Are Mangoes Good for You – and the Planet?

What are mango benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? What are the pros and cons of buying mangoes, and how will doing so affect your health, the environment, animals, and laborers?

The mango is eaten by more people worldwide than any other fruit, although it is not as revered in the western world as the apple, banana, or tomato. The average mango production globally has increased by 17% in the past few years and is now over 55 million mangoes per year.

So are mangoes good for you, and the planet? Can we enjoy food without worrying about our health or their environmental impact?

Benefits of Mangoes

So are mangoes good for you, then? As researchers learn more about mangoes, they are finding more and more health benefits associated with the fruit. Mangoes are having a positive impact on laboratory assays and clinical trials.

Anti-inflammatory

For one thing, mangoes appear to be highly anti-inflammatory. Mice who had ulcerative colitis and were given extracts of mango fruit and a compound found in the tree’s stem bark improved.

Other studies have found that enzymes in the fruit can protect against ulcers in both mice and rats.

High in Antioxidants

Mangoes are rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, which are nutrients found in plants that offer a range of benefits. Mangiferin, a polyphenol specific to mangoes, is effective in reducing iron overload (in rats and mice), and could be a useful addition to the diets of people with hemochromatosis (a condition that often produces excessive iron in the blood).

Mangoes contain other antioxidant compounds which could help to prevent oxidative stress (basically rusting from the inside), and might even be able to repair some of the damage caused by aging, cancer, heart conditions, strokes and diabetes.

Anticancer Properties

Mangoes may have powerful anticancer effects on tumor cells. According to a team from Texas, compounds present in mangoes are capable of destroying tumor cells in various types of cancer, for example pancreatic, cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer. The compounds caused cancer cells to die, but not healthy human cells.

The results of the studies cannot be ignored, but it is important to note that they were funded by the National Mango Board. This means that the studies need to be replicated by researchers who have no potential conflict of interest.

Diabetes Treatment & Prevention

Mango consumption decreases blood glucose levels in rats. This means that the fruit is just as effective as anti-diabetic drugs. The polyphenols, carotenoids, and high fiber content in mangoes seem to help regulate blood sugar levels.

What about dried mango? When you consume dried fruit, you are eating fruit with most of the water removed. This results in the sugars and nutrients being more concentrated. Dried mangoes that are unsweetened are a great source of fiber and antioxidants. They can also taste sweet. Some researchers say that the glycemic load of dried mangoes is a bit higher than that of fresh mangoes, although it is generally considered to be similar.

May Protect Your Skin

A fruit with such smooth skin might help protect your skin, too. This means that the mango could help reduce the amount of damage caused by the sun’s UV rays. Mango extract was shown to reduce and reverse the effects of UVB radiation on hairless mice in a 2013 study from an anti-aging laboratory in Korea.

It is more complicated to prevent wrinkles. In 2020, a study was finally conducted on the effects of mangoes on humans, as opposed to rodents. The good news is, the humans agreed to participate in the study. The best news is that sixteen weeks of daily doses of ataulfo mango reduced wrinkle size and severity in a group of postmenopausal women. The worse news, the effect was dose-dependent, with the group that ate the most mangoes per day experiencing worse wrinkles. In other words, you can have too much of a good thing.

Risks of Eating Mangoes

You might want to moderate your mango intake, or avoid them entirely, due to concerns about wrinkles. If you develop an oral allergy syndrome after eating a mango, this is a very convincing reason to avoid eating them.

This condition is characterized by itching and swelling of the mouth, lips, and throat,as well as skin reactions, asthma, and rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose). The syndrome can be very serious and includes cardiovascular problems and anaphylaxis. If the person has a severe allergic reaction, the best course of treatment is a shot of epinephrine. If you experience any of the following symptoms after eating or touching a mango, seek medical attention immediately.

Mangoes are related to poison ivy and poison oak. Well, they have more in common than just an ancient ancestor; they also both have dark hair and blue eyes. If you are susceptible to a skin rash, the sap, leaves, bark, and in some cases the skin of a mango can all cause the same reaction. You may want to go slowly with adding mangoes to your diet if you are allergic to poison ivy. Handle the skin with caution.

Are Mangoes good for the Planet?

The mango is a delicious, juicy, sweet fruit that is popular all over the world. It comes from India, where it has a long history of being respected. Mangoes are the national fruit of India and they produce more than half of all the mangoes that are consumed worldwide. Other notable growers include Thailand, Mexico, and the tropical regions of China. Mangos trees can grow well in Hawaii, Florida, and some areas of California in the United States.

Mangoes are extremely popular and have been for centuries. They have great PR and billions of fans. Despite their high sugar content, mangoes are often praised by low-carb enthusiasts. Some environmentalists think the carbon footprint and sustainability of quinoa is not good because it is exported all over the world.

