National Mango Day

Yes, today is the day to celebrate mangos!  The mango originated in Southeast Asia and India around 4,000 B.C making it a very old fruit.  Buddha was said to have sat under a mango tree to meditate so it is also considered a sacred fruit.

In the United States we get 70% of our mango supply from Mexico. Peru, Ecuador and Brazil are looking to increase their exports and give Mexico some competition.  Good news for growers is that the market in the United States is growing.  From 2019-2020 the market grew 11.4%.

The peak season for the mango is April to August so you should look for the best prices at your local store between May and August.  You should ripen a mango at room temperature until it gets good and gentle, like the feel of a ripened avocado. That should take a few days.  If you want to ripen the mango faster, you can place it in a paper bag for about 2 days.

You will find some good health benefits from mangos:

Vitamin K – helps blood clots and helps prevent anemia

Vitamin C – gives good healing

Antioxidant – high in beta-carotene that fight free radicals that can damage cells

Magnesium and Potassium – good to lower blood pressure

Fiber – one has 2g and helps break down difficult starches

Folate – promotes healthy cell division and DNA duplicaton

Private Home Health Care loves mangos in smoothies, grilled with barbecues, with fish and in yogurt.  Mangos are easy to find in the grocery stores so enjoy!