store

Mangosteen is a perishable fruit. They keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Due to the difficulties of transportation, in our country, garcinia fruits can only be purchased in supermarkets or in the markets of large cities. To buy ripe and healthy mangosteens, you need to know some of the nuances of their choice:

1. You need to buy them only in the season of their collection - in summer and winter. In spring and autumn, as a rule, substandard fruits are sold, in which few useful substances are stored.
2. The color of the ripe fruit is dark purple, similar to the color of the peel. A lighter color of the fruit indicates immaturity, while a dark color or spots on the skin indicate overripeness.
3. To the touch, the mangosteen should be dense, resilient, but not hard.
4. The peel of ripe fruit is smooth and whole. If the skin on them is wrinkled or cracked, you cannot buy such mangosteens - they are spoiled.

Application in cooking

Mangosteen is most often consumed raw or in juice form. The pulp of the fruit in Asia is used to make jams and jams, added to fruit salads, cocktails, smoothies, soufflés, ice cream. Thais love to serve mangosteen to the table on an ice pillow.

The sweet and sour taste of fruits goes well with fish and seafood (,). It is often used to make spicy sauces for meat and fish dishes.

conclusions

The exotic fruit mangosteen is called the “king of fruits”. This name is due to its unique chemical composition. In the fruit pulp, 43 types of xanthones were found - substances with pronounced antioxidant properties, fiber, vitamins, and. These fruits have many useful properties that are successfully used by traditional healers in the treatment of various diseases.

Mangosteens are recommended for use in diseases of the heart and blood vessels, digestive organs, inflammatory diseases of the skin and connective tissue. They help with neurological pathologies, diabetes, endocrine disorders. Low calorie content allows you to use the fruits of garcinia in the diet.

The anti-cancer property of mangosteen xanthones has been scientifically proven, so these fruits are often included by oncologists in therapeutic diets for tumors of various localization.

Many of our consumers liked the sweet and sour taste of mangosteen, so they are becoming increasingly popular in our country.

With caution, it is necessary to use mangosteen with reduced blood clotting and at the same time with drugs that thin the blood.

Tropical plant mangosteen or mangosteen, mangosteen, garcinia - gives people an unusual exotic Thai fruit. Europeans call it the royal fruit, and the reason for this is the English Queen Victoria, who fell in love with him to such an extent that she promised a high title to the person who would ensure the supply of this curiosity to her table all the time.

However, an ancient legend says that the Buddha was the first to discover the fruit, after which he gave it to people - this is how the name “fruit of the Gods” arose.

This is a tall tree, reaching a height of 25 meters, with an evergreen crown, a beautiful pyramidal shape. Graceful oval, rather large leaves (can grow up to 25 cm) have a pointed tip. They have a rich green color.

The flowers of the plant are unusual - up to 5 cm in diameter, have a greenish tint and red blotches. They are located at the end of a branch in a group of 5-9 pieces and do not need pollination, since they have both female and male characteristics. There is no nectar in the flowers. Thus, the tree itself is fertilized and dispenses with the labor of bees, butterflies and small birds.

The tree blooms only in the 9th year, after which fruiting begins.
Mangosteen is an unusual fruit for the inhabitants of Russia, although in recent years it has appeared in the trading network, and those who tasted it appreciated the taste of an exotic thing!

Distribution area

Mangosteen grows everywhere in the countries of Southeast Asia, in a humid equatorial climate. Over time, it was settled and began to be cultivated in Thailand and Cambodia, in India and the Philippines, as well as in Central America, Colombia, Africa and the Antilles.
The fruiting season in Thailand begins in April-May, and the mangosteen crop ends in August.

mangosteen fruit

The fruit or berry of the exotic mangosteen is very decorative - dark purple and brownish in color, spherical with a thick peel that is not eaten. Its size ranges from small - 3 cm in diameter, to large - about 8 cm. After cutting the fruit, a snow-white core, resembling garlic cloves, opens up to the eye. Usually in one fruit they number from 5 to 8. Large slices contain seeds - no more than 4 pieces. The weight of one fruit varies from 80 to 200 grams!

