Is it safe to eat mango skin?

India goes through three months of relentless summer heat. Yet it is the favourite season for some as it brings with it the season of mangoes. Mango is one of the most popular fruits that is filled with natural sugar and juicy pulp on the inside. 

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The skin of a mango is commonly removed or discarded even though many people argue that the skin is actually the most nutritious part of the fruit. 

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Thus the question arises, should we throw out the mango skin, or is it edible? 

Mangoes are much celebrated for their high nutritional benefits while still tasting sweet. 

The inside of mangoes is rich in fibre, vitamins A, C, E and B6, as well as the minerals potassium and copper. 

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Coming to its skin, research shows that mango skin is a great source of polyphenols, carotenoids, dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin E and various beneficial plant compounds. 

Vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids contribute to lowering the risks of heart diseases, certain cancers and cognitive decline. 

One research also concluded that mango skin is more beneficial than mango flesh as it has stronger antioxidant and anticancer properties. 

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The mango skin is also rich in fibre, a key component for maintaining our digestive health and regulating hunger. 

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While this article guarantees that the skin is edible, no way are we making any promises on its taste. In contrast to what mangos taste like, their skin is bitter and hard to chew in. 

A simple solution to this would be to not cut away the entire mango skin but to include some in your every bite.