By Craig DeSilva 

Mango Mania

Summertime is mango time in Hawaii, when trees are abundant with these reddish-gold fruits. They taste good and are good for you. One cup of mango has 80 percent of a day’s recommended vitamin C, 25 percent of a day’s recommended vitamin A, 7 percent of a day’s recommended potassium (good for lowering blood pressure), and 3 grams of fiber. Best of all, mango only has 110 calories and contains no fat or sodium.

Blend mango cubes with ice and low-fat milk to make a smoothie, or stir the cubes into vanilla yogurt, add thin slices to salads, or just eat them plain. Read more about the nutritive benefits of mangoes and get mango recipes at www.islandscene.com. Simply enter mango in the search box.

Please Don’t Pass the Salt

There’s a simple way to stay healthy that doesn’t involve sweating in a gym or going on a crash diet. It’s avoiding the salt shaker.

Studies show that eating less salt helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risks of heart disease. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is responsible for about one in six deaths in the U.S., according to a report by the Institute of Medicine. High blood pressure boosts your risk of dying of a heart attack or stroke more than smoking, high cholesterol, and obesity.

Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, you should still go light on salt. About 90 percent of people in the U.S. eventually develop high blood pressure as they get older. And although medication can reduce high blood pressure, it is not guaranteed to work for everyone.

Other ways to lower your salt intake:

• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less processed foods.
• Cook your own meals to control the salt in your food.
• Use herbs or lemon juice to add more flavor to foods.