I can still remember the first time I took a bite of mango, and thought it was the most heavenly taste I’d ever experienced. It’s hard to believe something so delicious is also so good for you! Mango has a number of health benefits and can even be used for your own home beauty regimen. Check out the many benefits of mango below and some quick, easy recipes!
To start things off, here are a few mango tips:
When picking out mangos, judge by feel, not color. A ripe mango will give slightly when you touch it.
How to cut a mango: Mangos have a long, flat seed at the center. To cut a mango, hold it upright and cut downwards about ¼” from the widest part of the mango. Repeat this on both sides, leaving you with two oval “cheeks.” The leftover part in the center is mostly seed.
Leaving the skin on, cut slices vertically and horizontally across the mango cheek, making a grid-like pattern.
Now you can just scrape the mango cubes right off the skin and eat away!
Health Benefits of Mango:
– Mangos contain antioxidant compounds that have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers
– Mangos have high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C, which help to lower cholesterol levels
– Mangos are chock full of Vitamins A and C which keep your immune system healthy and strong — Vitamin A also promotes good eyesight
– Mangos can be used both internally and externally for the skin and are known to clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples (see our mango mud mask recipe below!)
– Mangos contain enzymes for breaking down protein and fiber that helps with digestion
Mango is delicious just the way it is, but here are a couple other quick, easy ways to eat it!
Mango Salsa
Ingredients:
– One mango
– One tomato
– Handful of diced onion
– Handful of chopped cilantro
– Salt
– Pepper
OK so I called this salsa but I like to eat it plain! It’s so delicious and refreshing during the hot summer months. I love the way the sweetness of the mango plays off of the other flavors.
Cut up the mango as instructed above, dice one tomato and mix in a bowl with a handful of diced onion and chopped cilantro. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and eat plain or with tortilla chips :)
Mango Smoothie
Ingredients
Makes 8 ounces
1 mango, pitted and skinless
1 cup yogurt (I used peach yogurt and I highly recommend it!)
10-12 ice cubes
Blend until smooth and enjoy!
Mango Mud Mask
Ingredients
1/2 a mango
1 tbs almonds
1 tbs oatmeal
Blend the above ingredients, adding tablespoons of water as needed to achieve a muddy consistency. Smooth over face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off and feel how fresh and rejuvenated your skin is!
Photos by Julia.
More healthy recipes and beauty tips from the BLDG 25 Blog!
I also love dried mangos! Just slice them into thin pieces and place on food dehydrator…mmmm so good! Thanks for the tips, I am especially excited about the smoothie- I also have mango juice all the time but the smoothie sounds delicious as well!
<3Courtney
http://www.alwaysrooney.com
Super excited to try the mango mud mask! Thanks for the tip!
Vanessa
http://www.missesboy.com
If you’re feeling adventurous, grilling the two whole, skinless cheeks of a slightly under ripe mango really brings out the sweetness! It would certainly compliment the mango salsa : ) xo
Yum! I love learning about all these delicious super foods :D
i love mango!! Gracias por las recetas :)
Thank you for the good writeup. It in truth was a amusement account it. Look complex to more brought agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable info to work on.
You’ve done a formidable activity and our whole community will probably be thankful to you.