How healthy are mangoes?

In India, the mango is known as the “king of fruits”. The fruit, and its tree and leaves, are symbols of prosperity, good luck and love.

- CAROLINE HOPKINS LEGASPI

There’s a lot to love nutritionally, too. Mangoes are rich in vitamin C and potassium. And they freeze well, making them a year-round smoothie staple.

Here's what to know about their health attributes.

They’re high in sugar - but it’s not like eating a cookie

One-half of a peeled mango contains about 23g of sugar, which is more than twice what you get in a typical store-bought chocolate chip cookie.

But the natural sugar in mangoes doesn’t spike your blood glucose the way the added sugar in cookies does, said Jessica Higgins, a US dietitian in the Lifestyle Medicine programme at NYC Health + Hospitals Woodhull.

That’s because your body has to break down the beneficial fibre in a mango to access the fruit’s sugar. This takes time, which gives your body a chance to gradually process the glucose. In a cookie, she said, the refined sugar is immediately available, which is why it can cause a spike.