Mangosteen also known as the Queen of fruits is a type of unique tropical fruit that originates from southeast Asia. Mangosteen has been used both as a delicious food and as a source of traditional medicine, and was once brought all the way around the world so that it could be sampled by QueenVictoria. Its health benefits were first written about as long ago as the 18th century.
It has been prized for centuries, both in its native countries and in the West, despite the difficulty of transporting it before the advent of modern technology. Mangosteen was once brought all the way around the world so that it could be sampled by QueenVictoria. Its health benefits were first written about as long ago as the 18th century. New scientific studies of mangosteen fruit prove that these benefits aren’t just mythical.
Chronic inflammation–triggered by everything from the typical Western diet of processed, sugary foods to irritated bowels, inflamed gums, and autoimmune disease–can be detected with tests that measure levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker) and white blood cell counts. You don’t need a test, however, to take proactive steps against inflammation. A diet high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, spices like turmeric, magnesium-rich foods, olive oil, and omega-3 fatty acids all help douse the flames.
Mangosteen juice is another “firefighter”. What sets this tangerine-size fruit apart are its high levels of xanthones, powerful antioxidants that have garnered growing attention from medical researchers. So far, they’ve isolated 220 types of xanthones–42 of which are found in mangosteen.
What are Xanthones?
The primary active components of the mangosteen fruit are called xanthones. Xanthones are a recently discovered class of polyphenolic compounds that are biologically active and structurally similar to bioflavanoids. These compounds occur only rarely in nature, with the majority being found in only two families of plants. Two hundred naturally occurring xanthones have so far been identified. Around forty of them have been discovered in the mangosteen fruit.
Health Benefits of Mangosteen
Different parts of mangosteen fruit and plant were used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders. While the dried powder of mangosteen rind was used in the treatment of dysentery, its paste was used to treat eczema and some other skin disorders. A decoction made of mangosteen rind was used to treat diarrhea, whereas a decoction made of mangosteen roots was used for regulating menstruation. In thePhilippines, people used to make a decoction of mangosteen leaves and bark, which was beneficial in bringing down body temperature and also to treat thrush, dysentery, diarrhea and urinary disorders.
Mangosteen is a powerful fruit that can help you in so many ways! It however is not the only super fruit that the Earth has provided us. There are others. Others like Acai, Goji, Gac, Lychee and Pomegranate.
