Mango is among the most popular fruits around the globe.
People love to have it for its unique taste. You may find it slightly citrusy with rich sweetness in every bite. Like many other fruits, mangoes have many health benefits.
They are rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Health experts recommend it to boost immunity, but is mango acidic or alkaline?
Many people ask this question and fail to find the correct answer. The minimal citrusy touch shows that the mangoes might be acidic.
Let’s look at the answer to the above question to find out the truth.
The pH Level of a Mango
Mangoes are slightly acidic with a pH value of 6. They are pretty close to having neutral properties (1).
However, this pH level may vary for different forms of mango. You may find a unique pH value for this tropical fruit’s dried, green, and unripe forms.
The Acidity of Mangoes
To understand the acidity levels of mango, it is vital to know how pH scales work. A pH scale has a range of values from zero to fourteen (2).
The two ends of the scale represent the acidity or alkaline nature of the tested item.
If the value falls closer to zero, it shows the high acidity of the fruit. On the other hand, the values closer to fourteen show a high alkaline nature.
Mango makes it around the middle of the scale. The pH value of this fruit makes it closer to neutral nature. Although it still shows the tendency of acidic properties, mango does not adversely affect human health like other acidic fruits.
Typically, acidic food items are more likely to increase the possibility of kidney problems (3). Excessive consumption of acidic foods may lead to health problems like cancer, liver disease, kidney stones, heart diseases, and other health-related concerns.
Mangoes, on the other hand, are free of such risks. You can enjoy your favorite fruit without worrying about the acidic adversities.
They have ample health benefits. Mango has fiber and protein, making it suitable for digestion and gastric conditions. It also has immune-boosting ingredients.
Although rich in sweetness, mangoes are helpful in the prevention of diabetes.
Mango Types and Acidity Levels
Dried Mangoes
Dried mangoes typically taste sweet. They are popular around different parts of the world. If you wonder whether dried mangoes are close-to-neutral tropical fruits, the answer is no.
They have a pH value of 3.17 to 3.68, making them high in acidity levels. You can dry them up after treating them with citric acid. Although mangoes contain acids including tartaric acid, citric acid, and maleic acid, the dominance of citric acid increases the overall acidity of dried mangoes.
It is worth noting that dried-up mangoes do not give up their health benefits. They have rich concentrations of vitamins A, B, and C. Moreover, minerals like Magnesium and potassium make them beneficial for the human body.
While this may be correct, you may need to be precautious about the excessive intake.
Dried mangoes, if consumed excessively, can lead to health problems due to increased acidity. High sugar levels can lead to blood pressure problems. You may need to balance the consumption of dried mangoes for better health.
Ripe Mangoes
Ripe mangoes have a pH value of 6. They are the safest form to consume with minimum health risks. Ripe mangoes have several acids, including citric acid, maleic acid, and oxalic acid.
You can consume them in many forms. People love to make mango shakes, icecreams, desserts, and more.
The ripe forms are rich in minerals. They are the source of a compound mangiferin responsible for reducing inflammation of cardiovascular muscles. The presence of fiber helps to improve the digestive system. Doctors often recommend patients with constipation problems eat ripe mangoes.
Moreover, ripe forms of mango are highly beneficial for ocular health. They contain lutein, vitamin A, and zeaxanthin that support healthy eye function. Fresh mangoes can also suppress cancerous cells in the body.
Green Mangoes
Green mangoes are famous among those who like variations in taste. This form is super-rich in vitamins. Although it has a slightly acidic trend on the pH scale, a green mango can treat many health problems effectively.
Whether you have digestive problems, blood health problems, or weak immunity, eating green mangoes can help you fight against these problems. Health experts recommend jaundice patients consume green mangoes with honey and pepper to improve liver and digestive health.
Since green mangoes are not ripe, they have a high concentration of vitamin C. It plays an influential role in improving the elasticity of blood vessels to improve blood flow in the body. The presence of vitamin C also aids iron absorption to improve the health of red blood cells and platelets.
With a pH value of 5.7, green mangoes are slightly more acidic than ripe mangoes. You may need to care for acidic reflux on excessive consumption. If eating green mangoes causes heartburn, you may need to consult with your health service provider.
Nutrient Breakdown
We have highlighted the presence of vitamins and minerals in different forms of mangoes. Besides, mangoes have moderate amounts of carbohydrates, fats, copper, riboflavin, and proteins.
