Mangosteen Fruit - The Queen of the Fruits is a Dog

Author: F Fleming B.Sc.Pharm, M.H

Have you noticed lately when you browse a health magazine that there is some unfamiliar exotic food being touted as the “New Super Food”? We are steadily being deluged with new information and declarations. From all kinds of exotic berries to power drinks how do we know what items have some good medicinal qualities?

I want to comment on a fruit that I’ve recently been introduced to called Mangosteen. Mangosteen fruit has been used since the beginning of mankind in the eastern world while it has only recently been discovered in the western world. Introduction of Mangosteen fruit to the accepting western world brought with it the name “Queen of Fruits”

Mangosteen fruit, sometimes referred to as Xango, originated in Southern Asia. This area is where Mangosteen fruit is usually grown. This fruit grows on Asian tropical evergreen trees where the temperature is relatively warm, does not grow in higher temperatures and grows at a very slow pace. When these trees are somewhere around ten years old they finally start to produce diminutive purplish fruits which are of no relation to the Mango. In Asia, Mangosteen fruit is regarded as the “Queen of Fruits” due to its delicate taste and fragrance

The “Claim to Fame” for Mangosteen fruit comes as a  abundant source of xanthones. These are phenolic compounds having potent antioxidant properties. Numerous people are unaware that most of the xanthones are located in the rind and outer shell, not in the fruit itself. Slick selling has promoted this exotic fruit for sale in the form of juices at ludicrous prices. On the internet I discovered Mangosteen juice for sale at $35.00 for a 750ml bottle. In a health food store I couldn’t believe it when I saw 1 liter of Mangosteen juice with a price tag at $50.00. Are these prices justifiable?

Wikipedia advises that when Mangosteen was examined for nutrient content, antioxidant strength and potential impact for reducing the risk against human maladies it was determined that the overall nutrient content was absent of important content.

I am very cautious of any food items imported from China. There is a recall on toddler’s toys in relation to lead contamination, milk products have been defiled with melamine which is a known toxin that has poisoned thousands of children while chickens, ingesting melamine, and their eggs are likewise contaminated.

A recent issue in The National Geographic magazine informs us about the Yellow River in China being so polluted that the water is not usable. Thousands of villagers are destined to die of cancer and other terminal disorders because they use the water from the Yellow River. In light of this information I must then pose some questions:

- If Mangosteen fruit comes from China what are the dirt conditions like in the location it is being grown?

- What waterways are feeding this produce and how seriously are they polluted?

- What horrors are we putting into our bodies when we select these exotic items?

We tend to forget our own superfoods grown right here in our farmer’s own backyards. Enjoy blueberries, black cherries, concord grape juice, blackberries and cranberries. All of these have been proven to have excellent antioxidant properties while they lower the risk against some human diseases. We can buy these quality foods certified organic which means we know that no pesticides have been used.

While you can buy our own homegrown foods, for your family, at a fraction of the price of Mangosteen juice you can also rest easier with the certainty of quality coming from our own certified organic farming. My money and my families good health remains with our own superfoods!