Mangosteen is touted as a powerful antioxidant to aid in the battle against damaging free radicals. The hull, pulp and seeds of this sweet, South African fruit have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine. Mangosteen may help support healthy blood sugar already in the normal range, normal cognitive function and healthy inflammatory response.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, a measure used by nutritionists to rate the antioxidant power of a nutrient and its ability to reduce oxidative stress on cells. But claims of mangosteen's high ORAC may be more accurately attributed to compounds such as grape seed extract, pomegranate, blueberry, goji and noni – substances often paired with mangosteen in free-radical-fighting juices and dietary supplements. Why? Because the xanthones in mangosteen – phytocemicals responsible for the fruit's antioxidant power – primarily occur in the fruit's edible rind, negligible amounts of which are found in the majority of mangosteen products.
The good news? High-grade mangosteen supplements usually contain essential vitamins, minerals and other high ORAC components, which together may help support overall health.