After eating the fruit, it would be wise not to throw away the peel, since the burgundy amniotic pulp contains a lot of useful substances that are used to make puree and juice!
It is very difficult to convey in words the taste of the berry. To some, it resembles grapes, to others - rambutan (a tropical juicy fruit in a peel with a hairline), but everyone who has tried mangosteen fruits agrees that they are beautiful.

calories

The calorie content of mangosteen does not exceed 70 kcal per hundred grams of fruit. Approximately the same - and freshly squeezed juice. Syrup can be slightly higher.

Vitamin composition

All the benefits lie in the unusual composition of the berries. Perhaps mangosteen is the champion in terms of the amount of vitamin PP (niacin) in it, only mango surpasses it, but not by much.

In addition, the berries contain the following vitamins and minerals:

• C (ascorbic acid). B1 (thiamine).
• B vitamins.
• vitamins A, D, E.
• Potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus.

health benefits of mangosteen

What is especially useful mangosteen? Of course, its main value, in addition to a pleasant taste with a slight sourness, is in a high content of vitamin PP. Some even call mangosteen help "3D".

The fact is that with a clear lack of vitamin PP, the following occur:

• Diarrhea (diarrhea).
• Dermatitis (skin inflammation).
• Dementia (dementia).

So, if there was nothing else besides niacin in mangosteen, then it should still be considered a unique fruit. But this is not so, because berries contain many more useful things, thanks to their rich chemical composition.

Here are some of the ailments that mangosteen helps fight:

• Restores immunity (stimulated due to the beneficial effect on the lymph nodes).
• Reduces inflammation (joint pain).
• Eases allergies.
• It has an antibacterial effect.
• Slows down the aging process of cells.
• Effective in fighting cancer cells.
• Reduces blood pressure.
• Depressant.
• Normalizes the work of the digestive tract.
• Improves blood.

Another important component of mangosteen is xanthones - antioxidant substances. Currently, 200 xanthones are known to science. Mangosteen contains 40 of them! They bravely fight cancer cells by launching a mechanism for their self-destruction. So far, this fruit is the only one in which such healing properties have been found! That is, there is another factor in the uniqueness of the fetus.

Such a "vitamin bomb" is indispensable for maintaining the body in the postoperative period.
The abundance of trace elements and vitamins has a strong effect on brain activity, it is no coincidence that the fruit is indicated for Alzheimer's patients.

Also, it acts as a vasoconstrictor, which is important for hypertensive patients and those with cardiac disorders. Along the way, it strengthens the nervous system.

Medicinal properties of the peel, leaves and bark of a tree

1. Dried peel is used for dysentery.
2. Included in the composition of ointments for skin diseases.
3. Taking a decoction of the bark inside is used for diarrhea, cystitis, urethritis and gonorrhea.
4. The decoction is used externally as a hemostatic agent.
5. A decoction of the bark with leaves is used to treat stomatitis.
6. It is used in cosmetics as a skin rejuvenator.

How to choose the right fruit

• Coming to the market or to the store, you first need to pay attention to the appearance of the fruit.
  The most ripe berries should be a pleasant dark purple color.
• If possible, it is advisable to choose large fruits, since they have a larger edible part.
  The leaves of the fruit in the lower part should not be withered, but pleasing to the eye with greenery. In the event that they are brown, it is possible that rotting has begun inside.
• Taking the fruit in hand, the buyer should feel its elasticity - after light pressure, it should restore its shape. A hardened, unpressable peel indicates that the fruit is overripe.
• Mangosteen is stored in the refrigerator, no more than 14 days.

How to peel and eat mangosteen

Bringing this miracle fruit home from the store, the first thing you want to try it. Here the rules are the same for all fruits and vegetables - you need to wash them thoroughly in running water. After that, having dried a little, it is enough to cut in the middle of the fruit, slightly, so as not to damage the pulp. One half of the peel is easily removed, and the second is best left in the form of an impromptu glass. Armed with a teaspoon, you can safely start tasting!

