Who doesn't know mangoes? The tropical fruit does have its own charm due to its fresh, sweet taste. Most people will probably only take the fruit, but what about the leaves? It turns out that mango leaves also have a myriad of health benefits for the body. In the past, the leaves have been used as a traditional medicine to treat diabetes and other health conditions. As quoted from Healthline, here are some benefits you can get from mango leaves.

• Rich in plant compounds such as polyphenols and terpenoids. Terpenoids are plant compounds that can help maintain eye health and the immune system. The compounds can also act as antioxidants that can protect your body from free radicals. Meanwhile, polyphenols are plant compounds that can help treat and prevent the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Polyphenols have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.
• Having anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks to the content of mangiferin in it, consuming mango leaf extract is known to reduce the risk of diseases associated with chronic inflammation, such as Alzheimer's.
• Protecting the body from the addition of fat. Mango leaf extract is known to help prevent obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes by disrupting fat metabolism in the body. Study results show that mango leaf extract can inhibit the accumulation of fat in body tissue cells.
• Fighting diabetes. Thanks to its ability to protect the body from the addition of fat, mango leaf extract is known to help you in reducing the risk of diabetes. High triglyceride levels are often associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Study results showed that consumption of mango leaf extract could help reduce levels of triglycerides and blood sugar.
• Fighting cancer. Several studies have shown that the mangiferin compounds in mango leaves have anti-cancer potential.
• Maintaining healthy skin. Thanks to its antioxidant and polyphenol content, mango leaf extract is known to help reduce the signs of skin aging. The study results show that mango extract can increase collagen production and shorten the length of skin wrinkles.
• Maintaining healthy hair. Mango leaves are often used in some hair products to prevent follicular damage. Its antioxidants content can protect hair follicles from free radicals.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source:

• Healthline - 8 Emerging Benefits of Mango Leaves (2020). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefit-of-mango-leaf, 3 June 2020