Food Facts: Mangosteen

The Mangosteen is a fruit that most people have never heard of. However, it is currently riding high on the nutritional power fruits list in the energy drink industry. I actually had the privilege of tasting this delicious fruit in it's native land, Malaysia, two summers ago. So, when I heard that they are using this fruit in drinks now I had to make a trip to The Grand Asia Market here in town to re-check it out.

Potters Road, Stallings. Go check it out!

My friend and I ventured to the store and happened to find fresh Mangosteen in stock, however, normally you would have to buy it canned. The fruit is dark purple on the outside and pure white on the inside. It's a rather lovely and pretty fruit. It has a delicate taste, that is rather mild, and a smooth texture that is unfamiliar to this side of the world.

So, you ask: What could possibly make this strange looking fruit so good for you?

Well, I did some research and the fruit that you eat is actually not the part that is super fruit worthy, it is the dark purple/red outside that is so powerful. The outside of the fruit contains many phytochemicals which the body uses as antioxidants to fight off free cell growth. The ones specifically found in the Mangosteen are Xanthones. 

Now, you might be wondering how on earth can I gain benefits from this fruit if the part I eat isn't the part I need? Well, you drink it, the entire fruit juiced (pureed and strained). There are many power boosting drinks out there on the market currently that you will see promoting this addition to their product. Make sure you read the label and see that they add the entire fruit and not just the pulp. Look for the term pericarp or sometimes spelled pericarb.

The drink version that I am going to try and has been highly recommended to me is called Vemma. This drink is pretty much a multivitamin that adds many minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals that are naturally found in fruits and teas. They blend the multivitamin and minerals with decaf green tea extract, aloe vera juice, and mangosteen juice. 

Vemma

So, if you are looking for a new refreshing natural way to take your daily multivitamin you should check out Vemma. You will be benefiting from this drink more so than taking a typical swallowable pill because of the addition of the antioxidants and phytochemicals.

If you have trouble with the links they are:

http://www.grandasiamarket.com/

http://stradleygroup.vemma.com/vemma/

This was Food Facts: Mangosteen. Stay tuned for more Food Facts!