Dragon fruit is a cactus fruit that has many health benefits such as reducing the risk of diabetes, cancer, digestive aids, etc. It is like a dragon and that is how this fruit got its name. You have to ask yourself how you can eat this fruit, no matter what it is and how big it is. It’s simple. Cut into two pieces and slice the inner layer with a spoon. You can also make a smoothie with it.
What is Dragon Fruit?
It is a hot fruit with a distinct appearance, moist texture, and delicious taste. Its appearance draws its name from the fire-breathing dragon. Its rich source of antioxidants plays a key role in reducing the risk of cancer and diabetes. Make it a point to include this great fruit in your daily diet.
How does it taste?
Dragon Fruit tastes like a combination of kiwi and pear. The first time you open this fruit, it can look like an Oreo smoothie because of its white powder and dark black seeds. This hot fruit has many health benefits and that is why you need to add this fruit to your daily diet.
Dragon Fruit Nutrition
For 6 ounces of dragon fruit cubes, you will find:
- Calories: 102
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Carbohydrates: 22 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Sugar: 13 grams
You will get these vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A: 100 international units (IU)
- Vitamin C: 4 milligrams
- Calcium: 31 milligrams
- Iron: 1 gram
- Magnesium: 68 milligrams
The interesting truth about this fruit is that the Chinese claim to have come from dragonflies during wartime. To undermine the myth surrounding this fruit, there is something that makes us healthier. Here is a list of 15 benefits of eating dragon fruit.
Dragon Fruit Benefits For Your Health
Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes
This fruit contains a high amount of fiber that maintains blood sugar levels and avoids allergies among people with diabetes. Regular consumption of this fruit can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent further medical effects for people with diabetes.
Reduce the Risk of Cancer
This fruit contains anti-cancer properties that can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Its high source of vitamin C plays a vital role in boosting the immune system. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that prevents you from getting chronic illnesses such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, etc.
Strengthens Insecurity
This fruit contains high levels of vitamin C which builds up the immune system and helps you stay healthy. Too much vitamin C means that your body can fight off deadly diseases that you are prone to. All you need to do is use one cup (200 grams) of this fruit daily and stay healthy.
Good for Digestion
This fruit is a rich source of oligosaccharides (carbohydrates) that help to grow good bacteria such as flora, which aids in smooth digestion. It is high in fiber and helps with digestive health, reducing your risk of cancer and heart disease.
Good Heart
The red-colored dragon fruit contains betalain (which turns red inside the fruit) which lowers bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol). The dark brown seeds inside the fruit are rich in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids that are good for the heart and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Fighting Aging Skin
Rapid aging can be caused by stress, pollution, and other things such as poor nutrition, etc. However, it’s a rich source of antioxidants for sunburn, dry skin, and acne. The content of vitamin C can help with light skin. You can prepare the juice of the dragon fruit and drink it once a day with light skin.
Ready for Hair
Need thick, black, and shiny hair? Try dragon fruit powder mixed with a glass of milk (250ml) once a day and this will help you a lot. The high nutrient content found in this fruit removes powder reduces hair damage caused by hair coloring and improves hair texture, thus leaving it soft and shiny. All you have to do is apply this once a day and you will see a change.
Healthy Bones
Good bone health can contribute to many things like avoiding injuries, joint pain, and more. This large fruit contains 18% magnesium which helps strong bones and good bone health. All you need to do is drink one glass of dragon fruit smoothie daily.
Good for the Eyes
This fruit contains beta-carotene (a pigment that gives the fruit its color) and prevents eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. One cup (220 grams) of dragon fruit daily will help you.
Good During Pregnancy
This fruit contains vitamin B, folate, and iron which makes it a great fruit for pregnant mothers. B vitamins and folate prevent birth defects and increase strength during pregnancy. Calcium content is responsible for the growth of fetal bones. Its magnesium content helps fight postmenopausal problems in women.
Dragon Fruit Health Risks
Dragon fruit is generally safe to eat, although studies have reported a different reaction to allergies. Symptoms include swelling of the tongue, chest, and vomiting. This type of response appears to be very rare.
If you eat enough red dragon fruit, pink or red paint may appear. This sign looks more frightening than it really is. The same can happen if you eat a lot of beets. Your pee should return to its normal color once the fruit is out of your system.
