Table of ContentsHow Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEWBig juicy mangoes are an opulent sweet treat of the tropics. Its nectar is an ambrosia that will fill your heart with affection. Next time your relationship feels dry, share a succulent, juicy mango with your honey. It is sure to restore generous love in your relationship, and fill you both with joy & enthusiasm. Tropical Energy BoostMango's lush exuberance comes from its orange color, a sign of beta-carotene. Beta carotene is a tonic for your skin and eyes. It also stimulates your liver & metabolism, giving your energy levels a boost. Sweetness, sourness and beta carotene together make mango a good liver tonic.From the Poison Ivy FamilyMango is in the same family as cashews, pistachios and poison ivy. The skin of mango provokes allergies in some individuals. While a soft, well-ripened mango is cooling, an unripe, hard to eat mango exhibits the pitta provoking qualities of the poison ivy family - it is hot in nature and can even make your lips go numb.Cleansing LaxativeThe stringy texture of the mango is a sign of insoluble fiber. High fiber, combined with sour & sweet taste makes mango a great laxative. The smooth, fleshy feel of mango (a sign of demulcent quality) soothes inflamed tissues and prevents dry type constipation. Mangoes diuretic qualities can be used to cleanse the kidney while beta carotene's stimulating qualities purify the blood and liver. In pitta individuals with an exhausted liver, mango might overstimulate the liver and make you feel overstimulated. They are high in iron, helpful for anemia.Food CombiningThere is some disagreement whether mangoes can be combined with milk or yogurt as in the popular drink "mango lassi". Although dairy coupled with fruit is technically incompatible, our opinion is that all rules are meant to be broken once in a while. If you find yourself bloated or uncomfortable after a mango lassi, this may be a combination for you to avoid. Simply pay attention to how it makes you feel. Each food combining guideline will create different reactions in different bodies. Your body will tell you which rules can be relaxed, and which you rules demand more discipline.BUYING & PREPARATIONCOOKING MANGO![]() Mangoes sometimes appear in salads and salsa. Unripe mangoes may be used for chutneys. Mangoes are sometimes dried into fruit bars. Mango powder is used as a condiment on food. Learn about the health benefits of mango for FREEYou'll receive free access to our entire website including healthy recipes, nutritional diet plans, medicinal uses of ingredients, & ayurvedic health tips. Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.Is Mango Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?SERVING SIZE: 1/2 c SPECIES: Mangifera indica FAMILY:
Anacardiaceae MEAL: EAT IN: AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICSSee a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES![]() Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.Here are the herbal actions of Mango: SIALOGOGUEA sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.GENERAL-LAXATIVEPromotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives...HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVEA class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The size of a stool stimulates peristalsis and the stool passes more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydrating.STOOL-SOFTENERAn herb that softens stool that is hard and difficult to pass. They are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Some foods are even stool softeners, such as warm milk with ghee.ANTIDEPRESSANTHerbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.NUTRITIVEAn herb that is strengthening and nourishing.SOOTHES-THROATSoothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.ANTIOXIDANTAn antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.OPTHALMICBenefits the eyes, vision tonic.REBUILDS-FLUIDSHerbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.DIURETICHerbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.STRONG ANTIANDROGEN Reduces androgen (testosterone), which can reduce excess growth, drive, and libido. Reduces skin oiliness. Helpful for prostate enlargement. APHRODISIACHerbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.![]() Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine. Compare Mango with these FoodsGrape Grape has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, Nutritive, Sialogogue, Antioxidant, General-laxative, Opthalmic, Stool-softener, Aphrodisiac, High-fiber-laxative, Rebuilds-fluidsTomato Tomato has these Actions in CommonAntioxidant, High-fiber-laxative, Aphrodisiac, Sialogogue, General-laxative, Stool-softenerDates (dried) Dates (dried) has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, Nutritive, General-laxative, Opthalmic, Aphrodisiac, High-fiber-laxativeHoney Dew Honey Dew has these Actions in