A common tropical fruit could help stop obesity and diabetes

There has been extensive research into what foods could help prevent heart disease and diabetes, and what habits may help with weight loss in recent years.

Now, new research has suggested yet another natural way to stop obesity and Type 2 diabetes – adding a common tropical fruit to your daily diet.

Through the study conducted by Oklahoma State University, mangoes have achieved the status of superfood – with findings that revealed eating the fruit could prevent the loss of beneficial gut bacteria which can be caused by a high-fat diet.

Researchers said the specific bacteria in the intestinal tract may play a role in obesity and obesity-related complications, such as type 2 diabetes.

In the study, 60 mice were put in one of four dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks.

This included a control group where 10 per cent of calories consumed were from fat, a high fat group where 60 per cent of calories were from fat, or a high fat diet where one or 10 per cent of it was mango.

All high-fat diets had similar macronutrient, calcium, phosphorus, and fibre content.

When samples were compared from the beginning to the end of the study period, those which were supplemented with mango lost the least beneficial gut bacteria often induced by a high-fat diet.

“Mango is a good source of fibre and has been reported in previous studies to have anti-obesogenic, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory properties,” said Professor Edralin Lucas. “The results of this animal study showed that adding mango to the diet may help maintain and regulate gut health and levels of beneficial bacteria levels.”

This research was published in the Journal of Nutrition.

It adds to a growing body of evidence the tropical fruit, which is native to southern Asia, has various health-boosting properties.

Previous studies have found compounds in mango exhibit anti-inflammatory activities with its high fibre-content aiding digestion.

One cup of mango is bursting with antioxidants and over 20 different vitamins and minerals and provides a good source of fibre.

But the effects of mango on the gut microbiota have not previously been investigated. Further research is necessary to see if these study results can be replicated in humans, researchers said.

Do you like mangoes? Do you have any favourite mango-based recipes? Share your ideas and thoughts below.