Latest news with #mangoes
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Sabah man dies after metal rod touches live wire while plucking mangoes in Papar
PAPAR, June 9 — A 42-year-old man died when he was electrocuted after climbing a tree to pluck mangoes in Kampung Bambangan here today. Papar Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Chief Rozlan Osman said that following an emergency call via MERS999 at 3:01 pm, he dispatched a brigade of eight firefighters to the scene within seven minutes. 'The victim is believed to have climbed the tree and used an iron rod to poke at the mangoes, before the rod came into contact with a nearby electric cable, causing the man to be electrocuted and rendered unconscious on the tree. 'The firemen then proceeded to lower the victim using a ladder and rescue rope after the electricity supply was cut off by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB),' he said when contacted today. The victim was confirmed dead at the scene by a medical officer before being handed over to police for further action. The rescue operation concluded at 4:29 pm. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Man electrocuted while plucking mangoes with metal rod
Firefighters bringing down a man who was electrocuted while trying to pluck mangoes. (Fire and rescue department pic) KOTA KINABALU : A 42-year-old man died when he was electrocuted while trying to pluck mangoes in Kampung Bambangan, Papar, today. Papar fire and rescue station chief Rozlan Osman said the victim is believed to have climbed the tree and used an iron rod to poke at the mangoes. The rod then came into contact with a nearby electric cable, causing the man to be electrocuted and leaving him unconscious on the tree. 'Firemen proceeded to lower the victim using a ladder and rescue rope after the electricity supply was cut off,' he said when contacted today.
Medical News Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Heart health: A mango a day may lower blood pressure, cholesterol
New research has found that eating mangoes daily may have health benefits in postmenopause. CWP, LLC/Stocksy Postmenopause may increase the risk for certain health conditions, including heart disease. A new study found that eating two servings of mangoes each day may help support postmenopausal heart health by lowering blood pressure and 'bad' cholesterol levels. The researchers also discovered that mangoes caused less blood sugar increase, which lowered quicker a few hours after consumption, when compared to eating plain white bread. Postmenopause refers to the time period when a person exits menopause and they do not have their menstrual cycle for at least 12 months. 'Postmenopausal women are one of the least studied groups in the [United States], yet it's a significant hormonal shift that will impact nearly half of the population,' Robert M. Hackman, PhD, research nutritionist in the Department of Nutrition at the University of California, Davis, told Medical News Today . 'As estrogen declines, women face significant changes in heart and metabolic health, like higher blood pressure and cholesterol.' Hackman is the lead author of a new study recently published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association — and supported by a research grant from the National Mango Board — that found eating two servings of mangoes each day may help support postmenopausal heart health by lowering blood pressure and 'bad' cholesterol levels. Additionally, researchers discovered that mangoes caused less blood sugar increase that lowered quicker a few hours after consumption, when compared to eating plain white bread. For this study, researchers recruited 24 cisgender women between the ages of 50 to 70 who were overweight or obese. Over two weeks, study participants consumed about 1.5 cups of mangoes each day and visited a lab a few times to have measurements for their blood pressure, cholesterol, and other body metrics collected. 'We chose mango because it's a nutrient-dense fruit with fiber, antioxidants, and bioactives that support heart health,' Roberta Holt, PhD, associate researcher in the Department of Nutrition at the University of California, Davis, and co-author of this study, told MNT . 'Previous studies have shown a positive effect on blood pressure and lipid management with mango consumption.' 'Postmenopausal women face unique cardiovascular risks, and we wanted to see if adding mango to the daily diet could make a measurable difference,' Holt added. 'As someone who's studied diet and vascular health in aging populations, it felt like a natural next step to explore mango's potential in this group.' At the end of the study, researchers found that two hours after eating mangoes, study participants experienced a drop of about 6 points in their systolic blood pressure, and a 2.3 mmHG reduction in their mean arterial pressure . 'Systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure are important indicators of how hard the heart is working to circulate blood,' Hackman explained. 'Even small reductions in these measures can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke over time. So seeing a noticeable drop shortly after eating mangoes, as well as sustained improvements with daily intake, is a promising sign that eating mango daily may help support cardiovascular health in a meaningful way.' 2 weeks of daily mangoes 'Total cholesterol and LDL are key markers linked to heart disease risk. Lowering these levels, even modestly, can have a positive long-term impact on cardiovascular health. The fact that we saw these changes after just two weeks of daily mango consumption suggests it could be a simple, food-based approach to help support better cholesterol management, especially in postmenopausal women.' — Roberta Holt, PhD Researchers also conducted a follow-up study with six participants who were asked to consume about 1.5 cups of mangoes on one lab visit, and about 3 oz of plain white bread on a subsequent visit. Scientists observed that while participants' blood sugar levels rose after eating both foods, it increased significantly less after eating mangoes compared to white bread. Additionally, study participants' insulin levels peaked and declined quickly after eating mango, but remained elevated two hours after eating white bread. 'That finding highlights how not all carbohydrates affect the body the same way. While both mango and white bread contain carbohydrates, mango (leads) to a smaller rise in blood sugar and a quicker return to normal levels,' Holt said. 'That's important because large or prolonged spikes in blood sugar can increase the risk of insulin resistance and other metabolic issues over time. Mangoes, with their fiber and bioactive compounds, may help blunt that response, making them a viable choice for blood sugar management,' he added. MNT had the opportunity to speak with Adedapo Iluyomade, MD, a cardiologist with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, about this study. 'I was pleasantly surprised that a simple whole-food swap nudged both systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol downward in just two weeks — results we usually struggle to achieve without medication,' Iluyomade commented. 'At the same time, the serving size (about two mangoes a day) and the small, generally healthy sample mark this as encouraging but not yet practice-changing.' 'Cardiometabolic risk climbs steeply after menopause, yet women remain under-represented in nutrition trials,' he continued. 'Food-based strategies that are easy to adopt can fill the gap between lifestyle advice and pharmacotherapy, giving patients more autonomy and allowing clinicians to personalize care rather than rely on data largely derived from men.' Just mangoes or other fruits, too? 'A longer, randomized study using a realistic one-cup daily serving — and a matched control fruit — would clarify whether the benefits persist and are mango-specific. Adding ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring, insulin sensitivity testing, and gut microbiome profiling in a larger, more diverse cohort would help pin down mechanisms and real-world relevance.' — Adedapo Iluyomade, MD MNT asked Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, for her top tips on how readers can incorporate more mangoes into their diet. The 'king' of fruits 'Mangoes, known as the 'king of fruits' in India, are rich sources of nutrients that support immune and heart health such potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B6, folate, C, and E, as well as phytochemicals such as mangiferin, anthocyanins, gallic acid, and kaempferol to name a few. Some studies have suggested that these phytochemicals are cardio-protective against inflammation, oxidative stress, and support blood vessel health, as well as digestive health from the fiber and natural enzymes.' — Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN For readers interested in trying to incorporate mangoes more often into their diet, Richard suggested a few easy ways: Adding to salads — fruit, greens, or even pasta salads Add to smoothies Puree into salad dressings and marinades, or freeze into Popsicle-like frozen treats or gelato Add to, or substitute for, fruit in a variety of salsa, chutney, and relish recipes Top yogurt, cottage cheese, or ricotta toast Mix with mint or basil to top baked or grilled tilapia, salmon, or flounder Peel and enjoy with a handful of nuts and seeds for a healthy snack Small, peeled portions can be dropped into your juicer to add refreshing sweetness to your favorite vegetable juices Enjoy it by itself as a healthy addition to a balanced breakfast, lunch, or dinner 'Add mangoes to the list of versatile fruits and vegetables that are nutritious, delicious and advantageous to your heart health, and enjoy!,' Richard added.
