Everything you need to know about mangosteen

Mangosteen is a small purple fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. Mangosteen is a good source of nutrients. However, more research into the health benefits of mangosteen is necessary.

Farmers tend to grow mangosteen in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand. In these countries, people consume it as:

• fruit
• juice
• traditional medicine

Fresh mangosteen is hard to find in the United States for two reasons.

First, mangosteen trees need a fully tropical climate and lots of time to grow. Small farms in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, started in the 1990s, are only now starting to bear fruit.

Second, fresh mangosteen can harbor quarantine pests or non-U.S. native bugs that could threaten the ecosystem. It means mangosteen importers must sterilize the fruit before it enters the country. This sometimes affects the quality, taste, or shelf life.

Mangosteen has many benefits. It contains a range of compounds and substances that are good for human health.

The benefits of mangosteen include:

Highly nutritious

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all fruits provide nutrients that are vital for good health.

One cup of drained, canned mangosteen contains:Trusted Source

• 143 kcal
• 35.1g of carbohydrate
• 3.53g of dietary fiber
• 23.5mg of calcium
• 94.1mg of potassium
• 5.68mg of vitamin C

Most fruits, including mangosteen, are low in fat, sodium, and calories, helping people maintain a moderate weight. They are also free from cholesterol, which can contribute to chronic conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Fruit is also a good source of nutrients that people in the U.S. often lack, such as:

• potassium, a mineral needed to help maintain healthy blood pressure
• dietary fiber, which helps people maintain a healthy gut
• vitamin C, which helps the body to heal cuts and wounds and to keep teeth and gums healthy

Contains antioxidants

Antioxidants fight free radicals or harmful substances that can build up inside the body. Free radicals can contribute to health problems including:

• heart disease
• cataracts
• cancer

Studies have suggested that mangosteen contains antioxidants. One study from 2015Trusted Source asked 30 people to drink a mangosteen-based beverage every day for 30 days. Researchers compared their blood to that of 30 people who had consumed a non-mangosteen-based drink or placebo.

At the end of the 30 days, the mangosteen group had 15%Trusted Source more antioxidants in their bloodstream than the placebo group.

Anti-inflammatory

Inflammation is a normal part of the immune system. It is the body’s way of removing foreign substances, like bacteria, viruses, or chemicals.

Sometimes, inflammation happens unnecessarily. Other times, it continues after the body has removed the threat. Doctors call this chronic inflammation. It can contribute to health problems including:

• cancer
• heart disease
• diabetes
• arthritis
• depression
• Alzheimer’s disease

In the 2015 study outlined above, scientists found that mangosteen may also act as an anti-inflammatory. They concluded this by measuring the C-reactive protein, a substance that signals inflammation levels. Over the 30 days of the study, levels of this protein in the mangosteen group reduced by an average of 46%Trusted Source.

Medicinal properties

Some medicines include mangosteen as an ingredient, including:

• metratrim, a medicine that also contains Sphaeranthus indicus and may help people who have obesity or overweight lose weight
• a gel with 4% mangosteen can help with loose teeth and bleeding in people with serious gum disease, or periodontitis
• some moisturizers for oily skin