17/08/2025
SCIENCE & RESEARCH...........................
In Pakistan, India, and most countries of the region, during the summer season, different varieties of mangoes are found in abundance. At such times, the question doctors are most often asked is: “Doctor, can we eat mangoes?”
Dr. Rahul Bhakshi, who practices in Mumbai, says:
“Mangoes, with their rich sweetness and diverse varieties, are an important fruit of summer, and it’s easy to understand why people want to enjoy them.”
But he says this simple question is filled with misconceptions. In India, there are two opposing views on the matter. One opinion is that diabetic patients must strictly avoid mangoes. The other, quite the opposite, claims that eating a lot of mangoes can “cure diabetes.”
Dr. Bhakshi says the truth lies somewhere in between.
According to him, many patients return for follow-up visits after summer with complaints of rising glucose levels. Often, the blame is placed on this beautiful fruit. Because of this dilemma and the fear of raised sugar levels, many people distance themselves from the “King of Fruits.” But new research shows that perhaps mangoes are not the “villain” they are thought to be.
Two new clinical trials in India have shown that consuming mangoes within a certain limit actually helps type 2 diabetes patients in controlling their blood sugar levels.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces too little insulin, while in type 2, the body develops resistance to the effects of insulin.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 90% of diabetes patients worldwide suffer from type 2, which is considered the eighth leading cause of various diseases. Experts say that by 2050, it could rise to the second leading cause.
The causes of type 2 diabetes include obesity, age, ethnicity, and family history.
According to the World Health Organization, in India an estimated 77 million adults have type 2 diabetes, while nearly 25 million are pre-diabetic and at high risk of developing the disease.
A pilot study soon to be published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition involved 95 participants who were given mangoes and white bread.
The results showed that eating three varieties of Indian mangoes — Dasheri, Safeda, and Langra — caused the same rise in blood sugar levels as eating white bread.
Continuous glucose monitoring for three days in both type 2 diabetes patients and healthy individuals revealed that the increase in blood sugar levels after eating mangoes was very small. Experts say this response could be beneficial for the body in the long run.
Dr. Sugandha Kher, the lead author of both studies, says:
“Mango is a very popular fruit, but it has been given a negative image and is often blamed for weight gain and high blood sugar.”
According to her, the recent studies show that eating mangoes along with a doctor-recommended diet does not raise blood sugar; in fact, it can even be beneficial.
The journal Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders also published results of an eight-week trial conducted at Fortis Hospital in Delhi, which confirmed earlier findings.
In that trial, 35 adults with type 2 diabetes replaced their breakfast bread with 250 grams of mango. Improvements were observed in glucose levels and HbA1c tests.
Professor Anoop Mishra, the lead author of the study, said:
“For the first time, we have shown through two detailed studies the benefits of replacing breakfast carbohydrates (bread) with a small portion of mango, thereby eliminating all speculation about its negative metabolic effects.”
When asked what “eating mangoes in moderation” really means, he explained:
“If your daily intake is 1,600 calories, then the calories from mango should also be included in that. A 250-gram mango has about 180 calories.”
Dr. Bhakshi also says he advises his patients similarly.
“If glucose levels are under control, I allow — and even encourage — my patients to eat mangoes in limited quantities.”
According to him, mangoes are best eaten as a snack between meals rather than as a dessert. Diabetic patients should avoid consuming them as juice or milkshakes.
In India, mangoes are not just a fruit; they are also a part of culture and diplomacy.
“Mango diplomacy” is a well-known phrase across South Asia, where carefully selected, high-quality mangoes are exchanged as gifts. They can help smooth over tense negotiations or political dealings.
To highlight the cultural importance of mangoes, “mango festivals” are organized in many Indian cities. This fruit is not only a delicacy but also a kind of social currency.
Debates about the grading, quality, and taste of mangoes from different regions of India continue throughout the country.
Pushpesh Pant, a Delhi-based historian, says:
“Good mangoes are not just for eating; they are like jewels. Whoever spends more, gets better mangoes.”
According to author Swapna Joshi, India grows more than a thousand varieties of mangoes.
Joshi writes that mangoes differ according to the region: in the north and east, Langra, Dasheri, Chausa, and Himsagar are the sweetest. Western India’s Alphonso mango is known for its balance of sweetness.
In India, mangoes hold such significance that the poet Mirza Ghalib once described them as a “glass of sealed honey.” Several books have also been written about this fruit.
