Product Description

It's a fruit, it's not a mango, and it has wide-ranging health-promoting properties - it's a mangosteen, dubbed the 'queen of fruit' in its native Thailand. A quite odd-looking fruit about the size of a plum, the mangosteen's bright white fruit sits inside a thick, dark red outer shell. Rich with chemical constituents called xanthones, mangosteen has proven itself through numerous recent scientific studies to help relieve symptoms associated with arthritis, treat eczema, psoriasis, and seborrhea, prevent atherosclerosis, relieve allergies and asthma, treat bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, alleviate sleep disorders, and promote overall health.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1761013 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 30 pages

Customer Reviews

Regarding the Superfruit "Frenzy"...
As a horticultural researcher (pomologist) and avid tropical fruit grower, I cannot help but be somewhat amused by the recent "superfruit" trends washing around the MLM and "health food" markets. Of course, many people in the USA don't really know what a "mangosteen" even is; and if they do, it is often due to a friend or family member affiliated with some company that sells the juice of this fruit. Here, I will offer not an explicit review of this book (which does contain -some- good information), rather I will offer a short perspective from my point of view as someone who has been aware of, and has grown this fruit for some time.

Presently, there are many companies worldwide marketing mangosteen "juices" made from the whole processed fruit, including the pericarp (the thick purple rind). These juices often carry a very substantial price tag. Mangosteen fruits themselves are not expensive, produced prolifically in Southeast Asia and elsewhere in suitable climates (though you wouldn't think it, seeing as companies play up it's climactic limitation to equatorial regions, to make it seem more intriguing). As of 2007, they can be purchased frozen at $3-$4 a pound (8-9 whole fruits) retail in big-city Asian supermarkets throughout the USA. That should give you a vague idea of reasonable price ranges.

The flavor of whole, processed, pasteurized mangosteen juices are not comparable to the true flavor of a fresh mangosteen fruit- and this is something that bothers me, as the fresh fruit is simply delicious. Otherworldly. The purple pericarp is typically considered an agricultural byproduct, usually discarded (until recently), and only used occasionally for it's astringent properties. In fact, mangosteen pericarp was once recommended for use as a source of cheap and plentiful leather-tanning agent! Given that the pericarp is naturally very bitter and quite unpalatable, this implies that any proclaimed "whole mangosteen" juices are either chemically altered, so as to remove the copious astringent tannins, or that the actual juice is so dilute that mangosteen fruit is not the primary ingredient. This reality necessitates the addition of sugar, or sugary juices (such as white grape or pear) to mask the bitterness.

What most people don't know is that even right in their own backyard, there is lots of healthy, unique stuff growing locally. There's really no need to pay exorbitant prices for any exotic fruit marketed under a banner of mystique and allegedly unique nutritional "science." The case with mangosteen is just another link in a proven formula for making money in the natural foods industry. The choice of exotic superfoods is not primarily for health/medicinal benefit (though that is a plus). Chiefly, they choose to exploit something cheap, easy-to-grow, renewable, and prolific. The "poor man's berry" of Brazil - Acai. The overabundant wolfberries in Asia - Goji. A Pacific Island weed species that makes loads of fruits in any soil - Noni. The science is an afterthought, a health claim to get that commodity moving. Undoubtedly, there is a TON of money in this area of the "natural health" industry. What will the next "superfruit" be? Amla? Maqui? Durian? .... ?

Given a horticultural perspective, I feel that we are forced to question the value and intent in the marketing of these whole mangosteen products. If you look at the prices charged, for relatively cheap fruit... I think you may get an idea.

Mangosteen - Fruits of Paradise
Being new to Mangosteen, I wanted to check it out. I was referred to the book and ordered it. After reading it I found ot to be full of information helpfull in understanding the origins of the fruit and it's uses. The scientific information enabled me to see there was more to this fruit than hype. I have just started using Vemma and have found an immediate Boost in my energy, which is great due to my serious health challenges. I expect to see more results in my overall health as time goes along.
http://www.myvemma.com/lamontgreen/
http://www.myvemma.com/lamontgreen/