Tried a mango lately? If so, you have tasted the most popular fruit in the world. Surprised? I was. We may think the banana is number one but that's only in the U.S. It's the mango that rules the world. I myself am a mango convert. It all started on a Hawaii vacation several years ago when I was introduced to the mango smoothie. What a fresh and unique flavor!

What's my favorite way to get my mango? I buy it FROZEN (available in bags at many grocery stores including Trader Joes). You can add it directly into the blender for your smoothie or sauce. If you are serving it with a fruit salad, green salad or topping your waffles or pancakes with it, then just serve it slightly thawed.

I rarely eat a mango by itself, but I add them to all sorts of dishes because they add color and fabulous flavor. Speaking of color, mangoes are a member of the acclaimed "yellow and orange fruits and vegetables" grouping known to contain famed antioxidants like vitamin C and two classes of phytochemicals, carotenoids and bioflavonoids, which scientists are studying for their health-promoting potential.

According to the Produce For Better Health's 5 a Day program, including yellow/orange fruits and vegetables in your low-fat diet helps maintain:
* A healthy heart
* Vision health
* A healthy immune system
* A lower risk of some cancers (Low-fat diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors.)

And one of the nutritional standouts of the yellow/orange fruit group is the mango! Along with a few grams of fiber (almost 2 grams of which is soluble fiber), A cup of fresh mango gives you 184% of the Daily Value for vitamin A (super rich in beta-carotene), and 61% for vitamin C.

1 cup of Mango slices contains:
107 calories
1 g protein
28 g carbohydrate
.5 g fat (.2 monounsaturated fat, .1 g polyunsaturated fat)
3 g Fiber
3 mg sodium
184% Daily Value for vitamin A (which includes 3851 micrograms of beta carotene)
61% Daily Value for vitamin C
12% Daily Value for vitamin E
17% Daily Value for vitamin B6

~~Elaine

Related Topics: 5 A Day Quick Tips, Mango Shake

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