Malay Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Bangladesh ships first mangoes to China as ties with India sour
DHAKA, May 29 — Bangladesh waved off its first consignment of mangoes to China on Wednesday, a largely symbolic export as Beijing sweetens ties after relations soured between Dhaka and former ally and neighbour India. Bangladesh, still reeling from the political fallout of a 2024 uprising that ended the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina – who fled by helicopter to New Delhi – has since been courted by Beijing, India's rival. 'It is such a great pleasure to jointly witness this historic moment, as the first consignment of Bangladesh's premium mangoes sets off for China,' China's ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said, alongside government officials. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy. Interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus's first state visit was to China, while Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India's arch-enemy. 'President Xi Jinping has emphasised on several occasions that China's door of opening up will not close, but will only open wider,' Yao said, at a small ceremony at the airport alongside Bangladeshi ministers. 'I am confident that the export of Bangladeshi mangoes to China is just the beginning,' he added. In China, the fruit has a particular historic diplomatic resonance – including the curious cult of the mango. After Chairman Mao Zedong was pictured gifting a mango to a group of workers in 1968, during the mania of the Cultural Revolution, the fruit became an object of veneration. Those mangoes were reportedly a gift from the foreign minister of Pakistan -- and at that time, in 1968, Bangladesh had yet to win its independence from Islamabad. Export levels are small so far, just 50 tonnes in an initial phase, but both Bangladesh and China said they hoped to increase that. In the past year, China has sponsored several tours for Dhaka's political party leaders, and has begun hosting Bangladeshi patients in its hospitals. India has long been wary of China's growing regional clout and the world's two most populous countries compete for influence in South Asia, despite a recent diplomatic thaw. — AFP
Khaleej Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE summer: Are mango desserts, drinks safe for diabetics? What experts say
Summer is here and so is the king of fruits — mangoes. From frozen mango desserts and mango lassi to iced tea, ice cream, lime popsicles, yogurt, sorbet, and even mango ice cubes — the options are endless. This tropical fruit isn't just delicious; it's a refreshing, nutrient-packed treat that helps you stay cool and hydrated during the sweltering summer heat. The good news is: 'Mangoes are not off-limits for diabetics,' Tasneem Obaid, a therapeutic nutritionist at Fakeeh University Hospital told Khaleej Times. Mangoes can help combat summer heat due to their cooling properties, high water content, and nutritional benefit. Rich in antioxidants, hydration, and essential vitamins, mangoes offer a number of health benefits. Obaid explained that compounds like zeaxanthin and mangiferin help protect the heart and prevent cell damage, while enzymes such as amylase aid digestion. Mangoes are also high in vitamin A, which supports skin and hair health. 'When eaten as part of a balanced diet, they contribute to overall wellbeing—even for people with diabetes,' added Obaid, noting: 'Mangoes are not off-limits for diabetics, but they do need to be approached with mindfulness.' Mindful eating is key Dr Ahmad Hassoun, consultant endocrinologist & diabetes specialist at Fakeeh University Hospital Dubai, noted: 'From a clinical standpoint, mangoes are not 'bad', but they are glucose-active fruits. They contain a significant amount of natural sugar that can lead to rapid blood sugar elevation if not managed properly. 'The danger isn't in the fruit itself, but in how the patient incorporates it into their overall carbohydrate intake and insulin management,' he underscored. Dr Hassoun noted that mangoes do offer certain advantages. 'They're rich in antioxidants and contain compounds like mangiferin, which has shown anti-diabetic properties in lab studies. 'Mangoes also provide vitamin C and potassium, which benefit immune and cardiovascular health — important for diabetic patients who are at higher risk for infections and heart disease. However, these benefits must always be weighed against their carbohydrate content,' he added. This means, diabetics cannot eat as many mangoes as they want. Dr Hassoun explained: 'Diabetes management is about precision and control. One medium mango can contain 40–50 grams of carbohydrates — equivalent to more than two slices of bread. That's too much sugar in one go for someone managing glucose levels. 'I advise diabetic patients to treat mango as an occasional treat: a few cubes (maximum 80g) after a balanced meal, not as a snack alone. And ideally, it should be accompanied by self-monitoring of blood sugar levels to observe the body's response,' he underlined. Smart ways to enjoy mangoes Swapna Mary John, clinical dietitian at International Modern Hospital Dubai, agreed that mangoes can be part of a diabetes-friendly diet — as long as you eat them the right way. Here are her expert tips: Pair mango with protein or healthy fats like yogurt, avocado, nuts, or seeds to slow sugar absorption and prevent spikes. She noted that this is helpful because protein and fat take longer to digest, thus slowing down the release and absorption of sugar from the mango into your bloodstream. Eat mangoes as a snack between meals rather than as a dessert after meals can also help keep your blood sugar levels stable. Avoid blending it into juices or smoothies, which eliminate fibre. Eat mango when blood sugar levels are stable, not after other high-carb meals. Try having it before your active hours like before a walk and workout. Avoid overripe mango as it is high in glycaemic index (GI is a way that carbohydrates in foods and drinks are ranked according to how quickly they raise blood sugar level). Choosing fruits that are just ripe, rather than mushy or very soft, can help manage blood sugar levels more effectively. 'Enjoying mangoes while managing diabetes is entirely possible. The key is portion control, mindful consumption and regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels," she added. 'So, go ahead and savour the fruit of the season; just remember to do so sensibly."
