The Instagram-able yet nutritious fruit is a native of Central America and Mexico. The strangest and most interesting thing about this Hylocereus Cactus flower is, it only opens at night.
For all the nutrition and benefits, the plant is not grown in many parts of the world. Dragon Fruit goes by many names Pitaya, Pitahaya, and strawberry pear, but Pitaya is the most commonly used name.
It got its name, Dragon for all the scales and bright red skin. You may have seen another type with yellow scales. Both red, pink, and yellow skin varieties have white or red pulp with black seeds.
People describe its taste as a pleasant cross between pear and kiwi with a hint of watermelon. The seeds gave a nutty flavour to it.
But there is a lot more to this modest Dragon than appears on the surface. The nutritional value is one of the main factors you would start incorporating the exotic fruit in your routine.
Types of Dragon Fruit
White Dragon Fruit
Most of the white pulp Dragon Fruit comes from Vietnam. These have pink peel and white flesh. They are known as Guyute, Cosmic Charlie, and Alice.
Red Dragon Fruit
These are bigger varieties that have red and pink pulp. You know them as Bloody Mary and Red Jaina. They are native to Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Yellow Dragon Fruit
These are the sweetest known varieties with white pulp and yellow peel. Originally from Ecuador, these are also available across South America.
Why You Need to Add Dragon Fruit to Your Diet
Nutritional Value of Dragon Fruit
Dragon Fruit is rich in magnesium, iron, and fibre. Here is a quick rundown of the nutritional value in 100 grams of serving:
- Calories – 57
- Carbs – 15 grams
- Iron – 1% of daily value
- Magnesium – 2% of daily value
- Fat – 0.14 grams
- Protein – 0.36 grams
- Fibre – 3 grams
- Vitamin C – 5% of daily value
Benefits of Dragon Fruit
The primary benefit of consuming Dragon Fruit is its burst of antioxidants. The fruit is packed with several compounds and free radicals that help fight ageing and other chronic diseases.
Each antioxidant has shown some value in fighting certain ailments:
- Betalains – the compound is great in helping reduce cholesterol, specifically LDL hence combating fighting cardiac ailments.
- Flavonoids – this compound is associated with fighting heart diseases and improving brain health.
- Hydroxycinnamates – the compound has proven great in helping fight cancer in various underway studies conducted on animals.
- Insulin Resistance – both varieties have shown promise in reducing insulin resistance and fighting fatty liver disease in mice.
Besides tackling all these bigger ailments, Dragon Fruit is great for gut and metabolic health. In a small study conducted on individuals with fatty liver, the diet with Dragon Fruit showed promising results.
Side Effects of Dragon Fruit
Some individuals have experienced anaphylactic allergies from food with Dragon Fruit. Later some tests confirmed these reactions from antibodies that may have triggered the allergies.
There were some instances of hives and vomiting. Another common experience is pink or red pee when you consume too much Dragon Fruit.
Besides the colourful urination, other altercations are rare. But if you usually have problems digesting fibre, then you should take limited quantities of Dragon Fruit.
Parting Thoughts
For all the nutrients and benefits, it sure is an ideal addition to your diet. Cut these in halves, cubes, or slices, and toss them into your yoghurt with some pumpkin seeds and nuts for an appetising and nutritious meal.
These are a great addition to the smoothies as well. Suppose you are new to these, it is best to try limited quantities. After you have cut the fruit, store the remaining fruit in the refrigerator for later use.
When you cannot find the various varieties of Dragon Fruit, go to SaveCo’s website and put them in the cart. They always have various exotic fruits and produce available.
Also, never proceed to check out without checking the Offer section. They also offer express delivery in various regions. Check out delivery time for your region and enjoy the fresh produce today!
