My three of favourite things happen in summer. One is of course, is the summer vacation, second, is my cousins visiting us for the whole vacation and third favourite is eating mangoes with them day and night, helping ma and masi in making pickles and papads. 

This is the usual story of any household in Gujarat and I am sure in other parts of India as well. My father would buy different varieties of green and ripe mangoes in bulk. Mother would bring guniyu(gunny sack) and we would spread the mangoes over it and put it under the bed to ripen. Everyday in the morning, one of us would check which mangoes have ripened and pick them in basket for morning feast, afternoon keri no ras(aam ras) and poori, evening mango ice cream making adventure. We had ancient ice cream making machine with central container which will store flavoured milk, surrounded by ice and salt. We had to physically rotate the arm to move the central piece and 40 minutes or so of the exercise shared amongst the kids, we would get treated world’s best ice cream! Afternoons would be time to make pickles and papads. We would help in drying the marinated green mangoes on the terrace, stir the chunda(sweet grated mango pickle), dry the papad. Summer was all about fun in being with larger family and learning and making traditional treats. 

As kids we would judge our favourite type of mango. Some we would massage and squeeze and drink juice right off the mango, some we would cut into pieces and eat and some we would pickle. Mangoes of India are famous in the world for its sweetness, richness and unique flavor. I realised it when we went to Europe in summer and missed having our mangoes. We did get mangoes there but not like the ones in India. We immediately counted our blessing of having the most sweetest and tasty mangoes every summer in abundance. 

Most popular types of mangoes found in India are Alphonsos or Hapus from Maharashtra, Kesar Mangoes is also simply called Gir Kesar because cultivar grown in the foothills of Girnar in the districts of Junagadh and Amreli, Badami from Karnataka ,Chausa from Himachal Pradesh and Dasheri from Uttar Pradesh.

According to Indian beliefs, mangos symbolize life (the national fruit of India) and are used in almost every sacred ritual. Mango leaves are almost always used for festivals and wedding decorations. ‘Chutney’ made from Indian mangos has become universally popular. As the popularity of mangos has spread, many food manufacturers have introduced jellies, jams, squash, pickles, marinades, and spices that include pure mango flavor.

The king of fruits is not only great in taste but has multiple health benefits. Mango is rich in fiber, so if you have at least one mango every day, you almost prevent constipation, piles, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). dietary fiber has a positive effect on eliminating degenerative diseases, 
The more you participate in strenuous activities, the more potassium you lose, which is yet another helpful effect of mangos – high potassium content!

Mango also support heart health as it contains mangnesium and potassium which help maintiain healthy pulse and relax the blood vessels promoting lower blood pressure levels. It has many antioxidants containing certain phytochemicals such as gallotannins and mangiferin which lower blood cholestrol, trigylcerides and fatty acids levels. It protects the heart cells against inflammation & oxidative stress.

Mango contains folate, B6, iron and a little calcium, zinc and vitamin E. Mangoes are filled with skin-friendly vitamin C and Vitamin A, both of which are crucial for healthy skin and skin repair. Mangoes, eaten in moderation are also known to exfoliate and eliminate dead pores. 

Mango is full of nutrients that help support healthy eyes. Two key nutrients are the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These accumulate in the retina of the eye — the part that converts light into brain signals so your brain can interpret what you’re seeing — especially at its core, the macula

Mango contain digestive enzymes called amylases which break down large food molecules into sugars. 
Yes it is sweet, and should be eaten sparingly, but that doesn't make mangoes a strict no-no for diabetics. The glycemic index of mangoes ranges between 41 to 60, with an average of 51. The value of 51 is on the lower end of the glycemic index scale. Foods that are less than 55 are consider to be low glycemic food, which is safe for diabetics to consume. Foods with low glycemic index, makes sure the release of sugar in the blood is slow, and there is no sudden spike in the blood glucose levels. Besides that, mangoes are also rich in dietary fibres, which again helps regulate the blood sugar levels.

This summer, make it healthier with enough dose of mango in your breakfast, lunch and dinner!