Mangos have a low carbon footprint

Do mangos have a high or low carbon footprint?

Compared to other foods, mangos have a low carbon footprint.

What is the carbon footprint of mangos?

To produce 1 kilogram of mangos emits the same amount of carbon dioxide as driving a car 0.25 miles or 0.5 kilometers.

The water footprint of food refers to the amount of water used to produce that food, including the water used by the farmer to grow the crops or raise the animals, the water used in processing, and the water used to package the food. The carbon footprint of food, on the other hand, is the measure of greenhouse gases emitted during the production of that food. This means that for every metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced, it is equivalent to driving a car for 287 miles or 461 kilometers. A metric ton of carbon dioxide is equivalent to driving a car for 287 miles or 461 kilometers.

When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…

• farm equipment
• animal feed production
• hothouses (greenhouses)
• food processing
• packaging
• transport
• refrigeration
• freezing
• package waste and more

But that’s not all!

It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:

• shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
• food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
• refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
• seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
• growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint

Pesticides

While mangoes don’t have the highest pesticide exposure of all produce, they’re still pretty high on the list. There is no mention of them in either the Dirty Dozen or the Clean 15. Mangoes contain less pesticides than most other fruits and vegetables.

On one hand, researchers found 11 different pesticides in mangoes. On the other hand, researchers from the USDA Pesticide Data Program did not detect any pesticides in mangoes. It is a good idea to remove the skin from mangoes before consuming them, and organic varieties are the best option if they are available.

Mangos may have labor issues and human rights concerns

Are mangos a product with labor concerns?

So far, there haven’t been any big problems with mango production, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!

Although it is important to support businesses that align with our personal values, it is also important to be aware of potential exploitation of workers that might be taking place in order to produce the products we buy. Researching the different ways brands impact the world can help us make more informed decisions about the products we choose to support.

Did you know the agricultural industry employs more people than any other industry in the world? The effort that goes into making each and every product cannot be underestimated.

There are many labor concerns around the world, in both developed and developing countries. We need to be careful about what we purchase to make sure that we’re not supporting businesses that mistreat their employees. Problems that are often cited include poor working conditions, child labor, gender inequality, low pay, and wage theft. Workers are often mistreated by their employers, including being subjected to harassment, humiliation, and violence. Furthermore, employers often don’t provide their workers with basic necessities, such as access to shade, drinking water, restrooms, and breaks. Working in hot conditions can cause a range of health problems, from nausea and dizziness to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke – which is the leading cause of death for farmworkers.

Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Many workers are frightened to speak up about workplace problems because they think it might cause them to be fired or deported.

The main goal of fair trade organizations is to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions for people who produce goods in developing countries.

You can improve people’s lives by buying fair trade certified products, which are items you would typically eat on a daily basis.

Environment

The water footprint for mangos is low, at 1,800 liters of water per kilogram of mangoes, or 216 gallons per pound.

It takes very little carbon to produce mangos, the equivalent of driving 0.25 miles.

Although there is low destruction caused by GMOs, there is significant damage to air, water, land, soil, and forests when toxic pesticides are used. To avoid this damage, it is best to buy Non-GMO/organic products.

Animals

No animals are killed in the production of mangoes.

Mango production does not require the use of any animals, so it does not cause any harm.

No animals are killed or harmed from mango production as long as no toxic chemicals have been used. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides can harm and kill animals by contaminating soil, water, air, and plants.

Laborers

Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible

Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation

Wages in the agricultural industry are generally quite low, and there are many instances of workers being paid below the minimum wage, having their wages stolen, or not receiving overtime pay or benefits.

India is the world’s top mango producer, followed by Indonesia and China. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the top mango exporting country in the world is Mexico. This is followed by Brazil, Peru, Hong Kong, Thailand, Spain, Pakistan, Ecuador, the United States of America, and the Philippines.

Are Mangoes Eco Friendly? Are they sustainable? 

Mango production can be considered sustainable since it does not significantly damage the environment, as long as pesticides have not been used. When using regenerative practices, be sure to buy non-GMO/organic food, as toxic chemical pesticides can contaminate air, water, and soil.

A 2018 study done by Oxford University found that animal farming takes up 83% of our farmland, but provides only 18% of our calories. This is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet, and it shows that the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth is to avoid meat and dairy.

Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of environmental degradation. Not only does meat production waste resources, it contributes significantly to pollution. The industry is a leading contributor to climate change.

Conclusion

Mango pros include:

• numerous health benefits
• sustainable
• vegan
• alkaline
• gluten free
• not a common food allergen
• low carbon footprint
• low water footprint

Mango cons include:

• possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
• pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)