How to Prepare the Fruit of the Dragon
Before you buy dragon fruit, squeeze it gently. It should give a little without feeling too soft or mushy. Avoid scratched fruits or dry leaves – indicating they are overripe. If it feels hard when you press it, let it cook over the counter for a few days before eating.
To prepare the fruit, cut it into quarters. Either peel the skin or remove the meat with a spoon, ice cream, or melon baller. Do not eat the skin.
How to eat Dragon Fruit
There are several ways you can eat dragon fruit. Toss it into a fruit salad with other tropical fruits like pineapple and mango. This is a salsa cut. Churn it into ice cream. Squeeze it in juice or water. Use it as a top of Greek yogurt. Or freeze it and mix it into a smoothie.
How to Preserve Dragon Fruit
Store any surviving dragon fruit in the fridge in a plastic bag for up to 5 days. Or fix it for up to 3 months.
Dragon Fruit Side Effects
Diarrhea
Eating dragon fruit on an ordinary and moderate premise is exceptionally helpful for our stomach and helps in keeping our stomach-related framework sound. This advantage of dragon fruit is essential because of the nearness of dietary filaments in them. The dietary strands present in the dragon fruit go about as a characteristic diuretic which implies it enhances our defecation and guarantees the smooth end of stool from our framework. This gives alleviation clogging and gives help from other stomach-related issues like stomach torment, crabby gut disorder, tooting and swelling, and so on.
Reddish Feces
Numerous wholesome specialists prescribe their patients experiencing heart ailments, asthma, and diabetes to devour Pitaya. Notwithstanding, a few people have detailed that they get rosy appearances and pee when they expend it.
Urinary Problem
Eating dragon fruit on a standard and moderate premise is extremely valuable for our stomach and helps in keeping our stomach-related framework sound. This advantage of dragon fruit is basically because of the nearness of dietary strands in them. The dietary strands present in the dragon fruit go about as a characteristic purgative which implies it enhances our solid discharge and guarantees the smooth end of stool from our framework. This gives helps from clogging and gives alleviation of other stomach-related issues like stomach torment, bad-tempered gut disorder, fart and swelling, and so on.
Allergic Reactions
Dragon fruit is an incredible wellspring of numerous supplements like nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, dietary strands, and so on and the nearness of these mixes makes them exceptionally advantageous for us. This fruit gives various well-being and magnificence benefits which we can appreciate just by adding dragon fruit to your eating regimen. Notwithstanding, not every one of us can equivalently appreciate these advantages. This is on account of a few people who may be hypersensitive to dragon fruit and they ought to maintain a strategic distance from dragon fruit however much as could reasonably be expected. If you are adversely affected by dragon fruit then it looks bad to expend it as it might offer ascent to hypersensitive responses, for example, swollen lips and tongue, bothersome throat, consuming sensation in the throat, and so on.
Hypotension
Eating dragon fruit on an ordinary and moderate premise is extremely gainful for giving alleviating hypertension or hypertension which is the main source of different cardiovascular issues, for example, heart assault, heart stroke, unpredictable heartbeat, and so forth. This advantage of dragon fruit is basically because of the nearness of potassium in it. Potassium is a basic mineral that loosens up our veins, enhances blood course, and in this manner helps in monitoring our circulatory strain.
FAQ
Can I eat dragon fruit everyday?
The daily recommendation for adults is at least 25 grams — and dragon fruit packs 7 grams in a single 1-cup serving. “Fiber, may benefit gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health,” notes Ilic. “Fiber is also filling, which is helpful if you're trying to lose weight.
Is dragon fruit a Superfood?
Dragon fruit, also known as pitahaya or strawberry pear, is a tropical fruit known for its vibrant red skin and sweet, seed-speckled pulp. Its unique look and acclaimed superfood powers have made it popular among foodies and the health-conscious.
What is the best time to eat dragon fruit?
It's said a gap of 30 minutes should be maintained between your fruit intake and meals. If eaten right after or right before meals, it may lead to indigestion and your body won't get all the essential nutrients. Diabetic patients should wait for at least one hour before and two hours after a meal to have fruits.
Why is it called dragon fruit?