Mangosteen—the Antioxidant Powerhouse

Just a few years ago, few Westerners had ever heard of a mangosteen, though the round, palm-sized fruit, with its dark-purple rind and delicate white flesh, has been savored in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia for thousands of years. Recently, however, the fruit has migrated west and exploded in popularity, thanks in no small part to its hefty concentration of antioxidants (which research shows may help slow the aging process).

An exotic source of antioxidants

The flesh of the mangosteen has a delicate sweet-tart flavor. In Southeast Asia, it’s usually eaten fresh as a delectable dessert. However, what has propelled the fruit to fame is its deep purple rind, which is packed with antioxidants called xanthones.

Antioxidants help protect the body from free radicals, highly reactive compounds that interfere with cells’ ability to function normally, and may lead to more than 60 different health conditions, including the aging process, cancer, and hardening of the arteries.

Just juice

If you’re looking for fresh mangosteen in the continental United States, you’re out of luck. Due to concerns about foreign insects hitching a ride in the fruit, it’s illegal to import mangosteen. However, you can still reap the benefits of the tasty fruit and its antioxidant-rich rind by drinking the juice. These days, you have your choice among many brands. Choose juices that blend the rind with the fruit to get the highest antioxidant content.

How much is enough?

USDA research chemist Dr. Ronald Prior, with the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, recommends getting at least 10,000 ORAC units—the ability of an antioxidant to subdue oxygen free radicals in a test tube—a day. That’s the amount you need to counteract the free radicals that your body creates when it metabolizes energy.

Prior explains, “After a meal, you see a decline in plasma antioxidant capacity. So we’ve taken those numbers and are relating the need for antioxidants based on the amount of energy consumed.”

Popular mangosteen juices contain anywhere from 1,600 to 2,500 ORAC units per ounce of juice. Just remember, no supplement, even an antioxidant-rich fruit juice, is a substitute for a healthy diet. So boost your antioxidant intake with mangosteen juice, but keep eating those fruits and veggies too!

February 18, 2010

Sara Lovelady has been a freelance health writer for over a dozen years. She has written health-related articles for both consumer and trade publications, including Healthy Living, Holistic Primary Care, Nutraceuticals World, Natural Products Insider, and Food Product Design, and writes Tree of Life's Healthy! monthly consumer newsletter, which is distributed to over one million people in over 1,000 natural food stores nationwide. In 2003, Ms. Lovelady founded Wordgirl®, a copywriting business that helps natural products companies successfully market their products. She earned her B.A. from Oberlin College and currently resides in beautiful Ashland, OR.

Copyright © 2010 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Aisle7 content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Aisle7. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Aisle7 shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Aisle7 and the Aisle7 logo are registered trademarks of Aisle7.