A Mango A Day Could Keep Diabetes Away

Researchers at Oklahoma State University believe they've discovered a new reason to add mangoes to your grocery list.

According to a new study, the fruit might help prevent an imbalance of the bacteria in the gut, which in turn could help prevent obesity and diabetes. The study was conducted on mice over the course of 12 weeks, and according to professor Edralin Lucas, the findings indicated “that adding mango to the diet may help maintain and regulate gut health and levels of beneficial bacteria levels.”

The Study

The OSU team used 60 male mice for their research. They divided these mice into three groups: a control group, who received 10 percent of their calories from fat; a high fat group, who received 60 percent of their calories from fat; and finally, a high fat diet where anywhere between one to 10 percent of their calories came from mangoes.

At the end of the testing period, those mice who ate the mangoes weighed the same as those in the other groups; however, their body fat was much lower. The mice who ate the mangoes also proved to have lower glucose levels and lower cholesterol.

In a press release on the University website, professor Lucas explains the findings of her team, and what this could mean for human diets, saying:

“Mango contains many nutrients and other bioactive compounds that can provide various health benefits aside from what we investigated... It is high in fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as other minerals and phytochemicals. In addition to the positive effects on body fat, blood lipids and glucose, it is not associated with serious side effects such as negative effects on bone that is linked with the use of rosiglitazone, a drug commonly used to lower blood sugar.”

A Word of Caution

You may find this research astonishing, as doctors and dietitians are often advising people with diabetes to avoid mangoes. The fruit is, admittedly, higher in sugar than other fruits, and therefore might not be suitable for every diabetic.

Additionally, Lucas admits that “Further research is necessary to see if these study results can be replicated in humans.” We suggest speaking with your doctor or endocrinologist to see if mangoes fit into your diabetes diet, and keeping an eye out for updates to this interesting research. After all, if there's a health benefit out there, we want to know about it.