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What Is Mango Extract?

Kristeen Moore
Kristeen Moore

Mango extract is derived from the tropical mango fruit and the liquid extract is used in cooking a variety of dishes, including desserts, salads, and poultry. Often used as a substitute for cutting small pieces of mango from the large fruit, it can be a safer alternative to using the often allergenic mango fruit with skin. Mango are known to include a variety of vitamins, and, as a result, the extract is also used in some diet supplements for weight loss.

Mangoes and other fruits give a hint of natural sweetness to a variety of main dishes. Since mangoes are a large fruit to cut down, some cooks prefer to use the liquid extract form instead. The extract of mango can be combined with different oils and sauces to create a marinade for chicken and pork. Certain types of seafood dishes also utilize mango extract to give a hint of tropical flavor.

Mango is a popular tropical fruit.
Mango is a popular tropical fruit.

The versatility of mango extract makes it possible for use in side dishes as well. Mango gives sweetness to salad dressings, as well as certain sauces for pasta. Even if a chef uses chunks of mango in a dish, the liquid extract can complement the fruit and give the entire dish a stronger flavor. Mango extract is also used in desserts, such as pies, cakes, and ice cream.

Originating in Southeast Asia, the mango has more than 100 different varieties.
Originating in Southeast Asia, the mango has more than 100 different varieties.

Mangoes have the reputation of being allergenic, so some consumers are cautious about eating them. The fact is that the skin of the mango might cause an allergic reaction in some people, but the actual fruit is not allergenic. Mango skins can cause itchiness and rashes around the mouth, so they should not be eaten. When looking for a mango extract, consumers can ask the manufacturer if any skins were used during processing to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction.

The skin of a mango can cause an allergic reaction, although the fruit is non allergenic.
The skin of a mango can cause an allergic reaction, although the fruit is non allergenic.

Aside from cooking, mango extracts are also used in the creation of dietary supplements, the most common types being derived from African mangoes. The extract purportedly helps to decrease the appetite and increase the amount of leptin and adiponectin hormones in the body, which may directly correlate to fat loss. A mango extract diet also provides the body with vitamins A, D, and C.

Low adiponectin and leptin levels may contribute to weight gain.
Low adiponectin and leptin levels may contribute to weight gain.

Taking mango extract in the form of a supplement might help with an individual’s dieting program, but it generally should not be the primary source of weight loss. Most cultures praise the mango as a healthy food source, but it is also used as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Some extracts might also contain other ingredients not listed on the bottles, so consumers should use caution.

Discussion Comments

Viranty

I eat mangoes all the time, and I absolutely love them. However, reading this article gives me much greater insight, not only about the fruit, but the nutritious and unusual properties that it has. This is truly evident in the sense that mango extracts are derived from African mangoes. After all, many people in Africa are well known for using strange medicines, rituals, and even health plans to make sure that things go well. To the average person, a mango is just another thing to be eaten and thrown away. However, it's a fruit full of nutritional values, and an interesting history to boot.

Euroxati

While I do know that mangoes are a great source of vitamins, I didn't know that it could come in a supplement form. That's actually pretty interesting, and I should look into that the next time I do research. However, when it's stated that some forms of mango extract don't have all the ingredients on the bottle, that actually makes me a little suspicious. I mean, isn't it required by law that all products being sold must be as truthful as possible?

Adding onto this, if that really is the case, then maybe it would be better to make pure mango extract at home. While I don't know how that would be processed, at the very least, one wouldn't have to worry about any unneeded ingredients. That's one of the things you need to be careful about when dealing with "certified" products. They aren't always trustworthy, and can end up being very deceptive.

Chmander

Even though I've never liked eating mangoes by themselves, one thing I really do like about the fruit is how you can associate it with a lot of other things, and this article is a good example of that. For example, even if someone doesn't like mangoes, they could still go very well together in a fruit salad. Combining it with the likes of grapes and strawberries would be a tasty treat.

On another note, what if you felt like putting it in a salad, especially a "tropical" one? Combining with all the other flavors, it would probably taste pretty good. Overall, it really goes to show how one may not like a certain food, but combining it with other things can produce great results.

How does that relate to this article? Well, let's look at the third paragraph, where this is discussed. Noticed how it clearly mentions that mangoes can add sweetness to dressings and pasta.

On top of that, the extract has been known to enhance the flavors of famous desserts, which comes as quite a surprise to me. The next time you see mango extract at your nearest store, you really should give it a go.

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    • Mango is a popular tropical fruit.
      By: Natika
      Mango is a popular tropical fruit.
    • Originating in Southeast Asia, the mango has more than 100 different varieties.
      By: Mariusz Blach
      Originating in Southeast Asia, the mango has more than 100 different varieties.
    • The skin of a mango can cause an allergic reaction, although the fruit is non allergenic.
      By: sarra22
      The skin of a mango can cause an allergic reaction, although the fruit is non allergenic.
    • Low adiponectin and leptin levels may contribute to weight gain.
      By: Ljupco Smokovski
      Low adiponectin and leptin levels may contribute to weight gain.
    • Mango extract may be added to salads.
      By: msheldrake
      Mango extract may be added to salads.
    • Mango can add sweetness to salad dressings and other types of sauces.
      By: SunnyS
      Mango can add sweetness to salad dressings and other types of sauces.
    • Mango extract is used in some dietary supplements for weight loss.
      By: Melpomene
      Mango extract is used in some dietary supplements for weight loss.