After yesterday’s mango/melon fiasco (but a fab mango mask recipe nonetheless), I’m a little scaredy cat to write anything else about mangoes. But I must.
Why, you ask?
Because I need mango recipes below. If you have one posted on your blog, link it here, baby. I always overbuy fruit when I do these Food On Your Face posts, and I need to know what the heck to make to put in my tummy.
So I’m going to power through the fear, and talk a little about mangoes.
Let us learn.
Stuff You Never Knew About Mangoes
- Mangoes have officially (by the magistrate of mangoes, I can only assume) been declared “King of Fruits,” and are known as such all over the world (except where I live, I guess).
- Ripe mangoes hold the largest amount of beta carotene, also known as vitamin A. This is the stuff in carrots that supports eyesight. It’s also scientifically shown to prevent cancer and boost the immune system.
- Unripened mangoes – the greener ones – are higher in vitamin C. We all know how great vitamin C is, so I’ll leave it at that.
- Mangoes contain proteolytic acid, which just so happens to be an effective meat tenderizer, making it a good cooking buddy with tougher meats, and it aids in digestion.
- Mango leaves and twigs are toxic, and for quite some time Indians would feed them to their cows, which would then dye the cow’s urine a special sort of yellow. Then they would die. Given that, in India, cows are sacred, eventually this practice was outlawed.
How to Cut a Mango
I knew this in my younger, less culinary frazzled days. I didn’t remember it yesterday.
There are a few effective ways to cut a mango, so here’s a little video tutorial, just in case you didn’t know, or are frazzled such as myself.
If you already know, skip on down to the info on why you should put mango on your face. And then the recipes. And then the comments.
Why You Should Put Mangoes On Your Face
If you walk into any self-respecting natural foods store and ask for mango butter, you should be directed to the cosmetics aisle. There you will experience one of the richest, most luxurious balms known to man (if they have a tester). You might not buy it, because it is pretty pricey.
I searched for ways to make my own mango butter, to no avail, so it can only be assumed that it’s a tightly-kept secret by the mango magistrate. He’s a bit of a tyrant, isn’t he?
In any case, using fresh mango gives you a number of the benefits as mango butter, only it doesn’t keep as long. It’s moisturizing and clarifying. And fresh mango has a benefit that mango butter does not: It contains active fruit enzymes that will eat up all the dead skin cells layered on your face.
Mango in the hair will improve the elasticity of the strands, and fosters strength at the roots.
I’ve read accounts of people who use a mango mask on their face twice a week and see a dramatic improvement in chronic acne. The beta-carotene in mangoes encourages skin regeneration (think antiaging) and wrinkle softening. You can be darned sure you can make your own mango facial masks at home identical to the ones you’d pay big kaching for in spas, for a smidgen of the price and none of the hassle.
Quick and Easy Mango Mask Recipe
Take 1/4 of a mango, mash it well, and mix it with plain yogurt. Apply to skin. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse.
Or try the recipe from yesterday: Nourishing Mango Mud Mask
MANGO RECIPES – LINKY PARTY TIME!
If you’ve been here before, you know the drill. If not, here’s a quick run-down:
INSTRUCTIONS
- Follow the link below and link directly to the page that contains your recipe that includes mangoes (and hopefully a pretty picture)!
- If you’re feeling frisky, leave a comment when you’re done.
- Have fun, and come back soon to see more mango recipes!
Crunchy Betty, You ROCK! I just shared this post on Facebook and everywhere else possible. You are a Blogger with style my friend! Glad to be a part of your world!
I bought mangoes at Trader Joe’s yesterday. Looks like they won’t just be for dinner tonight!
Linds
King of the fruits? I thought that titled belonged to Richard Simmons? LOL.
It’s good to know mango will fight acne. That will be a nice solution when my daughters hit the teen/hormonal years.
I get so hungry when I visit here! 🙂
I just found your blog and I love your writing style..very cute and funny! I adored the video on how to cut mango….I always struggle with that and now I think i can actually do it right! I kinda want to go go cut one now…heheh
I love the smell of mango and I can just see myself with it all over my face! I love homemade beauty recipes anyway so this is perfect for me. I have a few of them over on my blog too.
Now that I’ve found you, I will be a frequent visitor!
Robin
Thank you for the comments! Akismet keeps holding hostage the best comments, and I have no idea they’re there until I remember to check the wrongly named spam folder!
Adore you, and adore your blog, too! Some day we should collaborate. Great minds and all that. Mwah!
Yum! I shouldn’t look at this stuff right before lunch. It results in extra grocery shopping trips.
Mango tress in Miami are in full swing – they’re so sweet and delicious!!!
Lucky! Put ’em on your face and show me!
Thanks for the yummy additions to the links. Can’t wait to try the one I keep gushing about.
There is really some stuff there I didn’t know about mango fruit. Thanks for educating me. 🙂
I aim to give all kinds of oddball information. Makes putting the food on your face even more fun!
I’m reading this at 11 p.m. and now I’m DYING for a Papaya, Mango, Banana and Pineapple Smoothie! Thanks a lot! All I’ve got are plums, black grapes and bananas. Definitely not the same thing. Well, it’s almost bedtime, so maybe I can just DREAM that I got one.
I gots the mangoes – come over for a smoothie later! Actually, I’m going to make that Lassi up there in about an hour. It’s like a milk drink, which I never get to have because of dumb intolerance, only yogurtier.
How much fun! I’ve only recently begun using mangoes at home and just love them! Great “link party” idea. I’m loving all the mango recipes posted here by everyone and not one, but two ways to smear it on my face… fun fun fun! Thanks for the great mid-week party!
And thank you again for your wonderful addition. Imma going to be loving it come tomorrow midmorning. Mwah!
LOVE this post and you site! Thanks for stopping by GreenLiteBites!
-Roni
And thanks for adding your mighty delicious recipe link! (I have to admit, though, that feta spinach omelet is calling my name … maybe I’ll have it with Stephanie’s smoothie recipe!)
hi thanks for the invite. i am pleased to link my recipe for your valuable post. regds abraham
And thank you for submitting. Looks soooo good. 🙂
Looking forward to mango season and trying out some new recipes as well as tenderising my face! I have scoured my blog archives and although I love mangoes it appears I have not yet blogged a mango recipe. Wish I could link up but I will have to pass this time…
Loving the blog and loving the way it is getting so interactive. Keep it up!
Gina
I do so hope you came back to look at some of the recipes (you stopped by before most of them were up)! I think we have some winners here. Holler if you try any of them. I’d love to know what you think.
Can’t wait to see all the recipes. Mango is one of my very favorite foods. Great idea!
It’s incredible! These recipes, incredible. Yours – so amazing looking. I must try it soon! Thank you so much for linking! (And yours is the second ComLuv link that’s making my mouth water when I wasn’t expecting it. Gah, I love peanut sauce.)