The Sweet Snack Both Millie Bobby Brown and a 101-Year-Old Swear By

Perfume, a bedazzled pink drinking cup, PG Tips teabags, and dried mango. What do all of these things have in common? They’re in Millie Bobby Brown’s bag. The Stranger Things actor recently sat down with Vogue for its popular “In The Bag” series, which sees celebrities sit down and talk through, well, what is in their bag.

Of course, snacks are a vital handbag staple. For Brown, dried mango halves are a must.  “I like it when it’s all stuck together,” she said. “I know that sounds weird, but it’s sweeter that way. It’s better than candy, you know.” The A-lister’s go-to brand is Solely, a fruit snack company specializing in minimally-processed organic dried fruit products. As well as Brown’s favorite mango halves, it also offers a range of fruit jerky, gummies, and dried pineapple rings.

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Solely cold-presses its fruit to lock in the nutrients, which is good news for Brown because mango is bursting with goodness. The fruit, which is native to India and Southeast Asia, is a good source of vitamin C, fiber, folate, copper, vitamin B6, vitamin A, and vitamin E, for example. 

On top of this, mango is high in potent antioxidants, which are plant compounds that help protect the body from harmful free radical damage. Over time, this damage can build up and increase the risk of serious chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer. 

Mango has more than 12 different types of antioxidants, including mangiferin, which also boasts antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiallergic, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and immunomodulatory properties, according to 2017 research published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease. “If mangoes could be any more of a nutritional hero, they might need to wear capes,” writes journalist Maria Elena Fernandez for the American Heart Association. 

Mango: the fruit of longevity? Ask this 101-year-old professor

One of mango’s biggest benefits is its vitamin C content. In fact, just one cup contains almost 70 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. There is some research to suggest that regularly consuming high amounts of vitamin C could promote longevity (this is likely because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties).

Brown isn’t alone in her love of mangoes. Research by YouGov suggests that around 70 percent of people in the US enjoy the fruit, which is renowned for its juicy, sweet taste and texture. Among them is John Scharffenberg, MD, MPH, a physician and professor at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA, who just happens to be 101 years old. One of his favorite snacks is mango, alongside persimmons and macadamia nuts.

Mango is undeniably nutritious, but no single food is a magic solution to longevity. Research does suggest, however, that eating an abundance of plant-based whole foods, like Scharffenberg, who is vegetarian, could help people live longer. 

Alumni Association, School of Medicine of Loma Linda University

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He also exercises regularly, abstains from alcohol, has never smoked, and lives a purposeful, busy life. He also lives in one of the world’s Blue Zones, Loma Linda, which is one of five areas in the world known for longevity. This is likely because it has a high population of Seventh Day Adventists, who, like Scharffenberg, eat a predominantly plant-based diet and prioritize several healthy lifestyle habits.

“As the Adventists demonstrate, the average person’s life expectancy could increase by 10 to 12 years by adopting a Blue Zones lifestyle,” notes the official Blue Zones organization. The other four Blue Zones include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece. As in Loma Linda, people who live in these areas tend to eat predominantly plant-based foods, exercise regularly, follow a purposeful, stress-free life, and eat very small amounts of meat, if any at all. 

If you fancy giving the Blue Zones lifestyle a try, you can find some of our go-to Blue Zone-inspired recipes here. But another good place to start? Make like Brown and eat more mango. Find some of our favorite ways to enjoy the juicy fruit here, from tacos to homemade roll-ups to salads and sorbets.