Fit tip: Eat more mangoes

Q: I love mangoes but they are so sweet they must be bad for me. Is this true ?

A: Mangoes taste so good you can’t believe they are healthy, but they are!

Mangoes are high in several types of naturally occurring sugars, which are carbohydrates. Natural sugar food sources, including mangoes and other fruits, are healthy additions to your diet since these whole foods provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. In addition to sugar, mangoes have other types of carbohydrates that are important for daily bodily functions. Mangoes are also low in calories. The sweetness of mangoes helps curb the appetite for other sweets. And because the high fiber content of mangoes will help keep you feeling full, there is less urge to snack.

Fresh mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, with a 1-cup serving providing 100 percent of the recommended dietary intake for this nutrient. Mangoes are also an excellent source of vitamin A, providing 36 percent of the daily recommended intake. Mangoes provide 18 percent of the recommended intake for folate, and are a fair source of vitamin K and the minerals copper and potassium, with 8 to 9 percent of the recommended daily intake for each.

Have a question? Email ealvarez@MiamiHerald.com or tweet @eddiemalvarez. To talk to the fitness trainers, email jandmfitness1@gmail.com.

This story was originally published July 21, 2014 at 11:26 PM with the headline "Fit tip: Eat more mangoes."