Mango fruit – benefits & home remedies for skin, hair & health

Mangoes are juicy fruits mostly cultivated for their edible flesh. There are several species of mangoes and they may differ in shape and size along with the pulp content. This fruit is widely popular all over the globe but is mostly cultivated in India. Mangoes are mostly enjoyed for their sweet taste. While its seed is used for extracting oil, dry mango powder is also used in several recipes for adding a tangy taste. Mangoes can be used for obtaining healthy skin and hair. It also has several health benefits. 

MANGO FOR SKIN

Mango can help to solve several beauty problems with simple home remedies. Mangoes contain vitamin A which makes the skin plump and smoother. It also helps in delaying the skin ageing problems such as fine lines and wrinkles. The collagen present in mangoes helps to increase the elasticity of the skin.

Mango and curd face mask

You will need: 

• 1 tablespoon of mango pulp
• 1 tablespoon of curd
• A pinch of turmeric.

How to:

1. Mix the mango pulp with the curd and add turmeric to the mixture. 
2. Now apply this mixture over your face and neck area. Leave it on for about 20 minutes. You do not have to wait for this to dry up.
3. Wash with the help of cold water. 
4. You can use this face mask twice a week.

How this works: mango pulp can provide a surge of moisture to your skin and help to restore its glow. Curd helps to nourish the skin while turmeric provides anti-ageing benefits.

Mango and fuller’s earth face mask

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons of mango pulp,
• 3 tablespoons of fuller’s earth 
• And 5 tablespoons of rose water.

How to: 

1. Combine all the ingredients.
2. If the mixture is too thick then add more rose water. For this mask, the amount of fuller’s earth should be more. 
3. Apply this paste on your face and let it work until it has dried up on the face. This will take about 20 minutes. 
4. To remove the mask, soften it first using a wet towel. Use your fingers to loosen it and then rinse away with cold water. 

How this works: mango and fullers earth help to draw out toxins from the pores and purify the skin. This face mask is ideal for oily skin and can be used every day to remove dirt and toxins from the surface of the skin.

Mango and orange peel face mask

You will need: 

• 1 tablespoon of mango pulp, 
• 2 tablespoons of orange peel powder, 
• 2 tablespoons of honey 
• And a few teaspoons of rose water.

How to: 

1. Mix the orange peel powder with honey and add rose water to dissolve it completely. 
2. Now add the mango pulp and mix well to obtain a paste. 
3. Apply this over your face and neck. Let it work for 30 minutes. 
4. Rinse away using cold water. 

How this works: mango and orange peel powder work well against pigmentation. The orange peel powder also helps to get rid of tan. Honey and rose water have hydrating properties and gently exfoliate the skin as well. This mask can be used daily over the face as well as other areas of the body which have been exposed to the sun. 

Mango and green tea mask

You will need: 

• 2 tablespoons of mango pulp, 
• 1 tablespoon of green tea powder

How to: 

1. Simply mix the two ingredients together to obtain a paste. 
2. Now use this over your face and let it stay for 15 minutes. 
3. Wash using cold water.

How this works: mango and green tea contain antioxidants that help to get rid of dull skin. After using this mask, the skin will appear brighter and plumper! 

MANGO FOR HAIR

Mango and egg hair mask

You will need: 

• ½ cup of mango pulp, 
• 1 egg 
• And 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

How to: 

1. Mix the mango pulp with one egg (along with the yolk). Make sure the egg is well combined. 
2. Now add olive oil and mix well. Wet your hair slightly. This will make them porous and the hair strands will be able to absorb the hair mask well. 
3. Apply the hair mask throughout the length of your hair. 
4. Twist your hair into a bun and let the mask stay for about 30-40 minutes. 
5. To remove the mask, wash your hair will cold water first. 
6. Now use a shampoo to cleanse your hair thoroughly. It is essential to use a shampoo for this or the smell of eggs may linger.

How this works: mango pulp and egg boost the collagen production in your hair and make them shinier and softer. Olive oil helps to treat dry hair.

Mango butter mask

You will need: 

• 3 tablespoon of mango seed butter 
• and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

How to:

1. Simply mix both the ingredients together and apply only on the scalp. 
2. Let the butter mixture stay on the scalp for at least 30 minutes. 
3. Now wash using a mild shampoo. 

How this works: mango butter helps to treat dandruff very well and olive oil nourishes the scalp well to remove dry skin flakes. This hair treatment can be used twice a week to treat dandruff effectively.

Mango and aloe Vera gel face mask

You will need: 

• ½ cup of mango pulp, 
• 5 tablespoons of aloe Vera gel 
• And 5 tablespoons of coconut oil.

How to: 

1. To prepare this face mask, take some mango pulp and mix it with the aloe Vera gel. 
2. Now add a few tablespoons of coconut oil. 
3. Mix until you get a smooth paste. 
4. Wet your hair and apply this mask on the scalp as well as the hair ends.
5. Now allow this mask to work for 30 minutes. 
6. Wash using your shampoo and condition as usual. 

How this works: this hair mask is excellent for dry and damaged hair. Mango pulp and aloe Vera gel make the hair softer and also add volume to the hair. Coconut oil helps to treat damaged hair by restoring the moisture in them. 

