Why You Should Include Mango Leaves in Your Diet

Mango, the fruit we all love, is rightly called the King of fruits. Many people are familiar with the sweet, tropical fruit that comes from mango trees, but you may not realize that the leaves of mango trees are edible as well.

But, do you know, even its leaves are full of health benefits? This may feel strange to you, might not go well with many of us, but once you will read about the Mango leaves benefits.

you will not just wait for the mango tree in your backyard to give you the sweet mangoes, but will use its leaves as well!

Rich in medicinal properties, mango leaves are there all around the year hanging on the mango trees, unlike the fruit, so you won’t have trouble sourcing them.

These reddish leaves with a purple tint are a power bank of super nutrients that you would hardly ever imagine. They are rich in flavonoids, and compounds called phenols, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Tannins & Antioxidants.

Cultivated for thousands of years, these leaves are believed to have been brought to Southeast Asia by the Buddhist monks, and ever since, people have been relying on the powerful uses of these leaves.

Let us dig deeper and understand the various health benefits of mango leaves and learn about the different uses of mango leaves.

Young green mango leaves are very tender, so they’re cooked and eaten in some cultures. Because the leaves are considered very nutritious, they’re also used to make tea and supplements.

The leaves of Mangifera indica, a particular species of mango, have been used in healing practices like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Although the stem, bark, leaves, roots, and fruit are likewise used in traditional medicine, the leaves in particular are believed to help treat diabetes and other health conditions.

Mango leaves contain several beneficial plant compounds, including polyphenols and terpenoids. Terpenoids are important for optimal vision and immune health.

They’re also antioxidants, which protect your cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. Meanwhile, polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Some research suggests that they improve gut bacteria and help treat or prevent conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Mangiferin, a polyphenol found in many plants but in especially high amounts in mango and mango leaves, is credited with numerous benefits.

Studies have investigated it as an anti-microbial agent and potential treatment for tumors, diabetes, heart disease, and fat digestion abnormalities.

Here are the emerging benefits and uses of mango leaves, backed by science:

May have anti-inflammatory properties: Many of the potential benefits of mango leaves result from mangiferin’s anti-inflammatory properties.

While inflammation is part of your body’s normal immune response, chronic inflammation can increase your risk of various diseases.

Animal studies suggest that mango leaves’ anti-inflammatory properties may even protect your brain from conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

In one study, mango leaf extract given to rats at 2.3 mg per pound of body weight (5 mg per kg) helped counteract artificially induced oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in the brain.

May protect against fat gain: Mango leaf extract may help manage obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome by interfering with fat metabolism Multiple animal studies have found that mango leaf extract inhibits fat accumulation in tissue cells.

Another study in mice shows that cells treated with a mango leaf extract had lower levels of fat deposits and higher levels of adiponectin.

Adiponectin is a cell-signaling protein that plays a role in fat metabolism and sugar regulation in your body.

Higher levels may protect against obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. In a study of rats with obesity, those fed mango leaf tea, in addition to a high-fat diet, gained less abdominal fat than those given only the high-fat diet.

In a 12-week study in 97 adults with excess weight, those given 150 mg of mangiferin daily had lower fat levels in their blood and scored significantly better on an insulin resistance index than did those given a placebo.

May help combat diabetes: Mango leaf may help manage diabetes due to its effects on fat metabolism. Elevated triglycerides levels are often associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

One study gave mango leaf extract to mice. After 2 weeks, they showed significantly lower triglyceride and blood sugar levels A study in rats found that administering 45 mg per pound of body weight (100 mg per kg) of mango leaf extract reduced hyperlipidemia, a condition marked by unusually high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol In a study that compared mango leaf extract and the oral diabetes drug glibenclamide in rats with diabetes, those given the extract had significantly lower blood sugar levels than the glibenclamide group after 2 weeks.

May have anticancer properties: Multiple reviews demonstrate that the mangiferin in mango leaves may have anticancer potential, as it combats oxidative stress and fights inflammation.