CommonHigh-fiber-laxative, Rebuilds-fluids, Nutritive, Stool-softener, Diuretic, OpthalmicCarrot Carrot has these Actions in CommonAntioxidant, High-fiber-laxative, Diuretic, Nutritive, General-laxative, OpthalmicPrunes (dried) Prunes (dried) has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, Nutritive, General-laxative, Antioxidant, High-fiber-laxativePeaches Peaches has these Actions in CommonGeneral-laxative, Sialogogue, High-fiber-laxative, Stool-softener, NutritivePersimmons Persimmons has these Actions in CommonGeneral-laxative, Rebuilds-fluids, High-fiber-laxative, Stool-softener, NutritiveSalt (Mineral Salt) Salt (Mineral Salt) has these Actions in CommonGeneral-laxative, Soothes-throat, Rebuilds-fluids, Stool-softener, SialogogueCassava Root / Yuca Cassava Root / Yuca has these Actions in CommonAntioxidant, Nutritive, General-laxative, Rebuilds-fluids, High-fiber-laxativeCompare Mango with these Herb SupplementsAmalaki Amalaki has these Actions in CommonGeneral-laxative, Nutritive, Opthalmic, Sialogogue, Stool-softener, Antioxidant, AphrodisiacTriphala Triphala has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, General-laxative, Opthalmic, Sialogogue, Stool-softenerSaw Palmetto Saw Palmetto has these Actions in CommonAntiandrogen, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Nutritive, Soothes-throatHaritaki Haritaki has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, General-laxative, Opthalmic, Sialogogue, Stool-softenerAshwagandha Ashwagandha has these Actions in CommonDiuretic, Nutritive, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, AphrodisiacSafed Musali Safed Musali has these Actions in CommonAphrodisiac, Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Stool-softenerRed Clover Red Clover has these Actions in CommonNutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Antiandrogen, DiureticShatavari Shatavari has these Actions in CommonStool-softener, Aphrodisiac, Nutritive, Soothes-throatVidari Vidari has these Actions in CommonAphrodisiac, Diuretic, Nutritive, Soothes-throatLicorice Ghee (9oz) Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in CommonAntiandrogen, Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Soothes-throatLicorice Root (Yastimadhu) Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in CommonAntiandrogen, Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Soothes-throatHEALTH & WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS!(Not you? Keep scrolling!) HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.View Other Ingredients for SpringMango is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.Comments & Impressions of 'Mango'Do you like 'mango'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something you'd like to know about 'mango'?![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
My teacher and text indicate ripe mango reduces pitta. Unripe mango increase pitta. Perhaps you should update the notes to make it clear.
I have never considered mango hot, although I only eat them ripe.
Thanks David for this suggestion. Whenever I eat mango, I find ripe mango to be heating and pitta provoking, and unripe mango cooling. Perhaps the effect is specific on an individual basis - what is the doshic effect in your body? ~John
I agree with David. I am studying Ayurveda from India and ripe mango is mentioned as reducing pitta.
I think it depends on just how ripe the mango is as well as the variety. I find that larger varieties that are well-ripened are more cooling or at least neutral. The smaller ones seem to be more heating for myself. Then again, I hardly ever eat mango by itself (always make smoothies with a nut/seed milk)!
Enjoy learning all you have to share on food and how it affects the body.
My teacher and text indicate ripe mango reduces pitta. Unripe mango increase pitta. Perhaps you should update the notes to make it clear.
I have never considered mango hot, although I only eat them ripe.
Thanks David for this suggestion. Whenever I eat mango, I find ripe mango to be heating and pitta provoking, and unripe mango cooling. Perhaps the effect is specific on an individual basis - what is the doshic effect in your body? ~John
I agree with David. I am studying Ayurveda from India and ripe mango is mentioned as reducing pitta.
I think it depends on just how ripe the mango is as well as the variety. I find that larger varieties that are well-ripened are more cooling or at least neutral. The smaller ones seem to be more heating for myself. Then again, I hardly ever eat mango by itself (always make smoothies with a nut/seed milk)!
Enjoy learning all you have to share on food and how it affects the body.
TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMSMango may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMSMango may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.About the Author John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 6 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language. |