MANGOES FOR OVERALL HEALTH

• Mangoes are a rich source of Vitamin A. Hence consuming them on regular basis improves our eye health and helps to maintain healthy skin.
• Mangoes also contain potassium, a mineral essential for the muscles. Hence having mangoes in a healthy and nutritious way can help to reduce muscle pain. 
• Since is a very brightly coloured fruit, it contains plenty of anti-oxidants which make it a super food against cancer as well. Mangoes contain compounds such as polyphenols which can cut down the risk of breast cancer. 
• A compound known as mangiferin is present in mangoes. This compound can help in lowering the cholesterol levels. They are also a rich source of fibre which helps to improve the digestive health by promoting bowel movements. 
• Mangoes contain Zinc, which helps to boost sex drive in men as well as women.

Healthy mango recipes

Mango and beans smoothie

You will need: 

• 1 cup of mango pulp,
• 1 cup of sprouted mung beans, 
• ½ cup of coconut water,
• 3-4 slices of ginger and
• Two tablespoons of honey.

How to: 

1. Take coconut water in a blender and add the sprouted mung beans to it. 
2. Blend on high speed until you get a smooth paste. 
3. Now add the ginger slices and blend for a few seconds until the slices have been incorporated into the paste. 
4. Add the mango pulp along with the honey. Blend for 1 minute. 
5. You can add a few cubes of ice if you want your smoothie to be chilled. 

How this is healthy: this smoothie does not have added sugar and contains many essential nutrients like vitamin A and zinc. Mung beans are a rich source of energy and provide proteins which help to build the muscles. Honey and ginger help to improve digestion. This smoothie can be taken as breakfast or after doing a heavy workout for an instant boost of energy.

Raw mango drink

You will need: 

• 2 large raw mangoes
• 5 tablespoons raw jaggery
• 1 teaspoon of black salt
• 2 tablespoons of sugar

How to:

1. Add the mangoes to a pressure cooker and fill it with water until the mangoes are immersed. Do not add too much water.
2. Let the mangoes get cooked until you hear 3-4 whistles. By this time the mangoes will have turned soft and pulpy. If the mangoes are well cooked, the skin will start falling off on its own. 
3. If you find that the skin is still quite firm and the mangoes are still hard, allow them to cook for another 2 whistles.
4. Let the mangoes cool and then peel off the skin.
5. Obtain the mango pulp and put it in a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pulp as well.
6. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth.
7. Store it in the refrigerator.
8. To prepare the drink, add 5 tablespoons of the raw mango mixture to a glass. Add 2-3 ice cubes and then fill up the glass with cold water.
9. Stir well and enjoy.

How this is healthy:  this mango drink serves as the perfect beverage during the summers because it helps to hydrate the body. The fibre present in the raw mango pulp helps to treat indigestion and other bowel problems like constipation. The drink helps to cool the body from within. 

Precaution and side effects 

• 1 mango contains about 4-5 grams of fibre. Thus having too many mangoes at once can upset the digestive tract. This could lead to diahorrea. 

• Some people may be allergic to mangoes. The symptoms of allergies due to mangoes could include having a runny nose after eating the fruit, experiencing abdominal pain or nausea.
• Mango sap is usually present at the tip from where the fruit was attached to the tree. This sap is pale white in colour and has a strong fragrance. However it contains a certain chemical which can lead to itching and redness of the skin. Hence wash the mangoes well before consuming them.
• Mangoes are a rich source if carbohydrates. Hence they can provide instant energy but the sugar content is also very high. This is not good for people who are trying to lose excess weight.
• People suffering from diabetes should refrain from eating ripe mangoes as the sugar content of the fruit is very high. This could lead to health complications. 

MYTHS AND FACTS 

MYTHS	FACTS
All ripe mangoes are yellow in colour.	Some species of mangoes remain green on the outside even if they are ripe. If the fruit seems hard and firm on squeezing then it is not fully ripe.
Mangoes always lead to weight gain.	Consuming too many mangoes could lead to weight gain because of their sugar content. However, when consumed in moderation, they are healthy.
Mango skin is edible.	Mango skin can lead to problems such as itching and sore gums because of the sap present on it.
Mangoes are tasty but have no nutrition.	Mangoes contain several nutrients and minerals which make it a very healthy fruit. Mangoes are rich in vitamin C and have a high fibre content.

Frequently asked questions about mangoes

Can mangoes cause pimples?

While raw mangoes keep the body cool, ripe mangoes tend to produce heat in the body. Therefore having too many mangoes at once can lead to the eruptions of boils. They are not necessarily pimples and can go away in a few days.

Is having packaged mango juice the same as eating the fruit?

Most of the mango juices contain added sugar and artificial flavouring to enhance the flavour. While processing, most of the fibre is removed and the juice is hardly left with any natural goodness.

Can mango face masks aggravate acne?

If the cause of acne is hormonal then any face pack used on the face will not aggravate it. However, if you are having a breakout due to bacteria or clogged pores, it is best to avoid mango based face masks. Mangoes contain natural sugars which would allow the bacteria to grow and this might lead to further breakouts.