Health

Dragon fruit or Pitaya health benefits

Published: August 4, 2020Last updated: July 3, 2024benefits, best fruit, Dragon Fruit, food, fruit, good food, health, health benefits, list of fruits name

Although dragon fruit is expensive its popularity is increasing day by day due to its health benefits. The skin color of the fruit is dark pink.

The inside of this fruit is white but it also can be pink in color. It has small black seeds. As the fruit is not readily available, the price is a bit high compare to other fruits.

Dragon fruit is also known as Pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear and the scientific name is Hylocereus undatus. It is low in calories so it is good for people who are on a diet.

Dragon fruit contains a lot of vitamin-C which helps in boosting the body’s immunity and keeping the skin healthy. Constipation is also eliminated due to have fiber.

The black seeds of dragon fruit help digestion. Eating dragon fruit eliminates anemia due to the presence of iron.

Patients with diabetes and heart can easily eat dragon fruit.

There are some species of dragon fruit. The dark pink dragon fruit with white inside, yellow dragon fruit, and dark pink dragon fruit. Dragon fruit trees bloom at night.

Nutrition of dragon fruit

Below are some important nutritional benefits of dragon fruit.

Calories: 136
Protein: 3g
Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 29 grams
Fiber: 7 grams
Iron: 8%
Magnesium: 18%
Vitamin “C”: 9%
Vitamin “E”: 4%

The health benefits of dragon fruit

Dragon fruit is very beneficial for our health. The health benefits of dragon fruit are discussed below –

Strengthens the immune system:

Our body’s immune system depends on our diet and lifestyle. Dragon fruit helps to increase our immunity.

Because dragon fruit contains vitamin “C” and carotenoids, which strengthens the immune system. It can prevent infection by protecting white blood cells from damage.

Iron source:

Dragon fruit is a good source of iron. This fruit contains 8% iron per 227 grams. Iron plays an important role in transporting oxygen throughout the body.

Iron also plays an important role in breaking down food into energy. Dragon fruit also contains vitamin “C” which helps the body absorb iron.

Good source of magnesium:

One cup of dragon fruit contains 18% magnesium which is more than most fruits. Magnesium is present in every cell and participates in more than 600 important chemical reactions in our body.

For example, it breaks down food into energy, participates in muscle contractions, bone formation, and the reactions needed to make DNA.

Some studies suggest that high doses of magnesium may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fiber source:

Dragon fruit is a good source of dietary fiber. Women need 25 grams of fiber per day and men need 38 grams of fiber per day. One cup of dragon fruit contains 7 grams of fiber. It can meet about half of the daily fiber demand.

Research suggests that fiber helps maintain good digestive health, protect against heart disease, reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and maintain a healthy weight.

Also high fiber rich diet can protect against colon cancer.

Keeps the digestive system well:

We have more than 400 species of bacteria in our gut. Dragon fruit contains pre-biological ingredients, which can improve the balance of good gut bacteria.

It helps in the growth of two bacteria in healthy bacteria such as: lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.