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Eating more than two mangoes daily may worsen gestational diabetes , Experts warns
Eating more than two mangoes daily may worsen gestational diabetes , Experts warns
By Francesca Hangeior
While mangoes are indeed a nutrient powerhouse, packed with iron, vitamin C, A, and B6, potassium, and folic acid, experts caution that consuming more than two mangoes a day could worsen complications for women with gestational diabetes and called for moderation.
Being the season of mango with over 300 varieties to be enjoyed worldwide, specialists warn that excess consumption of mangoes with a glycemic index between 51 and 55 may put pregnant women with gestational diabetes at a higher risk of complications.
They, however, cautioned pregnant women with gestational diabetes who crave mangoes to eat them in moderation without peeling the back to reduce their sugar content.
According to them, overeating can lead to excess weight gain, which also worsens gestational diabetes.
An online medical portal, Cleveland Clinic, described gestational diabetes as the type that develops in pregnancy when blood sugar levels get too high.
This, it, usually appears between 24 and 28 weeks, and is usually pregnancy-induced.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, both nutritionists and diabetologists described the Glycemic Index as a number that gives an idea about how fast the body converts carbohydrates in food to glucose.
They said if GI is a way to rank foods containing carbohydrates on a scale from 1 to 100 based on how much they affect blood sugar levels, the smaller the number, the less impact the food has on blood sugar.
A Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, James Oloyede, said women with gestational diabetes can eat mangoes but in moderation.
He noted that the reason some foods make blood sugar shoot up faster is due to simple carbohydrates in them, such as refined sugars, which make it easier for the body to change into glucose, which is the sugar the body uses for energy.
Oloyede added, “Mango can still be consumed by someone with gestational diabetes. However, the consumption should be moderate.”
The Nutritionist said that this is important due to the high glycemic index of mango as a result of its high sugar content that confers on it the natural sweetness it has.
Oloyede, who recommended not too ripe and strong mangoes for pregnant women, said, “A ripe mango is naturally sweet. Most dieticians would recommend a 100g mango ripe but firm. Not the type that is already over-ripe.”
He noted that the yet to ripe mango contains less sugar and is ideal for pregnant women with gestational diabetes or even other patients with diabetes.
“Mangoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For a woman with gestational diabetes, excess consumption can trigger the complications associated with diabetes in pregnancy.
“The complications often result in poor pregnancy outcomes and incidence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in the children during adult life.”
According to him, it is crucial to ensure that such a woman takes a healthy diet rich in protein and carries out regular monitoring of sugar levels.
He noted that nutrition counselling from a nutritionist or dietician coupled with regular physical activity to manage gestational diabetes is required by women with such conditions.
“She should enjoy mango as an occasional treat, but give priority to nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats for a positive pregnancy outcome,” Oloyede added.
Corroborating his position, a Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Olufemi Fasanmade said, “Mangoes should be eaten in moderation by women with gestational diabetes and others say one-to-two mangoes per sitting.”
Fasanmade, who is an expert in the management of diabetes, said though the GI of mango is within the medium level, he warned, “taking a large quantity of mango can lead to weight gain and eventually diabetes.”
The consultant endocrinologist said moderation is the watchword for mango consumption among pregnant women and advised those craving the fruit to eat both the inside and back, as the back is rich in fibre that would reduce the sugar level in the blood by not being digested and absorbed in the stomach.
Strengthening this assertion, a study by Candice Stamper et al, published in the National Library of Medicine and titled, ‘Effects of fresh vs dried mango consumption on satiety and postprandial glucose in healthy adults,’ affirms that consuming mango with its back helps to lower the high glucose content in the mango.
The study indicates that the mechanisms for mango with a medium glycemic index lowering glucose are attributed to its dietary fibre, indicating that fibre is not broken down into glucose by the small intestine like other digestible carbohydrates.
“Instead, it passes the gastrointestinal tract undigested into the colon where it is fermented by gut bacteria. Therefore, it does not lead to prolonged spiked glucose levels compared to foods that contain digestible carbohydrates and that do not contain high amounts of fibre.
“Another potential glucose-lowering mechanism of mango could be due to its abundant bioactive compounds like mangiferin. Mangiferin has been shown to have antidiabetic properties by decreasing glucose levels and insulin resistance by enhancing insulin sensitivity.
“Additionally, mangiferin is an inhibitor of glucosidase which are enzymes responsible for the breakdown of carbohydrates. Therefore, mangiferin could prevent a large amount of carbohydrates from being converted to glucose and absorbed in the intestine,” the study concluded.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has been confirmed as Governor by the Edo Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
He had earlier won on September 21, 2024 on the political cum electoral turf when he clinched the first prize.
