| Reader, May is the start of mango season here in South Florida.
In my backyard, the biggest tree soars up into the sky. In a month or so, I'll be offering the harvest to all my friends and staff.
Just one mature tree can yield up to 300 pounds of fruit…
But as much as I enjoy picking one of the sweet, tropical fruits fresh from the tree and cutting into its soft orange flesh, I'm not here to talk about the mango itself.
Today, I want to talk about the leaves. Because that's where the real magic happens.  I love eating mangoes picked fresh from my trees. But it's their leaves that hold the real brain-boosting benefits. | You see, new research shows that a compound inside the leaves – called mangiferin – can conquer brain fog.
Of course, having a foggy brain is a common complaint. I hear about it all the time from my older patients.
You're probably familiar with it as well.
It's that feeling of mental fatigue and an inability to focus… you constantly lose your train of thought… have trouble remembering detailed information like names or dates… your reaction times slow… you struggle to find the right words… and everyday tasks take longer and become more difficult.
But in recent clinical studies, researchers found that supplementing with mango leaf extract:1,2 - Boosts cognitive function
- Improves concentration
- Reduces mental fatigue
- Increases working memory
- Enhances reaction time
In other words, it banishes brain fog and boosts focus.
Mangiferin is a potent polyphenol. Found in plants, these antioxidant molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier. This helps them protect your brain by lowering oxidative stress and reducing brain inflammation. They also have the potential to stimulate neurogenesis, the formation of new brain cells.3
Recent studies back up mangiferin's brain-enhancing benefits.
In one study, participants were divided into four groups. Each group was given mango leaf extract, caffeine, both, or a placebo. The patients who supplemented with mango leaf extract had increased activity in all four regions of the brain associated with cognitive processing, attention, and memory. The mango leaf group also saw a striking 47% reduction in brain fatigue and a 5% improvement in reaction time.4
The mango leaf participants' results were "significantly" better than the results observed in subjects who took caffeine alone or took a combination of caffeine and mango extract.
In a second study, published in the journal Nutrients, researchers showed that people who supplemented with 300 mg of mangiferin experienced significant improvements in focus, alertness, and reaction time.5 Eliminating Brain Fog Is Just The Beginning… For centuries, traditional cultures in Africa, India, and Asia used mango leaves to treat everything from fatigue to diabetes. Today we know that in addition to banishing brain fog, mango leaf extract can: - Slash blood sugar spikes 57%6
- Boost metabolism7
- Alleviate anxiety and reduce stress8
- Promote hair growth and prevent hair loss9
- Improves exercise performance10
Banish Brain Fog And Increase Focus In traditional cultures, young mango leaves are picked fresh from the tree. Then they're added to curries or served with fish. They bring a sweet mango-like flavor to the food.
I like to make mango leaf tea the same way they do in India. Here's an easy recipe you can try today. Ingredients: - 10 to 15 fresh mango leaves, washed
- ½-inch piece of ginger root, thinly sliced
- ½ Tbsp raw honey
- 8 ounces of water
Directions: - Wash the leaves and tear them into small pieces
- Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove. Add ginger root, cover, and boil for 5 minutes.
- Add the leaves and remove the pot from the heat.
- Steep for 10 minutes, then strain.
- Pour into a cup and add honey to sweeten.
You can also take mango leaf extract as a supplement. Look for one that comprises 60% or more mangiferin. I recommend taking 300 mg once daily.
To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - Wightman EL, et al. "Acute effects of a polyphenol-rich leaf extract of mangifera indica l. (zynamite) on cognitive function in healthy adults: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study." Nutrients. 2020 Jul 23;12(8).
- Lopez-Rios L, et al. "Central nervous system activities of extract Mangifera indica L." J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Oct 5;260:112996.
- Sarubbo F, et al. "Dietary polyphenols and neurogenesis: Molecular interactions and implication for brain ageing and cognition." Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 Jul:90:456-470.
- Lopez-Rios L, et al. "Central nervous system activities of extract Mangifera indica L." J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Oct 5;260:112996.
- Wightman E, et al. "Acute effects of a polyphenol-rich leaf extract of mangifera indica l. (zynamite) on cognitive function in healthy adults: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study." Nutrients. 2020 Aug; 12(8): 2194.
- Imran M, et al. "Mangiferin: a natural miracle bioactive compound against lifestyle related disorders." Lipids Health Dis. 2017; 16: 84.
- Zhang Y, et al. "Regulation of lipid and glucose homeostasis by mango tree leaf extract is mediated by AMPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways." Food Chem. 2013 Dec 1;141(3):2896-905.
- Luo G, et al. "Mangiferin prevents corticosterone-induced behavioural deficits via…activity. Neurol Res. 2017 Aug;39(8):709-718.
- Jung H, et al. "Mangifera Indica leaf extracts promote hair growth via activation of Wnt signaling pathway in human dermal papilla cells." Anim Cells Syst (Seoul). 2022 Jun 11;26(3):129-136.
- Gelabert-Rebato M, et al. "A single dose of the mango leaf extract zynamite® in combination with quercetin enhances peak power output during repeated sprint exercise in men and women." Nutrients. 2019 Oct 28;11(11):2592.
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