Superfood Sunday – VIE 100 Review – Mangosteen A Largely Unknown High Powered Superfruit

Welcome to the fourth edition of ‘Superfood Sunday’. I hope you are enjoying your afternoon, whatever your plans. The main reason behind this series I created was to enlighten you all and bring to the forefront superfoods that are not widely known and talked about outside of the health conscious industry. Today I shall be discussing an exotic fruit I came across whilst reading / researching superfood related topics… The Humble Mangosteen.

What is Mangosteen?

Mangosteen is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. Today, mangosteen is grown in a number of South East Asian countries including Thailand, where the crop is said to have a particularly strong recognition for the quality of produce grown.

Mangosteen is also grown in South America  tropical countries such as Columbia and Puerto Rico to a lesser degree.

The tree grows from 6m to 25m (20–82 ft) and it is eight years before a new tree will bare fruit of any value or substance.

The flesh  is said to be sweet and tangy, juicy, and somewhat fibrous. The edible pericarp of the mangosteen is botanically defined as an aril with the same shape and size as a tangerine (approx 4-6 cm in diameter) but is white in colour. The circle of the wedge-shaped arils contains between four to 8 segments.

The deep reddish-purple coloured rind known as the pericarp deemed to be inedible and is generally discarded for its bitter taste.

The bitter tannins of the fruit exocarp serve to protect the fruit from insect infestation, fungi, bacteria and animals while the fruit is immature. Colour changes as the fruit ripens from green to purple and softening of the exocarp are natural processes of ripening.

Whilst reaching this lychee looking fruit, I came across  a new health food brand called Arrowline who specialise and focus entirely on creating health products and supplements from the humble mangosteen, in which one of their products (vie100 platinum) is extracted from the generally discarded pericarp and have since unearthed studied health benefits relating to the pericarp of the mangosteen.

In the case of the pericarp, ArrowLine unearth unique health attributes which I shall share with you in a bit.

In the case of the pulp it is the sensory delight that is brought to the forefront.

Arrowline Background

ArrowLine is a company breaking new ground in “Healthy Kitchen Delights” from the Orient.

It’s mission is acting as a gateway to new healthy eating habits where sensory pleasure, health and well being become one.

The company behind the brand Vie100 has strong belief in getting back to basics and “living as nature intended” pursuing natural produce and/or products with distinct health benefits or advantages over current market practice in whatever food and beverage category it sees opportunity.

 VIE 100 Platinum

One of the products Arrowline currently offer is the VIE100 Platinum.

I was fortunate to be sent a 25g sachet to try which delivers between 28-30 servings, delivering up to a months supply depending the individuals dosage (half a tea spoon is recommended 1-2 times a day mixed with hot water).

It is of powered form and is made entirely from the fruit mangosteen pericarp as briefly mentioned above.

The pericarp is rich in health features and benefits but one of particular interest is the Xanthone phytonutrient – and mangosteen is known to hold them in abundance.

Taken from the VIE100 website, british based founder Vernon Bradley further explains…

“Xanthone phytonutrients are polyphenols – a strong type of antioxidant that commonly occurs in plants; they are highly valued for life enhancing properties. Most importantly according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [ref], polyphenol antioxidants are reported to be 10 times more powerful than Vitamin C.

Whilst there are 200 known Xanthones in nature there are a reported 40 in Mangosteen alone – with 4 unique to the fruit i.e. Alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, gamma- mangostin and methoxy-beta-mangostin. Whilst the number of Xanthones is one thing it is the unique properties where significant benefits unfold”

He also explains the painstaking process behind the extraction of the Xanthones from the pericarp.

• A staggering 250 kilos of fruit is used to make 1 kilo of our fruit powder.
• Just 2 measures of VIE100 Platinum [2x 800 mg] will deliver all your daily antioxidant needs …
• One serving provides the same antioxidant benefits as 70 gm of blueberries.

 Health Benefits Associated With Mangosteen

Xanthones: Are prized because there is growing evidence that their unique characteristics can help to:

• Support the immune system
• Combat free radicals, which contribute to the ageing process.
• Maintain intestinal health
• Reduce inflammation
• Support cartilage and joint function
• Promote a healthy respiratory system

Mangosteen science offers significant health benefits via its phytonutrient antioxidant activity which can also be associated with treatment for :

• Asthma
• Myalgia
• Diabetes
• Immune system disorders and skin disorders

My Thoughts On VIE100 Platinum

Due to the intensity of the flavour, you only need approx half a teaspoon to mix with warm / hot water to count as one 800mg serving.

I had one cup over a five day period a few weeks ago.

My first experience with the mangosteen powder was an interesting one as it left me feeling quite relaxed after an hour of drinking it.

Due to the high levels of antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals, this should only be taken a maximum of twice a day.

The beauty about this premium mangosteen powder is that is does not taste of anything so can be incorporated into your favourite beverage / concoction of choice to enrich its nutrient content whilst not interfering with the taste and flavours.

At present I do not incorporate this superfood supplement into my daily diet for I am taking quite a few other energy and endurance superfood supplements in the lead up to my 1st Dan Grading but once I have this under my belt come March 14 please god, I shall be incorporating this more often to truly gauge how it reacts with my body.

It is a good superfood supplement to incorporate if you are after an antioxidant boost.

For more information on Vie100 platinum, including mangosteen juice and capsules that are due to launch in the near future, Vie100 can be found online by visiting the Vie100 website , Vie100 Facebook or by simply following them on Twitter.

Disclaimer: The above information shared within this article is based on research and case studies and should be used for information purposes only . You should consult with your doctor in the first instance regarding health benefits and implementing new supplements into your diet.