Advanced search

Answers


Calorie comparison in magoes.

I have recently been living in Guyana's rainforest, and have consumed a large number of magoes. Now, I always assumed that a ripe mango would contain more calories than a green one. They certainly taste a lot sweeter. Is this actually the case? And i so, how does the mago aquire this additional energy if they are picked whilst still green and allowed to ripen afterwards?

sssss
 (no votes)

submit an answer
  • Member status
  • none

Categories: Plants.

Tags: Calories, Food, sugar, photosynthesis.

 

Report abuse


4 answer(s)


Reply

MikeAdams#367 says:

I don't know enough about the mango specifically but, assuming it is like many other fruits, the change in taste is because complex carbohydrates (like starches) are being broken down to simple sugars during ripening. This will dramatically change the taste but will have little effect on the total calorie content since the total energy in the sugars will be close to (slightly less) that of the original starches.

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: Calories, Food, sugar, photosynthesis.

top

posted on 2010-05-14 12:56:45 | Report abuse


Reply

translatrix says:
I suppose while a fruit is still green, there is photosynthesis going on in it and so the amount of calories is increasing.
sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: Calories, Food, sugar, photosynthesis.

top

posted on 2010-05-17 07:13:12 | Report abuse


Reply

petethebloke says:

As MikeAdams says, the starch is breaking down as the fruit ripens. This doesn't alter the calorific value of the fruit but it can change the amount of energy available to the human body because starch is inefficiently digested.

Someone might correct me on this, but the main digestion of starch into useable sugars begins in the mouth with the enzyme amylase. However, an acid environment (as present in fruit) suppresses this reaction. As far as I know there are no enzymes specific to starch digestion in the stomach or gut.

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: Calories, Food, sugar, photosynthesis.

top

posted on 2010-05-20 09:04:39 | Report abuse

Reply

MikeAdams#367 says:

While salivary amylase does digest some starch, the vast majority of it gets digested in the small intestine

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: Calories, Food, sugar, photosynthesis.

top

posted on 2010-06-14 15:46:04 | Report abuse


The last word is ...

the place where you ask questions about everyday science

Answer questions, vote for best answers, send your videos and audio questions, save favourite questions and answers, share with friends...

register now


ADVERTISMENT