Why is dragon fruit so popular? Well, it part its because it’s so delicious. However, much of the talks surrounding this unique fruit is about its health and nutritional benefits. In this post, we will explore more about this tropical fruit.

What is a Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit, also called strawberry pear, pitahaya, or pitaya, is the fruit of Hylocereus cactus which is native to Mexico and Central America.

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Types of Dragon Fruits

There are different types of dragon fruit. Some of the common types include:

• The variety with bright red skin with green scales
• Variety with white pulp and black seeds
• Variety with red pulp and black seeds
• Variety with yellow skin and white pulp + black seeds

What does Dragon Fruit taste like?

The dragon fruit is quite flavorful. If you’ve ever tasted kiwi and pear, you can easily relate because its taste is a somewhat a unique blend of the two.

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Dragon Fruit Nutritional Facts

The dragon fruit is rich in an array of vital nutrients. To begin with, a single 6-ounce serving of dragon fruit cubes has these nutritional components:

Carbohydrates (13g), Iron (0.2mg, 4% of RDI), Vitamin C (5mg, 3% of RDI), Vitamin A (100 IU), Fiber (5g), Magnesium (67mg, 10% of RDI), fat (0.0%), Protein (2g), and Calcium (30mg).

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The fruit’s total amount of calories is at 60, one of the lowest among tropical fruits. It is highly nutrient dense considering that it has significant amounts of magnesium and fiber components.

Dragon fruit is also rich in a number of antioxidants. 

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is rich in a  number of nutrients that offer many health benefits. Some of these include;

1. Source of Antioxidants

Unknown to many, this fruit is rich in a number of antioxidants. Some of these include flavonoids, betalains, and hydroxycinnamates. 

Flavonoids are thought to boost brain function and reduce the risk of heart disease. Betalains from the red dragon fruit have been shown to inhibit the oxidation of Low Density Lipid (LDL) cholesterol. Similarly, hydroxycinnamates are thought to have anticancer properties.

2. Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Animal studies have shown that dragon fruit can decrease incidences of insulin resistance. This means that diabetic patients can use this fruit, alongside their medications, to control their blood sugars.

3. Improved Heart Health

Dragon fruit is thought to enhance cardiovascular health. It does this by reducing the amount of malondialdehyde in the body, leading to improved vascular compliance and normalized blood pressure.

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4. Keeps you Full for Longer

The fruit is naturally fat-free and high in fiber thus keeps you full for longer. It’s suitable for anyone struggling with weight loss and is trying intermittent fasting. After eating your dragon fruit, you will remain full for much longer and as such, won’t have to keep snacking between meals.

5. Enhances Probiotic Growth in the Gut

Studies have shown that regular consumption of dragon fruit increases the amount of probiotics in the gut. The fruit pulp is said to be rich in pre-biotics that provide the necessary nutritional components needed for the growth of probiotics which are thought to improve the balance between bad and good bacteria in the gut. Probiotics have been shown to have a number of health benefits, including but not limited to, improved digestion, and killing harmful bacteria ad viruses.

6. Improves Immune Functions

The Dragon fruit pulp is high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, all which have been known to boost immune functions. Moreover, it’s is also a rich supply of iron which is needed for the synthesis of heme, the part of blood that transports oxygen in the body.

Health Risks of Dragon Fruit

Besides the health benefits, dragon fruit also packs some rare adverse effects. Some of these include the risk of allergic reactions. However, such anaphylactic reactions only happen to a few individuals. The majority of people do not experience any allergic reactions related to dragon fruit. 

How to Eat Dragon Fruit

If it’s your first time seeing or maybe hearing about a dragon fruit, you might be wondering how one gets to eat the “dragon”! Don’t you worry! Like any other fruit, this one is equally easy to eat. Proceed as follows:

• Choose a ripe fruit from whichever variety (bright red or yellow) of dragon fruit you prefer.
• With a knife, cut the fruit into half to access the pulp.
• You may choose to peel off the cover in order to have a good access to the fruit pulp which you can then cut into slices. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to chop and eat the pulp directly.

Wrap Up

Dragon fruit is a very popular low-calorie alternative that’s recommended for diabetic patients. It is also rich in other nutrients such as fiber and magnesium, thus making it ideal for everyday use. If you are looking for a fruit that is unique, refreshing, nutritious, and very tasty, try dragon fruit.