A recent study published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association reveals that consuming two servings of mangoes daily may improve heart health in postmenopausal women by lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels.
The research, conducted by the University of California, Davis and funded by the National Mango Board, involved 24 overweight or obese women aged 50 to 70.
Over a two-week period, participants ate about 1.5 cups of mangoes daily. Measurements showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure by approximately 6 mmHg and a 2.3 mmHg decrease in mean arterial pressure two hours after mango consumption.
Additionally, total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels dropped by nearly 13 mg/dL.
The study also compared blood sugar responses to mangoes versus white bread in a smaller group of participants. Mangoes caused a smaller and quicker decline in blood sugar and insulin levels, highlighting their favorable metabolic effects compared to refined carbohydrates.
Researchers emphasized that postmenopausal women face increased cardiovascular risks due to hormonal changes, making dietary strategies like mango consumption a promising, natural approach to support heart and metabolic health in this population.
Roberta Holt, PhD, co-author and associate researcher at UC Davis, noted, “These findings help identify targeted dietary strategies, like eating fresh mangos daily, to aid this at-risk population and support cardiovascular wellness.” Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these promising results.
