Can Diabetics Eat Mangosteen? Health Benefits and Guidelines for Diabetics

KOMPAS.com – Mangosteen is a tropical fruit from Southeast Asia and is often found in Indonesia during certain seasons.

This fruit, which has a sweet, slightly sour taste, is often used in traditional medicine for a number of diseases.

The reason is, mangosteen is rich in antioxidants and vitamins which are useful for reducing inflammation, increasing immunity, and supporting intestinal health, quoted from Medicine Net.

However, it is not uncommon for people to think that mangosteen is not good for diabetes sufferers because of its sweet taste.

So, can diabetics eat mangosteen?

Also read: 7 Benefits and Side Effects of Drinking Mangosteen Peel Decoction, Including Potential for Cancer

Can diabetics eat mangosteen?

Even though it has a sweet taste, mangosteen is a food with a low glycemic index value, which is only 25.

Thus, mangosteen will not increase blood sugar quickly after eating.

The role of mangosteen fruit in controlling blood sugar levels is due to xanthones and fiber compounds which help balance blood sugar levels and improve diabetes control.

Reporting from VN Express (21/6/2023), researchers from Sapienza University, Rome conducted research on a group of obese women with diabetes who consumed 400 mg of mangosteen per day for 26 weeks in 2018.

Also read: It’s important to know, this is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes

As a result, consumption of mangosteen in diabetes sufferers can reduce insulin resistance.

Research also shows that body cells decrease in response to the effects of the hormone insulin.

However, diabetes sufferers should also limit their consumption of mangosteen.

The reason is, even though the GI value in mangosteen is low, the natural sugar content in it can also cause a spike in blood sugar levels if consumed excessively.

Diabetes sufferers are advised to choose fresh, ripe mangosteen, with smooth skin, with the amount of flesh that can be eaten around 100-150 grams a day.

In addition, avoid eating canned or frozen mangosteen, because it has the potential to cause an increase in blood sugar after eating.

Also read: A series of side effects of mangosteen, not everyone can consume it

Benefits of mangosteen for health

Apart from being useful for lowering blood sugar levels, consuming mangosteen is also beneficial for other health, such as:

1. Protects the body from free radicals

Mangosteen contains a group of secondary metabolites, namely compounds that are not directly involved in growth and development.

These compounds have strong antioxidant properties including alpha, gamma mangostin, and isoprenylated xanthones.

These antioxidants have the ability to neutralize potentially dangerous molecules called free radicals and are involved in various chronic diseases.

Also read: 7 Health Benefits of Mangosteen Fruit, What Are They?

2. Reduce inflammation

Mangosteen has anti-inflammatory compounds which are useful for reducing inflammation in the body.

In addition, its high antioxidant content means mangosteen can reduce inflammation by inhibiting the release of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Mangosteen also contains high levels of fiber which provides various benefits, including reducing inflammation.

3. Inhibits fat accumulation

The alpha glucosidase content in this fruit has the property of reducing glucose (sugar) and increasing the production of pancreatic beta cells.

Apart from that, the alpha mangostin in it is also similar to an anti-obesity drug which inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids and inhibits the accumulation of fat in the body.

Also read: Pare is said not to be eaten with shrimp, tea, and mangosteen, is it true?

4. Increase immunity

Mangosteen is rich in vitamin C and fiber which plays an important role in the immune system.

Fiber supports healthy gut bacteria, an important part of helping boost immunity. Meanwhile, vitamin C provides immune cell function.

Apart from that, there are other substances in mangosteen which also have antibacterial properties. This substance can also benefit the immune system by fighting dangerous bacteria.

5. Maintain healthy skin

Sun exposure is the main cause of aging and skin cancer.

The alpha mangostin content in mangosteen fruit is an antioxidant which has the ability to reduce wrinkles caused by the effects of UVA and UVB rays and increase skin elasticity.

Also read: 4 Ways to Get Mangosteen Plants to Bear Fruit Quickly

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2023-12-25 14:00:00
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