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LIVING making carbs count
A taste of the tropics
Delicious, nutritious and hailed the 'King of fruit',
sweet golden mangoes are among the most popular
fruits in the world…
Mangoes have been enjoyed for around 5,000
years - not just for their sweet taste and
chewy texture but also for their rich cultural
history. Originating from India, it's said that
Buddha found rest under a mango tree, and the fruit is
also widely considered a symbol of love and friendship.
Today, more than 400 varieties of mango available
worldwide. In the UK, the Kent and Tommy Atkins
varieties are commonly found in supermarkets as they
tend to last longer without spoiling. The Tommy Atkins
variety has red/green/yellow ombre skin with a mild
sweet flavour. It's also pretty fibrous and firm to the
touch. Meanwhile, the Kent variety is sweet, succulent
and has far less fibrous flesh than its siblings. When ripe,
it tends to be softer and a deep orange in colour.
All varieties of the fruit are fibre-rich and nutrientdense, with
many studies linking mango to several health
benefits, including improved immunity, eyesight and better
digestive health. Mango is particularly high in vitamin C -
76% of the recommended daily amount - which benefits
immunity, iron absorption and growth and repair.
Mangoes score 51-56 on the Glycaemic Index, which
is considered low or medium, similar to orange juice.
It's recommended that a serving of fruit should contain
about 15g of carbs, which is about two-thirds of a cup of
diced mango.