Contraindications for use

The fruit will harm the body if it is consumed in unlimited quantities. Of course, in the conditions of our country this is hardly possible, but when visiting countries where it grows, one should not eat exclusively mangosteen, making a “reserve” for the rest of his life. This will not only not help, but also hurt!

Some body systems may be at risk:

• Blood clotting is reduced.
• Reaction slowdown.
• Increased acidity of the stomach.
• Allergy.

Based on this, there are groups of people to whom this fruit is contraindicated.

• Violations of the functions of the kidneys and liver.
• Pancreatitis.
• Ulcer disease.

Syrup

Separately, it is necessary to mention mangosteen syrup.
It is used as a strengthening remedy for fatigue, beriberi and for weight loss, as the berry speeds up metabolic processes and is low in calories. This drug is not a medicine, but a dietary supplement.

It is recommended to take half a small spoon twice a day. Usually dietary supplements are added to tea (not very hot), kefir and other drinks. Gradually, the daily dose is adjusted to 2 tablespoons.
It is not necessary to use mangosteen only inside. It can be added to a nourishing cream or scrub - this will support the skin, only for external use it is not a syrup that is used, but a dry soluble powder. The course of treatment is designed for one month.

Application in cooking

Freshly picked fruits bring the greatest benefit, but raw mangosteen is also included in salads - vegetable and fruit. It is good with seafood and cheese.
Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy a milkshake with fruit pulp. In southern countries, its white segments are preserved, and fresh juice is squeezed out in front of customers. Confectioners prepare fillings for delicious pies from fresh fruits.

Application in the economy

The bark of the tree contains orange latex, which is used in the manufacture of paints.
The wood is used to make handicrafts and small joinery.
In Asia, the young shoots of the tree replace chewing gum.

From the foregoing, it should have become clear what a mangosteen really is.
Quite right, for the inhabitants of Southeast Asia it is a familiar fruit, although it is extremely healing, and for Europeans it is an unusual, exotic and rare fruit that can be of great help in case of malaise, and from this it is even more coveted.

However, one thing must be learned: since it has biologically active components, its use should not become as common as the usual apples, and when using it for medicinal purposes, be sure to follow the instructions of a specialist.

Mangosteen is an exotic fruit that is native to the countries of Southeast Asia, where it is recognized as the king of fruits. Many residents of the CIS countries know the fetus from trips to Thailand. This curiosity can be found on sale with us. True, taking into account the cost of delivery, this product is not a cheap pleasure. Thanks to the beneficial properties of the mangosteen fruit, it is becoming more and more popular every year.

Description

Before studying the mangosteen fruit, the beneficial properties and dangerous properties of this product, let's find out how it looks from the outside and from the inside.

Outwardly, the mangosteen looks like an apple, covered with a thick purple-burgundy peel, which is not suitable for human consumption. Beneath it is a juicy edible white pulp in the form of cloves resembling garlic. Inside the pulp, seeds can be found tightly adjacent to it.

Mangosteen has a light aroma and a sweet and sour taste that can be described as a combination of pineapple, citrus, strawberry, grape, peach and apricot. The pulp of the fruit is so juicy that it melts in the mouth, it perfectly quenches thirst. In addition to the divine taste, mangosteen (fruit) also has useful properties (a photo of the fruit can be seen below).

Composition

Why is mangosteen so good? The fruit, the beneficial properties of which are determined by its most valuable chemical composition, has healing qualities.

First of all, mangosteen is a real storehouse of xanthones - the most powerful natural antioxidants, of which there are 39 out of 200 that exist in nature. Xanthones are known for their ability to destroy free radicals, maintain a healthy weight, improve the body's defenses and rejuvenate it. In addition, they help improve brain activity and have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Their impact on the human body occurs at the cellular level. Scientists have found that xanthones have the ability to lead to self-destruction of malignant cells.

The peel of an exotic fruit contains as many catechins as green tea. These substances are known for their antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and antitumor effects.

