If you are a fruit lover, you must enjoy trying weird yet amazing fruits!
Today, our article is going to be about Dragon fruit.
You may have heard about dragon fire, dragon eggs and it may be a new thing to learn that there is a real fruit, with real benefits, but it bears a mythical name.
Strange but dragon fruit is nothing short of surprises because there are more than twenty health benefits of this tropical fruit and we are going to cover almost all the top benefits.
Let us learn more facts about it!
What Is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon Fruit is also famous with the name of Pitaya, strawberry pear, night-blooming Cereus, and Belle of the Night.
It is a native vine plant of South America but due to its fame, it is common to cultivate this vine plant into Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Philippine.
It has a distinctive delicate smell.
The texture and taste seems to be a combination of pear and kiwi fruit.
The outer scaly part is not edible but its inner flesh and seeds are edible.
There are three forms of this tropical fruit:
- White flesh and yellow skin
- Pink flesh and red skin
- White flesh and red skin
Moreover, it is common to eat it raw, or it can be part of salsa; smoothie or salads.
Nutrient facts (serving size: 100 grams)
- Calories: 50
- 5 mg Calcium
- 16 mg Vitamin B3
- 11 grams Carbohydrate
- 9 mg iron
- grams protein
- 4 fat
- 5 mg Phosphorus
- 04 mg Vitamin B1
- 05 mg Vitamin B2
- 5 mg Vitamin C
- grams fiber
Thus, if you are after a low calorie; low fat yet a superfood item, look no further; Dragon fruit will surely be your answer.
Top 7 Dragon Fruit Health Benefits
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Smooth digestion
Almost everybody knows fiber is a great supporter of the digestive system.
The best possible way to include fiber in your diet is through fruits and vegetables.
Thus, Dragon fruit can be a great addition to your diet because it contains a good amount of fiber.
Moreover, better digestion means the elimination of constipation and IBS health issues.
Every 100 grams of this fruit has around three grams of fiber in it.
Prebiotics are great for healthy guts and digestion.
This fruit has oligosaccharides, oligosaccharides tend to work as prebiotics as well as they can play a part as a substitute to ameliorate.
Therefore, the consumer of this fruit is in a Win-win situation.
-
Look youthful
Antioxidants are not just good for the internal body functions but they are also good for keeping your skin healthy and youthful.
Moreover, due to the presence of Vitamin C, the antioxidants can easily sustain the skin in tight and firm shape.
Hence, this way antioxidants end up making you youthful and young.
Additionally, dragon fruit is not only good for these antioxidants but also it can provide you Phosphorus (a pivotal mineral in every cell of the body).
Phosphorus is able to boost anti-aging properties.
Hence, Dragon fruit can become helpful in preventing premature aging, and make skin beautiful and supple.
-
Increase heart life
The number is likely to surprise you, around (17.7 million) 31% deaths every year just occur due to cardiovascular diseases.
Care and attention will be mandatory when it comes to heart functions.
Well, this fruit can actually have a positive impact on the cardiovascular functions of the users.
How is it possible?
A clinical study confirms that Dragon fruit is likely to decline the bad cholesterol levels and improve good cholesterol levels.
Moreover, it is rich in monosaturated fats.
Thus, it can easily keep your heart in a good state.
There is more!
Those little black seeds of this fruit are great for offering omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3.
Hence, your heart will thank you for adding this fruit to your diet!
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Stay away from Renal Bone Disease
This disease is linked to the failure of kidney and the bones become fragile and weak.
Why?
When the renal system is not working properly, vitamin D does not start its working of absorbing calcium.
Hence, due to this whole scenario, the bones begin to lose their strength.
Moreover, dragon fruit is high in calcium and it makes this fruit terrific at keeping you at bay from this scary health condition.
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Elevate immunity
This fruit is a good source of vitamin C (flavonoids) and that is why it can improve the immune system in a great way to protect the body against bad infections.
-
Fight with diabetes
It is helpful in decreasing the risk of diabetes symptoms and diabetes.
Dragon fruit has the ability to reduce the sugar levels in the blood.
Therefore, it is a good choice.
-
Protect against cancer
Dragon Fruit has Phytoalbumin, lycopene, and vitamin C.
These substances make it highly desirable.
These elements enter dragon fruit into a list of cancer-preventing items.
Moreover, usually, lycopene is present in tomatoes.
However, lycopene’s presence in this fruit is a good indicator that it can be helpful for lung, liver, breast or skin cancer due to the probability of chemopreventive effects in it.
How Can I Use This Fruit?
There is no hard and fast rule for using this fruit.
It is a type of fruit that is best to eat in fresh form.
However, you can add it to a variety of recipes.
Where Can I Buy Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit is easily available from fruit vendors, grocery stores, or supermarkets.
They sell it in kilos.
Moreover, you may get it in ready made food forms, such as fruit salads, juices, beverages, puree or in jams.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Using Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)?
It is a common belief still today that it is a fruit that comes in the safe zone and there are no reported side effects of this fruit.
However, studies related to side effects are still in process, but right now, nothing is too dangerous about this amazing tropical fruit except a few issues that are given below:
- Usually, the experts suggest it to the patients with asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Some of the patients have reported a change of color in urine and feces after its consumption. However, no solid proof just a few allegations.
- It may happen to cause diarrheic effects in some users.
- Dragon fruit is not short of true health benefits yet high consumption of it is likely to be a troublesome, too. Hence, moderation is the key. Even, when you are consuming something healthy, keep the quantity in check.