As summer sweeps across India, one of the most common questions a leading Mumbai-based diabetologist hears from his patients is: "Can I eat mangoes?"
"Mangoes, with their rich sweetness and diverse varieties, are a staple of Indian summers, and it's understandable why people want to indulge," says Rahul Baxi.
However, this simple question, he says, comes loaded with misconceptions - ranging from the belief that mangoes should be strictly avoided, to the opposite extreme where some think eating mangoes in excess might "reverse diabetes".
The reality lies somewhere in between, but the confusion doesn't end with the season. "In fact, many patients return for follow-up visits post-mango season, often with elevated glucose levels, and sometimes, the culprit may just be overindulgence in this beloved fruit," says Dr Baxi.
This constant dilemma has left many people with diabetes wary of the "king of fruits". Yet, new research suggests that mangoes might not be the villain they're sometimes made out to be.