The mangosteen fruit has beneficial properties due to the presence of a number of vitamins in the composition. The vitamin complex is represented by vitamins A, B (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic and folic acids), C, E and D.

What else is valuable in the mangosteen fruit? The beneficial properties of the fruit are ensured by the presence in it of such macro- and microelements as potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, manganese, etc.

The calorie content of the fruit does not exceed 72 kcal per 100 grams.

Benefit

What are the health benefits of mangosteen fruit?

Regular intake of this exotic fruit allows you to maintain the cardiovascular system in the right rhythm, stop headaches and get rid of insomnia.

Mangosteen fruit (its beneficial properties are still the subject of study) normalizes metabolic and digestive processes. For this reason, many nutritionists often use mangosteen fruits as a fat-burning agent in their practice. In addition, it is effectively used for diarrhea.

Mangosteen helps to improve the functioning of the endocrine system and improve hormonal levels.

Tropical fruit juice helps to recover faster after surgery, serious illness and depression. Thanks to its use, it is possible to rejuvenate and cleanse the body, as well as increase its vitality.

mangosteen and weight loss

During the diet, experts recommend eating foods with a maximum content of fiber and antioxidants. Such nutrition helps to maintain the necessary level of vitamins in the body and feel good. It is for this reason that the mangosteen fruit will come in handy. The beneficial properties of this fruit can not only compensate for the deficiency of vitamins and trace elements, but also speed up the metabolism, strengthen the immune system.

An important role in losing weight is also played by a purely psychological aspect, when taking mangosteen allows you to make the diet menu more tasty and varied. This makes it possible not to break loose with a fairly strict diet.

Contraindications

If you study the mangosteen (fruit), the beneficial properties and harms of this fruit, you will find that, like all exotic products, it can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, fruits should be taken with caution by people prone to allergies to fruits.

During pregnancy, its intake is allowed if it was present in the diet before and was safely tolerated.

Application in traditional medicine

It is worth noting that not only the pulp is useful for mangosteen. In Asian folk medicine, the dried peel of an exotic fruit is successfully used. From the peel ground into powder, various ointments and creams are made, which are used to treat dermatological diseases. Means based on mangosteen peel treat both a banal skin rash and severe forms of eczema. Antibacterial foot creams, as well as for problem skin care, have a good effect.

As an astringent, mangosteen peel powder is used for diarrhea and dysentery.

How to choose the right fruit

When choosing a mangosteen, you should pay attention to the color of the leaves located at the top of the fruit. Their color should be bright green, not brown. The brown color of the leaves indicates that the fruit is overripe and begins to deteriorate.

A sign of a ripe mangosteen is its elasticity. When pressed, the fruit should spring, and not be hard, like a watermelon peel. A unique feature of the fruit is that if it has begun to rot, it is completely invisible from the outside. You can check the quality of the product only by touching it and carefully examining the leaves.

It is better to choose larger fruits, as they contain more pulp. In addition, mangosteens with more leaves are juicier and have fewer seeds.

How they eat

To enjoy the exotic, first of all, the fruit must be properly cut. To do this, a circular incision is made through the center of the mangosteen, trying not to touch the pulp, after which it is opened. You can also cut off the top of the fruit, and eat the pulp with a spoon.

The fruit is consumed, as a rule, fresh, without being subjected to heat treatment, because the aromatic and taste qualities of the product are lost because of it.

You can store it in the refrigerator. True, the shelf life, as a rule, does not exceed 7-10 days. In those countries where mangosteen grows, it is believed that the most delicious and healthy fruit is the fruit that has ripened on the tree. To bring it to us, the mangosteen is plucked unripe, but this does not affect its usefulness.

What can be prepared from it

This most valuable tropical fruit is most often used to make exotic salads, unusual sauces for meat and fish, fruit cocktails, mousses, soufflés, syrups, and sweet fillings for pies.

