The King of fruits contains Phytic acid
The King of fruits
contains Phytic acid
It has been raining mangoes for the last few months (April-
May-June) as it was peak summer in Chennai. Having so many mango trees and
eating mangoes left right and center, making them into milk shakes, eating them
as smoothies, making soufflé, mixing them with fruit salad, mango spreads over
sandwiches, making exclusive tangy mango pickles, toffees, mango-curds, simply
cutting mangoes and scooping them from one’s jawline, making ice-creams, …. a gourmet’s
list is endless. But sadly, the little-known
fact is that mangoes contain Phytic acid.
Even many mango growers were not aware of this fact,
which is what prompted me to write this article, albeit a little too late,
considering the Mango season for this year is almost over. Yet, it is a note
and reminder for next year and year after year. It is so tempting to see a mango
tree laden with fruits and we impulsively cut the fruit without realizing the
consequences in the long run. Which is why our grandmas used to say put the
mangoes in water first! Did we heed that? How many of us heeded it? IF we did, we
wouldn’t be having the slightest tummy in the first place!
Mangoes, health benefits & Weight loss
An apple a day keeps the doctor away is what all are
familiar with, but a mango a day is absolutely wonderful for weight loss is
what I reckon with. Do you know why? I
am a living witness to that as my favorite fruit is the mango and I gulp them
one after the other in all its varied forms of recipes with no sense of guilt
whatsoever. It wasn’t until long that I realized that the mango was doing its
rounds to accumulate the excess flab in my body. Research suggests phytochemicals and bioactive compounds
in mango may suppress fat cells and fat-related genes. These get invariably
deposited in our thighs, neck, arms and waistlines. Soaking them in water first reduces their
concentration, making them act as natural fat busters. Apart from weight
control, phytochemicals also provide protection against inflammation and
oxidative stress. Health benefits of mangoes include (a) their
richness in antioxidants which counter the oxidative stress associated with our
daily living and exposure to toxins. (b)
may aid digestion due to its fibre content (c) reduce inflammation in conditions like
ulcerative colitis. (d) by virtue of sufficient quantities of Vit -A and C
being present in Mangoes, may help maintain healthy skin and hair.
Mangoes are plenty, vying with another, kindling our taste buds;
There are as many varieties of mangoes as the numbering
of our teeth, (just kidding, there are 1000’s of varieties for sure) but not many
are popular. The best sellers according to common folks in Chennai are Baganapalli,
Romani, Neelam, Alphonso, and Amrapalli.
The other names grown across India are unheard of by most people
although all the fruit varieties as Badami, Kothapalli Kobbari, Chaunsa , Chok
Anan , Langra, Himsagar, Sammar
Bahisht, Swarnarekha , Totapuri, KatchaMitha,
Dasheri, Dudhia Malda, Gir Kesar, Gulab Khas, and Laxmanbhog mangoes are never the less absolutely
delicious to say the least . The mango varieties that abound foreign countries
are many and different. These are the ones that are predominantly grown in
different parts of India. We may be having mango trees and consuming our own
produce, but yet not knowing the fact that mangoes contain phytic acids. Mango fruit also contains structural
carbohydrates, such as pectin and cellulose. The most important organic acids include
malic and citric acid.
Hazards with tetra packs and pet bottles
Such being so, I often wonder why on earth people
(especially the current gen opts for packaged mango mixes. They come in tetra packs,
very enticing to the eye sitting on the market shelves as also the pet jar bottle
versions that are seemingly upbeat, looking so elegant and brightly colored,
for that visual appeal. Also, they are dirt cheap comparatively that many
parents buy them without batting an eyelid on their journeys!
These are the worst forms of Mango sips that one can possibly
have, considering that definitely it is packed with chemicals as the expiry date
on the pack is a couple of months. You would do more harm to your body when you
consume it with the preservatives, and would be better off without it. Honestly
speaking, such products come from branded companies which don’t really care
about your stomach or its gut. When it is a season for fresh mangoes, why opt
for such packaged stuff to ruin your health and give room for growth of cancer-
prone cells? Opt for fresh mangoes, soak
them in water and consume them, after the phytic acid and preservatives/ chemicals
is removed. Eating a fruit is good but knowing how to eat it is far more
important for the long run, to ensure not to land up in the hospital. Small things --- Big difference.
What is Phytic Acid?
Considered an anti-nutrient, a natural molecule known as Phytic acid is one that can be both good and bad for health. Phytic acid blocks the absorption of minerals like iron, zinc and calcium, thereby promoting mineral deficiencies.
How
to remove Phytic Acid from mangoes? Why to do so?
Just
dip all the mangoes in a bowl of water for a few hours, preferably overnight. In my
grandma’s days, they used to soak it for just an hour or two, but with the
influx of todays’ pesticide and chemical sprays, I would strongly suggest an
overnight soak.
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All the phytic acid in the fruit would then get dissolved in the water when you soak it in a tub of water. By doing so you are preventing health issues like headaches, constipation and other gut-related issues. That apart, soaking the mangoes also removes the pesticides and insecticides that are sprayed on crops while growing them. These are poisonous and can cause respiratory tract irritation, allergic sensitization, eye and skin irritation. These may also potentially cause cancer cell growth.
Mangoes, no matter which variety, generate heat in the body, resulting in thermogenesis. (Thermogenesis is the process of heat production in organisms.) Consumption of mangoes in large quantities can cause excessive heat to build up and create a digestive imbalance in the body. Soaking mangoes would help in reducing their thermogenic property, which prevents any digestive issues such as diarrhoea and skin problems like acne.
After consuming mangoes, you must not drink water for at
least an hour is what I have been told by my parents, when I was young and I
grew up implicitly obeying that command, although I had never bothered during
their lifetime to question the veracity of that statement. If any of the
readers know the reason why, I would love to be enlightened at least now! After
mangoes, it would be a glass of milk, if ever at home.
Malini Kalyanam - Therapeia Infinity
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