Mangosteen Fruit – The Queen of the Fruits is a Dog
Author: F Fleming B.Sc.Pharm, M.H
Have you noticed lately when you glance at a health ezine that there is some recently discovered exotic food being touted as the “New Super Food”? We are constantly being deluged with new information and claims. From all kinds of foreign berries to green teas how do we know what foods have some advantageous medicinal qualities?
I want to comment on a fruit that I’ve recently been introduced to known as Mangosteen. Mangosteen fruit has been grown since the beginning of the human race in the eastern world and has only recently been brought to light in the western world. Introduction of Mangosteen fruit to the vast western world brought with it the designation “Queen of Fruits”
Mangosteen fruit, also known as Xango, began it’s existence in Southern Asia. This location is where Mangosteen fruit is usually grown. It grows on Asian tropical evergreen trees where the climate is relatively warm, does not thrive in colder temperatures and grows at a very slow pace. When these trees are about ten years old they start to produce little purplish fruits which are of no relation to the Mango. In Asia, Mangosteen fruit is viewed as the “Queen of Fruits” because of its delicate taste and smell
The “Claim to Fame” for Mangosteen fruit comes as a ample source of xanthones. These are phenolic compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Numerous people don’t realize that most of the xanthones are located in the rind and outer shell, not in the fruit itself. Slick selling has promoted this exotic fruit for sale in the form of juices at ridiculous prices. On the internet I saw Mangosteen juice being sold at $35.00 for a 750ml bottle. In a health food store I was shocked to find 1 liter of Mangosteen juice selling at $50.00. Are these prices warranted?
Wikipedia advises that when Mangosteen was analyzed for nutrient content, antioxidant strength and potential impact for reducing the risk against human maladies it was discovered that the overall nutrient content was absent of important material.
I am very wary of any food items arriving from China. There is a recall on infant’s toys due to lead contamination, milk products have been defiled with melamine which is a known toxin that has poisoned thousands of young people while chickens, eating melamine, and their eggs are likewise contaminated.
A recent issue in The National Geographic magazine talks about the Yellow River in China being so polluted that the water is unusable. Thousands of villagers are destined to die of cancer and other terminal conditions because they use the water out of the Yellow River. Equipped with this revelation I must then ask some questions:
- If Mangosteen fruit arrives from China what are the soil conditions like at the location where it is being grown?
- What waterways are supplying this produce and how badly are they contaminated?
- What horrors are we bringing inside our bodies when we select these exotic products?
We tend to forget our own superfoods produced right here in our own backyards. consider blueberries, black cherries, concord grape juice, blackberries and cranberries. All of these have been proven to provide excellent antioxidant properties while they lower the risk against certain human diseases. We can obtain these delicious foods certified organic which means we can be sure that no pesticides have been used.
While you can obtain our own homegrown foods, for your loved ones, at a fraction of the expense of Mangosteen juice you can also rest easier with the declaration of quality coming from our own certified organic farming. My money and my families good health continues with our own superfoods!
