A new study presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in Boston suggests that mangoes may be an important weapon in the fight against diabetes and obesity.
The animal study from researchers at Oklahoma State University found that adding mango to the daily diet helped reduce body fat (without affecting overall body weight), regulated blood sugar almost as effectively as a drug commonly used for that purpose, and lowered cholesterol. It also affected levels of leptin, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating appetite.
The study, funded by the National Mango Board, is highly preliminary, but the researchers plan to investigate further by adding mango to the diet of people with pre-diabetes.
Find out about five more diabetes-fighting foods.