The Xango drink is said to be nourishing and healthy.Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
MARIE DANN swears it has done wonders for her allergies.
While she doesn't think it's a cure-all for everything that ails you, the 48-year-old Justice of the Peace believes the Xango drink "aligns your insides, builds up your immune system and cleans out the body."
Xango (pronounced zaango) is the liquid form of the Southeast Asian mangosteen fruit. Available through distributors (mainly in Kingston), Xango
is fast gaining popularity and
has become a wonder drink for various ailments.
Dann says she heard about its powers about three months ago.
AFTER MY FIRST BOTTLE
"I wasn't able to drink cane juice or orange juice as they would burn up my mouth and tongue making it sore. But after my first bottle (of Xango that lasted for about a month) I had my first drink of orange juice mixed with cane juice since five years and nothing happened," said Dann.
Dann says she put it to a further test when she indulged in another favourite of hers -- chocolate bars -- and, to her surprise, the usual bumps that would cover her body after eating the sweets did not appear.
"To speak about it medically, I'm not able to, nor do I believe it's an overnight thing, but
I can definitely say that it
allows you to tolerate these
different things as you won't
be able to get the flu easily and have allergic reactions."
POSITIVE RESPONSES
Those sold on its benefits say Xango is good for protecting the heart muscle, helping to prevent cancer, and is an excellent source in lowering blood pressure level.
John Donaldson, a local distributor, says Xango drink has been available in Jamaica for several years. Donaldson says he started selling Xango last May and has been doing well.
A bottle of Xango, a month's supply, costs $3,600 to $4,000.
"The feedback has been very good with very few negative responses," says Donaldson,
who adds that among the
positive responses he has received are from men
claiming that their symptoms associated with prostate cancer have been reduced.
The mangosteen fruit which resembles a star apple contains a high concentration of the antioxidant xanthone, hence the name of the drink xango. Antioxidants like xanthone are identified as impressive life-enhancing substance essential to the immune system. The mangosteen fruit is said to have more than 40 of the 200 known xanthones. Thus, what makes the Xango drink beneficial is that it is not simply the juice of the mangosteen, it is the entire fruit puree.
Nutritionist Winsome Belnavis notes that often Xango drink is introduced as a miracle product but that it is only doing what nature has made it to do.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Belnavis adds that quantities of antioxidants from one's diet can help ward off the damaging effects of free radicals to repair, heal, and replace damaged cells.
She states that an antioxidant works to nourish and strengthen the immune system, thus
preventing diseases, and assisting the body to function optimally.
"Nature provides us with superfoods like vegetables,
fruits, herbs which have a
number of highly beneficial chemicals; and which have extremely beneficial effects on multiple systems tissues and
cells in the body. As a result of the chemical components and
the beneficial effects on all the body's tissues and systems,
these substances will have a
positive effect on most conditions, disorders and diseases," says Belnavis.
IT IS TASTY TOO
Marie Dann and others who have had the drink also laud it
for its delicious taste, especially when it is well chilled. Dann says she found the drink easy to like and compares its taste to the Chinese fruit lychee.
"People will want to drink it in gulps because it's refreshing. But it's best to take one teaspoonful every day then you will see results."
Shanika Stanford who has drinking Xango for more than six months agrees that it is tasty and that it does wonders.
"I was having hair loss and after using it for two months I saw a difference. There was no more breakage and it (hair) was growing," says Stanford, who adds that persons also noticed the difference in her hair and asked what has she been using.
