Mangosteen

Discover the Benefits of Mangosteen Supplements

While you’re likely quite familiar with mangoes, you could be forgiven for not knowing what mangosteen is (no, they are not the same). Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), in fact, is the fruit of a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, where it is known as the “queen of fruits,” and has long been used to treat a wide variety of health concerns. Mangosteen is extremely nutrient-dense, containing an impressive array of essential vitamins and minerals, and is also resplendent with a class of unique phytochemicals called xanthones. Research has shown that these xanthones possess a wide spectrum of pharmacologic properties, including antioxidant, anti-tumoUr, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects. Because of these medicinal properties, mangosteen has been studied and used in a wide range of applications including to inhibit the release of histamine and prostaglandins, which are associated with inflammation in the human body, and more specifically, allergic reactions (environmental and seasonal). It’s also shown great promise in the prevention of diabetes and the management of blood sugar, as well as to help aid weight loss, prevent premature aging of the skin, and encourage healthy blood lipid profiles.

Key Health Benefits of Mangosteen

• Anti-Aging Benefits
• Antioxidant & Anti-Inflammatory
• Combats Allergies
• Supports Healthy Immune Function

Ideal Candidates for Mangosteen Supplementation

Your naturopath may recommend you incorporate high-ORAC mangosteen into your daily supplement regimen for its general cell optimization benefits, to help combat inflammation and associated allergies/allergy symptoms, to help control your glycemia, or to bolster immunity in those prone to frequent infections since it’s has been shown to stimulate both the production and function of leukocytes, white blood cells that protect the body against infections and other foreign invaders. As a high-fibre food, mangosteen supplementation may also be recommended to help increase your intake of prebiotic fibre to nourish the good bacteria in your digestive tract and enhance overall digestive health, and as a bonus, to help support weight loss/treat obesity.

Different Forms and Potencies of Mangosteen Supplements

Though you can buy fresh mangosteen, they are hard to come by in most North American grocery stores, and they also don't have an especially long shelf life, which is why supplements are typically recommended. In supplement form, mangosteen is available as a freeze-dried powder, in capsules, as a liquid tincture, or in juice form. Mangosteen supplements can be found in potencies ranging from 400 mg all the way to 1,500 mg per serving. Mangosteen is also frequently added to superfruit supplement combinations in a wide range of potencies.

Final Thoughts & Potential Side Effects

If you've got your heart set on fresh mangosteen, you can try specialty Asian markets, but be aware that fresh mangosteen does not come cheap. You can also find canned and frozen versions, though the quality may be hard to assess, and these forms may also have added sugar and other excipients.

Mangosteen is extremely well-tolerated and isn’t associated with many side effects or contra-indications; however, certain precautions should be taken, for instance, by those on blood-thinning medications, or that pose a bleeding risk, as mangosteen may slow blood clotting.