Beauty and Health Health Nutrition

Where is mangosteen grown

These exotic fruits grow in the tropics and are little known in our country. But thanks to their amazing taste and many useful properties, they deserve attention. The mangosteen is native to the Malay Archipelago. It is most widespread in Thailand and some countries of Southeast Asia. In other countries, individual trees are found only in botanical gardens. It suits the humid equatorial climate. Mangosteen trees do not tolerate even a short period of drought or winds. And they die already at temperatures below + 5 ° C.

How to choose and eat mangosteen

The taste of mangosteen is very pleasant and simply cannot be compared.. Its skin is dark purple, and the flesh is white. The size of the mangosteen is small - with a tangerine. This fruit has an exquisite taste and excellent nutritional properties. In addition, it is valued for its high xanthone content. In addition, each serving of this fruit contains five grams of fiber protein. And its dark purple pigment is used as a dye.

The pulp of the mangutin is under the skin. But it should not be thrown away, because it is this peel that accounts for the maximum amount of its nutrients. By the way, it should also be used in the preparation of juice from these fruits.

The ripe fruit should have an intense color and be slightly soft. Mangosteen fruits are removed and slightly unripe, they can ripen after removal. A good fruit should be firm to the touch. It is better to choose large fruits. The skin of the mangosteen should spring back when gently pressed. The best season for mangosteen is from May to September.

It is better not to take small-sized mangosteen fruits for the reason that they contain a smaller amount of pulp. Inside each mangosteen is 6-7 slices of juicy pulp. Hard to the touch and dry fruits, the peel of which is cracked, are already overripe.

In countries where this fruit grows, it is widely used fresh. Everyone likes its sweet-sour refreshing taste.

You can eat fresh mangosteen, you can make syrup from it or preserve it. When preserving, it is necessary to carefully observe the technology. The fact is that if the sterilization process is delayed for more than 10 minutes, then the specific delicate taste of mangosteen is almost completely lost.

Mangosteen storage conditions

Mangosteen fruits should be stored in a closed, dry place. but it shouldn't be cold. They can lie from 20 to 25 days. Then the peel becomes more and more rigid, and the pulp dries out.

Unfortunately, mangosteen is sold only in tropical countries. It must ripen on the tree; the mangosteen can be stored fresh for a fairly short time. You can't freeze mangosteens. You can store this fruit for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Useful properties of mangosteen

Mangosteen helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system, helps to improve sleep and get rid of headaches, normalizes cerebral circulation, digestion and metabolism. Mangosteen improves appetite, promotes fat burning and weight loss. This fruit improves the activity of the endocrine system, helps to get rid of hormonal disorders, helps to cleanse and rejuvenate the body, and increases its vitality.

What is useful mangosteen

Mangosteen is an excellent source of such substances necessary for the human body as vitamins C and E, thiamine, nitrogen, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium and potassium.

Mangosteen is used in pharmacology. Many people know the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E. These vitamins are very effective in fighting free radicals that destroy healthy cells in the body and contribute to its early aging. But few people know about the amazing properties of xanthones. These natural chemicals were discovered by scientists not so long ago.

Their medical capabilities have been carefully studied by specialists. Their most important pharmacological properties have been identified. Xanthones effectively protect our immune system; contribute to the maintenance of microbiological balance in the body; improve mental activity; help the human body to better adapt to the external environment. It is important to note that not only the mangosteen pulp is useful, but also all its other elements. All of them are so far the only source of xanthones known to science.

Free radicals are incomplete, positively charged molecules that lack a free electron. And they snatch this free electron from defenseless cells. The result is a loss of vitality by the cell, which leads to various negative consequences. The main reasons that free radicals appear in the body are the following: malnutrition, stress, poor environment, exposure to household chemicals and heavy metals, as well as smoking, drugs and alcohol abuse.

Antioxidants are negatively charged molecules that carry a free electron. These molecules are able to neutralize free radicals.

Xanthones are considered more powerful natural antioxidants than vitamins C and E.. Xanthones are unique biological substances. There are more than 200 species of them in nature. And 39 of them contain mangosteen fruits. Therefore, mangosteen has the highest natural concentration of xanthones in one place.