To help you understand how mangoes can benefit your health, consider the following breakdown of nutrients present in mangoes (4).
| Nutrients | Concentration |
| Fiber | 2.6 gms |
| Proteins | 1.4 gms |
| Fat | 0.6 gms |
| Calories | 99 |
| Carbohydrates | 24.7 gms |
| Sugar | 22.5 gms |
| Copper | 20% (DV) |
| Potassium | 6% (DV) |
| Folate | 18% (DV) |
| Magnesium | 4% (DV) |
| Niacin | 7% (DV) |
| Riboflavin | 5% (DV) |
| Thiamine | 4% (DV) |
| Vitamin C | 67% (DV) |
| Vitamin B6 | 12% (DV) |
| Vitamin A | 10% (DV) |
| Vitamin E | 10% (DV) |
| Vitamin K | 6% (DV) |
Benefits of Eating Mangoes
Apart from the benefits discussed earlier, mango consumption has some advantages in healthy amounts.
Free Radical Damage Protection
The presence of free radicals can influence chronic diseases in the human body. Free radical compounds also play a role in the general aging process. While this may be correct, the presence of antioxidants in mangoes can prevent the damage risk of free radicals (5).
Mangoes contain beta-carotene. This antioxidant and vitamin C help prevent the body’s cells from exposure to chronic diseases.
Mangoes are also rich in phytochemicals that aid the healthy immune function, reduce inflammation, regulate specific hormones, and reduce the growth of cancerous cells.
Different phytochemicals, including mangiferin, carotenoids, gallotannins, and phenolic acids, play a vital role in preventing diabetic diseases, obesity, and blood health problems.
Sleep Improvement
If you have irregular sleeping patterns and often stay awake at night, mango consumption in appropriate amounts may help you improve your sleep. The presence of vitamin B6 produces serotonin in the brain. This chemical has an influential role in regulating many brain and body functions.
Vitamin B6 deficiency can disturb your sleeping patterns. You can consume moderate amounts of fresh mangoes daily to make up the Daily Value needs.
You can also find vitamin B6 in several other food items. By comparing the values of each, you may create a diet plan to consume mangoes with other food items to compensate for the required amounts.
Better Skin Health
Mangoes have various vitamins and nutrients that promote skin health. Daily appropriate consumption of mangoes can enrich you with vitamin C, A, and B6, which play influential roles in improving your skin health. The presence of vitamin C protects your skin from the damage of free radicals resulting from UV exposure.
Vitamin A promotes collagen production to aid in the brightening of the skin (6). Vitamin B6 has water-soluble properties, making it suitable for hydration in the skin cells. Copper plays a dominant role in fighting against wrinkles and dark patches on your skin.
Apart from these, Magnesium reduces oils on the skin surface and fights against acne problems. If you are sensitive to skin allergies, you may benefit from Beta-Carotene, which protects against harmful bacteria.
Improved Gut Health
If you eat two to three cups of mangoes per day, you may be on your way to preventing cardiovascular problems and poor gut health. Mangoes improve your systolic blood pressure with the presence of polyphenols.
The anti-inflammatory properties of mango help to improve your gut health. Moreover, a healthy concentration of vitamins in mangoes promotes appropriate blood sugar levels, brain function, and immunity boost.
These factors combine to improve the overall cardiovascular and gut health.
Improved Weight Control
Mango is a water-rich fruit. It contains significant amounts of soluble fiber. If you eat a cup of mangoes, you may feel full. Despite the rich concentration of minerals and vitamins, the overall caloric intake of mangoes is less.
If you are working on making a diet plan for weight control, you may add mangoes to the equation for significant improvements. Soluble fibers in mangoes help in water absorption. The low caloric intake and water absorption properties make mangoes a suitable food to control weight.
Moreover, the glycemic index (GI) score of mangoes is lower than that of watermelons and pineapples. Mangoes have a GI value of 51. The low GI score makes it suitable for weight loss.
Key Takeaway
The details mentioned above highlight different factors, including answering the question, is mango acidic or alkaline. Mango is among the few high in vitamin diversity and mineral concentration fruits. While this may be correct, it is vital to consume mangoes in appropriate amounts,
Excessive consumption can lead to acid reflux due to multiple acids in mangoes. You may need to consult with your dietician for a suitable diet plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Should I eat mangoes during pregnancy?
Mangoes contain nutritious vitamins, including vitamins A, B, and C. It also contains iron, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and folate that play a vital role in pregnancy. You can consult your doctor to eat the recommended amounts of mango for better health during pregnancy.
Can mangoes cause acidic reflux?
Eating appropriate amounts of mangoes can benefit your health. However, excessive eating may lead to acidic reflux. You may consult your dietician to maintain a healthy balance if you have stomach health problems.
Can mangoes help in weight loss?
Mangoes have water-soluble fibers that help in controlling body weight. You can replace mangoes with a portion of your meals to suppress the fat cell production in your body.
Leave Feedback: Was this article helpful?