He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, his closest competitor, who was banking on the power of incumbent PDP administration in the state to win.
Ighodalo and the PDP had filed their petition at the Tribunal challenging Okpebholo and APC’s victory at the poll.
But delivering its judgement in the petition on Wednesday, the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal ruled that PDP petition failed for lack of competent witnesses
The Tribunal said that the PDP petition challenging the outcome of the 2024 governorship election also failed, because of insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of electoral malpractice.
The petitioners had alleged that the failure to properly record electoral materials prior to the election had affected the results.
However, the Tribunal found that while documents were submitted, no witnesses were called to properly authenticate them, rendering the evidence inadmissible.
Of the 19 witnesses presented by the petitioners, 14 were ward and local government agents, while their star witness, who claimed to be a director of strategy, played no direct role in the conduct of the election.
The Tribunal noted that none of these witnesses provided testimony on the alleged failure of prior recording of electoral materials, deeming them incompetent to testify on the matter.
Furthermore, the Tribunal emphasized that for allegations of over-voting to be proven, petitioners must provide oral evidence, in line with the precedent set by the Supreme Court.
It stressed that it was bound to adhere strictly to the Supreme Court’s roadmap in adjudicating election disputes.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that its officers arrested 51 illegal migrants from Mali in New Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The NIS made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, ACI A.S. Akinlabi.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
A breakdown of the arrested migrants revealed that 11 were female, while 40 were male, with ages ranging between 16 and 19 years.
Akinlabi stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested illegal migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Service suggest that the migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits,” Akinlabi stated.
The statement further noted that the detained individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation.
“The arrested individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation to determine the circumstances of their migration and any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling networks or syndicates,” Akinlabi added.
Akinlabi further stated that the NIS would determine the circumstances surrounding their migration and uncover any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling syndicates.
The statement added, “The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are protected against illegal migration while upholding the rights of migrants who comply with the country’s immigration laws.
“The Service continues to work closely with relevant authorities and stakeholders to combat smuggling of migrants and counter trafficking in persons effectively.
“The NIS reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to National Security and Migration Management while encouraging citizens to report suspicious migration activities to the nearest NIS Commands and Formations.”
The remains of an engineer, Chigozie Udalu, have been exhumed from a shallow grave in Akwukwu-Igbo, the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State.
Recall that the engineer, who was contracted to construct offices in Akwukwu-Igbo, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave.
Though the incident occurred in December 2024, details only emerged recently after two suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Assailants Murder Construction Engineer In Delta State Community, Bury In Shallow Grave
A community source revealed that the suspects, identified as Tiv youths from Benue State, allegedly killed the engineer and concealed his body on a farm.
“Two Tiv boys from Benue State have been arrested in connection with the crime. They buried the engineer’s remains in a shallow grave on a farm,” the source stated.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesman Edafe Bright acknowledging that an investigation was ongoing.
“We are aware of the incident, and our men are working to ensure others involved are apprehended,” Bright revealed.
On Wednesday, the remains of the victim were exhumed by the police and the Delta State government.
A police source revealed that the arrested suspects alleged the engineer owed them money and often verbally abused them.
“They had also intended to steal cement from the site but perceived the engineer as an obstacle. On December 10, 2024, they planned to strike him with a 2×2 plank but assumed he was physically strong and might overpower them.
“On December 11, the Tiv boys put a rope around his neck from behind, causing strangulation. Upon his death, they buried him in a shallow grave on the farm,” the source explained.
“Following the murder, the suspects reportedly completed their contract at the site and stole the victim’s phone, making several attempts to transfer money via a mobile app.
“Additionally, the landlord of the construction site was accused of being involved in money rituals. In an attempt to clear his name, he was taken to shrines to swear an oath before the victim’s family.
“The landlord recounted his ordeal, stating that he nearly gave up on the case due to the challenges he faced with the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba.
“However, a police officer suggested he visit Ekpan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Aliyu Shaba. The officer assured him that within 30 days, the truth would be uncovered.
“Upon arrival at Ekpan, the landlord briefed the DPO, who assembled his team and employed sophisticated investigative techniques, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
“One of the suspects later confessed to knowing the location where the engineer was buried,” the source said.
A young man was also arrested and transferred to the SCID for openly threatening the victim in the presence of the landlord, further highlighting the brutality of the crime.
Of the four individuals arrested, two are considered principal suspects. Meanwhile, a manhunt is ongoing for the remaining suspects who are still at large.
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