Eat Mango – Keep your Heart Healthy

by Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat , Principal, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore

It is Dasara season. How can we remember Mango now? Don’t get surprised. I have seen at Cairns, Australia, a tree full of ripen mangoes during Dasara. Incidentally, Southern hemisphere mango trees yield fruits now. Further more, do you know a mango variety called dusseri!

Let us know more about cardio-protective effects of this divine fruit. Mangifera indica, the indigenous fruit of India, was found wild at Himalayas. Now, it is cultivated world over. In the list of heart tonic medicinal plants, mango occupies first place.

The ripen fruits are not only attractive to look but also good to eat. Amrapali, is a Buddhist site, where mango cultivation was prominent. Kalidasa describes mango flowering and fruiting in his many works. Moghul King Akbar planted over one lakh mango saplings at Lakhibagh, Dhrabanga, North Bihar. Mavalli at Bangalore was mango grove of Hyder Ali times. Even Mysore Wadiyar Dynasty has planted mango trees during Nalvadi Krishnaraja, in pre Independence era.

Every part of this tree is medicinal. Flowers, young leaf, tender, unripe and ripen fruit is used in different forms both for culinary and medicinal uses. Kernel is best in bleeding disorders and diarrhoea. Many diabetics are hesitant in using mango. Ayurveda texts encourage use of mango tree bark and seed kernel to reduce sugar levels in Diabetes. Mangiferin, an active ingredient in mango leaf is a very effective antiviral drug. Particularly it is very effective against herpes, both locally and orally. Regular use of the ripe mango can keep away chronic constipation, both in diabetic as well as cardiac patients.

Anti oxidant properties of mango is evident. Therefore regular use of the fruit can keep you and your heart young.

[Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat can be contacted on Ph:0821-2444701 or Mob:91-09448081005 or email:sathyanarayana.bhat@gmail.com]

NOTE: Moolika Dasara Expo is being held at Chandravana, a garden of medicinal plants maintained by Government Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Mysore, near Kukkarahalli Lake on Bogadi Road. It will be open to public till Sept. 30 between 9 am and 6.30 pm.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / Saturday  , September 27th,  2014