Xanthones are able to effectively prevent mutational cell damage. They have antifungal and antibacterial effects. Inhibit inflammatory processes. In addition, American experts have found that xanthones can lead to self-destruction of malignant cells in the human body. Therefore, mangosteen can be called a whole pharmacy in a compact package.

In Europe and America, the beneficial properties of mangosteen were learned not so long ago. But in the countries of Southeast Asia, this fruit has been used for hundreds of years for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. This is especially true for the skin of the fetus.

Mangosteen juice and its properties

Mangosteen also helps fight excess weight.. According to numerous studies, this fruit helps to get rid of extra pounds. This is due to its ability to dissolve body fat.

Manufacturers recommend drinking it in order to maintain good health. This juice helps to recover faster after serious illnesses and recover from operations. There is evidence of the beneficial effects of this juice in the treatment of cancer.

Exotic fruit mangosteen, aka mangosteen or mangosteen (lat. Garcinia mangostana), belongs to plants of the genus Garcinia. Widespread in Indonesia and Malaysia. Today it is also cultivated in parts of Southeast and South Asia and exported all over the world.

The fruits of mangosteen are dark purple in color and spherical in shape. The peel is quite hard, about 5-10 mm thick. The pulp is white, soft, fleshy and juicy, divided into 4-8 slices, tastes like an orange. There are bones inside.

An interesting fact: this fruit was a favorite treat of Queen Victoria, so it is sometimes called the "king among fruits."

Fresh fruits are consumed raw. This is a delicious dessert that is on the menu of every self-respecting Thai restaurant. And in Malaysia, delicious jam is made from the pulp of mangosteen.

On sale you can find canned or frozen fruits. Although they lose their unique aroma during processing, this is the price for a long shelf life.

The twigs of the plant are used as gum sticks in Ghana (in West Africa). Furniture is made from beautiful dark brown wood. The peel of the fruit contains a black dye, which is used in China to tan leather.

Various parts of the plant have found use in Southeast Asian folk medicine recipes.

The nutritional value

It is a rich source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium and calcium. The peel contains phytonutrients and bioactive chemicals that are beneficial to health.

Mangosteen has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and antiviral properties. Contains about 60 xanthones (a record number) - natural phenolic compounds with a wide range of beneficial properties.

Harm and contraindications

According to scientific data, xanthones affect blood clotting. Therefore, doctors do not recommend eating mangosteen for people taking blood-thinning medications.

Allergic reactions are also possible.

There is no consensus regarding the use of mangosteen during pregnancy. You'd better consult with your doctor.

Where to buy and how to choose

These fruits can be found in major grocery stores. Pay attention to the supplier: the treat must be from China, Thailand or other countries in Southeast Asia. You can also order the delicacy online.

Choose fruits with a large number of leaves crowning the top. As a rule, they are juicier and contain fewer seeds.

How to eat mangosteen

Wash the fruit under running water. With a sharp knife, make an incision along the circumference of the peel. The incision should be deep enough, as the thickness of the peel is about 7-10 mm. Inside you will find white pulp in the form of cloves, like garlic cloves. Juicy slices can be easily removed from the peel with a spoon.

Meet another exotic fruit that you can eat with a spoon -.

Sweet and sour jam

• 200 g fruit pulp
• 70 g sugar
• 70 g of water
• 2 tbsp. l. lime juice,
• 1 st. l. pectin.

Make sugar syrup from sugar and water. Add syrup to the pulp of the fruit and cook until soft. Then add 2 tbsp. lime juice and 1 tbsp. l. pectin for gelling. Simmer until the jam thickens.

Store the finished jam in an airtight container.

Cocktail

• 250 g mangosteen puree,
• 100 g liquid cream,
• 1 glass of water.

Mix all the ingredients in a blender, add sugar to taste.

If you like to discover new healthy foods, pay attention to the mangosteen. Even if you don’t like the taste, no one will take away the joy of new experiences from you.