7 Benefits of Mango Leaves You Didn't Know About

Mango leaves are not just good to make pickles in sub-continent, but they’re also beneficial to your health. You may have heard of mango leaves being used as natural remedies and to improve digestion, but there are many other ways that they can make your life better too. Here are five benefits of mango leaves you may not have known about before!

1) Vitamin C in Mango Leaves

It's well known that we can get Vitamin C from citrus fruits, but mango leaves are also a great source. Did you know that just one cup of mango leaves has more than 6 times as much Vitamin C as an orange? So now that you know about its high level of vitamin C, let's move on to another benefit!

2) Potassium in Mango Leaves

The health benefits of mango leaves can be attributed in part to its potassium content. Potassium helps maintain fluid balance in your body and is associated with improved heart health, increased muscle strength, and healthier skin. Although it is easily lost through perspiration or urine, you can replenish your body’s stores by consuming foods high in potassium like mango leaves. High potassium diets have also been associated with lower blood pressure.

3) Carotene in Mango Leaves

Traditional Chinese medicine uses mango leaves to treat eye conditions and reproductive problems. The carotene in mango leaves may be responsible for these beneficial effects. Carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body. Eating food with carotene or taking vitamin A supplements has been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer and macular degeneration. It’s also thought that carotene may help prevent heart disease by reducing inflammation, since it’s an antioxidant.

4) Manganese in Mango Leaves

Manganese is a trace mineral that helps in a number of functions in your body. It plays an important role in bone growth and development, as well as muscular contraction. Manganese also helps your body metabolize energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. In addition to all these benefits, mango leaves are rich in manganese; one cup contains over 200% of your daily needs for manganese! That's more than other common sources like wheat bran (200%) or broccoli (182%). With such a high concentration of manganese, it's no wonder that mango leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.

5) Phosphorus in Mango Leaves

One cup of fresh mango leaves contains 9mg phosphorus, or 14% RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). Phosphorus helps to build strong bones and teeth. It also helps improve your metabolism by breaking down fats and carbohydrates for energy, as well as helping you process protein. Mangoes are extremely rich in vitamin C, but so are many other fruits and vegetables. So why should we care about phosphorus in mango leaves? Like calcium, which has a positive effect on our bones when combined with adequate phosphorus intake, phosphorus works in conjunction with calcium to improve bone health.

6) Good for Heart

This is one you'll definitely want to remember: mango leaves are very good for your heart. Mango leaves are full of potassium, which reduces blood pressure and also prevents heart disease and stroke. Research even shows that daily doses of mango leaves can reduce high blood pressure. In addition, mango leaves contain magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus—all crucial for keeping your heart healthy and strong!

7) Releive Inflammation

One last benefit is that mango leaves help relieve inflammation in your body. One study showed that taking mangiferin regularly could reduce pain from osteoarthritis by up to 56%. Mangiferin is found in large amounts in mangos. So while you may not have thought about eating mango leaves before, now you know just how powerful they really are!