The importance of mangoes during summer as well as their taste make them the only class of fruit that cannot be denied by anybody. Mangoes are loaded with potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber. You may have heard that mangoes are problematic for diabetics and cause weight gain. All these things are not true.
Our main concern is: Does mango make you poop?
Mangos can make you poop. Mangos contain fibers, sorbitol, polyphenols, and their watery nature causes a person to defecate. These ingredients facilitate bowel movement by keeping the intestines healthy. Additionally, the water content of mangoes helps keep poop soft. Mangoes are therefore useful in treating constipation. However, taking large quantities can cause diarrhea.
Read along to know all the details!
Table of Content
Does Mango Make You Poop?
Are mangoes good for digestion? Are mangoes rich in fibers? Mangoes are rich in fibers, polyphenols, and sorbitol. These components assist in facilitating defecation. Let’s discuss fibers first.
In spite of the fact that fibers contain no nutritional value, they play a key role in maintaining gut health.
Fibers are carbohydrates, but they are not an energy source, which is the main function of other carbohydrates.
If fibers do not provide nutrition, then why are they present in our food? What does fiber do for the body?
Fibers in mango keep your gastrointestinal system healthy, by ensuring regular bowel movements. Fibers are responsible for bulking up stools and helping to retain moisture in faeces.
Therefore, the retention of water prevents the stool from becoming stiff, which would otherwise result in constipation. Thus, you can say that fibers are good for digestion.
In addition to their role in making the stool softer, there is another function of fibers in the body. In our intestine, bacteria break these fibers and release short-chain fatty acids.
These fatty acids are beneficial to our colon lining.
Another substance that can be released from the breakdown of fibers, is the acidic milieu. This component works by killing the harmful bacteria present in the large intestine, which could cause intestinal disorders.
Thus, the fibers we get from mangoes keep the intestinal tract healthy and make a person poop more easily.
A person can get almost 5 grams of fiber from one mango. This value is quite enough to maintain your gut health. The use of dried mangoes can sometimes exceed the daily fiber requirement.
So, one should also keep a watch on it.
Another compound, sorbitol, present in mangoes, can act as a natural osmotic laxative. It works by increasing the osmotic pressure in the large intestine. This helps to make poop softer and excrete out of the body easily.
The high water content of mangoes, which is almost 84 percent, also makes them a suitable option for gut health improvement.
Are Mangoes Good for Constipation?
Can mangoes cause constipation? No, instead, mangoes can relieve constipation. As discussed earlier, fibers and sorbitol present in mangoes make poop softer, making it easier to excrete out of the body.
Polyphenols present in mangoes are also helpful in treating constipation. They help you feel less constipated, have more regular stools, and have a better stool shape.
Mango may therefore lessen constipation symptoms.
A gastric hormone known as gastrin is a peptide hormone, whose secretion is stimulated by eating mangoes. It promotes gastrointestinal health and regulates gastric motility. Thus, also helping to reduce constipation.
Mangoes contain a compound called mangiferin, a naturally occurring polyphenol. Mangiferin combats dyspepsia and constipation.
Mild to acute constipation can be treated with it.
Can High Intake of Mangoes Cause Diarrhea?
There is a possibility that mangoes will cause diarrhea.
When mangos are taken in excess, diarrhea can occur as they contain ingredients that promote bowel movement, including sorbitol or sugar, water, and fiber.
All these components can cause frequent watery bowel movements.
Mango also contains lycopene, a carotenoid. If this carotenoid exceeds its limit in the body, it can lead to diarrhea along with bloating. If anybody consumes more than 30 mg of lycopene, they will experience side effects.
So, you can say that mangoes and diarrhea are interconnected.
How to Prevent Diarrhea Due to Mango Intake:
Anyone experiencing diarrheal complications due to the consumption of mangoes should limit how many mangoes they are eating. There are some tips that one can follow to avoid diarrhea:
- Mangoes should be consumed in smaller quantities.
- Stop eating other diets that are rich in fibers like berries, pears, avocados, etc. Replace these fruits with those that contain less fiber in them.
How Much Amount of Mango Is Enough for A Day?
Even though mango is a favorite for many in summer. But one should keep a check on how much one is eating.
Mangoes contain a significant amount of sugar. Higher intake can increase the sugar level of blood, which further increases the insulin level and can cause diabetes.
Mangoes are also rich in fibers that, in limited amounts, can treat constipation. But if taken in excess, it can lead to diarrhea.
About 330 grams of mangoes are enough for an adult, preventing all sorts of health complications that can occur due to excess intake.
Benefits Of Mangoes
The health benefits of mangoes are listed below:
Cures Asthma:
Mangoes are a rich source of vitamin C, which can relieve asthma. You can say that it is a natural treatment that one can apply to cure asthma.
Improves Gut Health:
Mangoes are very effective at improving digestion in the gut. High amounts of fiber are present in mangoes, which can prove effective for gut health.
Protects from Heat Stroke:
Mango juice is in high demand during the summer.
Everybody wants to get rid of the heat of the scorching sun. Mango juice, being watery and also delicious, can make you feel refreshed. Thus, it can protect you from heatstroke.
Heat can sometimes affect the body’s functioning by affecting the absorption of water.
Improves Immunity:
As discussed earlier, mangoes are rich in vitamin C which can play an instrumental role in our immune system.
Zinc present in mangoes also has a role in maintaining immunity.
Improves Anemia:
Anemia patients can benefit from the iron and vitamin C in mangoes.
Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the molecule present in red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.
Improves Eye Health:
Mangoes contain compounds such as vitamin A, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin (carotenoids), and cryptoxanthin. Each of these compounds improves the health of your eyes and prevents the deterioration of your sight.
Maintains Kidney Health:
Potassium and vitamin B6 can prevent kidney disorders.
Potassium lowers the risk of kidney stones by normalizing the sodium content in the body.
Mangoes are very helpful in treating kidney stones. Vitamin B6 prevents the formation of stones by lowering the amount of oxalate in the body.
Lowers Cholesterol Level:
By eating mangoes, you can lower your cholesterol levels. Mangoes contain pectin, which lowers cholesterol levels.
Takes Care of Brain Health:
Iron and vitamin B6 in mangoes can improve brain health. One should eat mangoes regularly to improve their memory.
FAQs
Question: Why is mango not healthy for you?
Answer: Mangoes contain a sufficient amount of fructose. Most of the calories that a person can get from mangoes, come from this fructose. This can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, which can result in diabetes. Mangoes are also rich in fibers, so excess amounts can cause diarrhea.
Question: What other food can make you poop?
Answer: Foods such as pears, strawberries, avocados, apples, raspberries, oats, lentils, kidney beans, and chocolates can cause a person to poop.
Question: Does mango make you gain weight?
Answer: There are very few chances that mango results in weight gain. As mangoes are low in fat and high in minerals, they do not increase fat accumulation, which can lead to obesity.
Conclusion
So, does mango make you poop?
Mango contains fiber, sorbitol, and polyphenols that help improve gut health and make defecation easier.
Overeating mangoes can lead to diarrhea, but limited consumption of mangoes can also treat constipation.
