What Is Dragon Fruit And Does It Have Health Benefits?
Dragon fruit is a type of tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves are edible when they have been picked before the plant dies back, but after it dies back, its flesh becomes bitter and toxic. Most people do not eat dragon fruit because its taste is too bad. However, some people like eating it because it contains high levels of vitamin C which helps fight infections and diseases such as cancer. Some people even believe that dragon fruit may prevent heart disease.
The most common uses of dragon fruit are in desserts or drinks. It is also used in herbal teas and medicines. There are many different types of dragon fruits found all over the world, with various names including kaffir lime leaf, kaffir pith, red apple, black cherry and others. The main difference between them is their color and flavor.
How To Eat Dragon Fruit?
There are several ways to eat dragon fruit. You can either cut into pieces and chew it, or you can break it up and swallow whole. If you want to enjoy the flavor of dragon fruit without any risk of getting sick, then just eat the raw fruit itself. The best way to eat dragon fruit is through a straw dipped in hot water. This will give the fruit a sweeter taste.
Does It Have Any Side Effects?
Dragon fruits are safe to eat in moderate amounts. However, eating too much at once may lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
What Are The Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit?
It is a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body which cause skin aging and other diseases.
It helps keep your heart healthy.
Dragon fruit is a very good source of vitamin C which helps strengthen the immune system and improves the blood flow to all parts of the body.
It works as an anti-inflammatory agent that prevents diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
It also helps promote better vision.
It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents that kill off harmful organisms in the body.
Dragon fruit may also be effective in treating mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.
It boosts your energy levels.
It is packed with dietary fibers that keep your digestive system healthy.
Is Dragon Fruit Good For Diabetes?
The high level of potassium and low glycemic index of dragon fruit makes it an excellent food for managing blood sugar. The soluble fibers in it also slow the digestion of starch which in turn lowers the amount of glucose absorbed into your blood. This makes dragon fruit a suitable food for people with diabetes.
What Are The Different Types Of Dragon Fruit?
There are three major types of dragon fruit:
Pitaya Blanco (Hylocereus undatus)
This is the most common type found in North America markets. It has white flesh and pink spines.
Pitaya Colorata (Hylocereus undatus)
This is the most common type found in South American markets. It has red flesh and pink spines.
Pitaya Hongos (Hylocereus undatus)
It has red flesh with white spines and it does not have a scent and hardly any flavor.
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Sources & references used in this article:
Testing Model Of Development Organic Farming Dragon Fruit Based Market Research by K Ningsih, H Sakdiyah, H Felani – International Journal Of Modern …, 2014 – academia.edu
Effect of drum drying on physico-chemical characteristics of dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) by SL Chia, GH Chong – International journal of food engineering, 2015 – degruyter.com
Functional and health-promoting bioactivities of dragon fruit. by SB Kumar, R Issac, ML Prabha – Drug Invention Today, 2018 – search.ebscohost.com
