Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Fruit for Thought: Mangosteen

Mangosteen

The mangosteen fruit is a small, purple fruit about the size of a tangerine, with a rind similar in texture to the pomegranate. In Thailand, it is known as the “queen of fruits” and is prized the world over for its taste and medicinal value.

In India, Thailand and China, preparations made from the rind are used as antimicrobial and anti-parasitic treatments for dysentery and other forms of infectious diarrhea. The plant’s astringent qualities are also useful in preventing dehydration and the loss of essential nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract of diarrhea sufferers. The Thai people take advantage of the mangosteen’s antimicrobial properties to treat infected wounds, tuberculosis, malaria, urinary tract infections, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
It has long been recognized in Asia that the mangosteen has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and is therefore effective in treating eczema, hyperkeratosis and related skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrhea. In the Caribbean, a tea made from mangosteen, known as “eau de Creole,” is used as a tonic for fatigue and low energy states, universal symptoms experienced by millions around the world. Brazilians use a similar tea as a de-worming agent and digestive aid. In Venezuela, parasitic skin infections are treated with poultices of the fruit rind, while Filipinos employ a fruit preparation to control fever. While known in many parts of the world for centuries, the mangosteen fruit is only now being discovered by North Americans. This is unusual considering that North America is often the first area to benefit from medical discoveries; in this case, however, it is one of the last. Fortunately, knowledge of the mangosteen is spreading quickly, and it is becoming known in countries far removed from where it is grown.
  Mangosteen Yogurt Panna Cotta
Mangosteen and Lime Sorbet






Mangosteen Mousse










For these great recipes involving Mangosteen, please click below. try one out and let us know if it's a winner. Enjoy!!!

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