Nutritional Value Of Dragon Fruit
Apart from being eaten in its freshest possible state, parts of the dragon fruit like leaves and dried flowers are also consumed as jams and juices in several parts of the Eastern countries like Japan and Taiwan.
The edible white and red pulp of dragon fruit holds ample nutritional value in the form of water content, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, crude fiber, glucose, vitamin C, vitamin A, niacin, calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc.
Amazing Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a great natural source of some amazing health beneficial minerals and vitamins. The rich nutritional value present in dragon fruit makes it the best fruit to treat and prevent several health and beauty concerns.
Let us discover some unknown and some popular health concerns that dragon fruit is highly capable of treating and preventing from.
Growing The Dragon Fruit Plant
This stunning fruit is also known across the world as pitaya, the pitahaya, or the strawberry pear. ;The Dragon Fruit plant itself is a type of cactus, but it is a tropical cactus, and requires rich organic soil, and slightly more frequent watering.
While Dragon Fruit plants can technically be grown from seeds;inside the fruit, youll have better luck if you try to grow one from plant cuttings instead.
You can also order aDragon Fruit plant to be delivered to your door!
A Dragon Fruit plant will require regular watering, but when in doubt, under watering is better than over watering. Try to let the soil dry out between watering, so only water once or twice a week. Once your Dragon Fruit plant grows new limbs, they will be thinner and you can gently bend one to know when to water it. If it flexes easily, its time to water. If its stiff, leave it be.
The Dragon Fruit plant can survive a variety of temperatures, but it needs to be grown in a container if you are not in a warmer region. The plant can survive a light frost, but needs to be brought in during extended freezing temperatures.
Dragon Fruit is also a climbing plant, so make sure you have a sturdy post or trellis for it to attach to.
Get more tips on growing Dragon Fruit.
Don’t Miss: Do You Give Insulin Or Dextrose First For Hyperkalemia
Dragon Fruit For Increasing The Metabolic Rate Of The Body
Protein plays a crucial role in boosting the metabolic rate of our body and this eventually speeds up the weight loss procedure.
When it comes to looking for foods rich in protein most of us often look up to poultry or dairy food items.
But the fact is that there are many fruits and vegetables that are rich in their protein content and one such fruit is the dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit contains the required amount of protein that can easily boost up your metabolic rate and help you losing weight faster.
So the next time you are looking for foods rich in protein makes sure to add dragon fruit to your list as it also helps in repairing cells and tissues post workout.
Is Dragon Fruit Good For Type 2 Diabetes
4.8/5type 2 diabetesdragon fruitdiabetic
Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolic acid, and betacyanin. If you have prediabetes, dragon fruit could help lower your blood sugar. Larger amounts may cut blood sugar levels if you already have diabetes.
Also, is dragon fruit good for kidney patients? Dragon fruit is loaded with essential minerals, particularly potassium and calcium which help in maintaining bone structure. According to a study done by Shiga University of Medical Science in Japan, if you are a diabetic, having a diet rich in potassium may help you protect your heart and kidney.
Correspondingly, is dragon fruit high in sugar?
Dragon fruit is a low-calorie fruit that contains less sugar and fewer carbs than many other tropical fruits. It may offer some health benefits, but human studies are needed to verify this. Overall, dragon fruit is unique, incredibly tasty, and can add variety to your diet.
What are the benefits of eating dragon fruit?
Here are 7 health benefits of dragon fruit, all based on evidence.
- May Help Fight Chronic Disease.
- Loaded With Fiber.
- May Boost Low Iron Levels.
- Good Source of Magnesium.
It is best to avoid or limit the following:
- dried fruit with added sugar.
- canned fruit with sugar syrup.
- jam, jelly, and other preserves with added sugar.
- sweetened applesauce.
- fruit drinks and fruit juices.
- canned vegetables with added sodium.
- pickles that contain sugar or salt.
You May Like: How Long Does It Take To Lower Blood Sugar
How To Cut Dragon Fruit
At first, it might seem a little confusing to figure out how to cut Dragon Fruit, but simply cut it in half and just for a moment, appreciate the stunning contrast between the color of the skin and the flesh that almost seems to glow.
Like an avocado, you can use a spoon to run around the inside of the skin and scoop out the flesh in one piece. ;You can then chop it into cubes or slices, whatever looks good to you. ;While the skin is inedible, some people like to put the fruit back into the skin after chopping to show off that stunning contrast of colors.
Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruit
It is an excellent immunity booster. In diabetes, normal viral or bacterial infection can cause a disaster, so you need to build up a good immune system or defense system.
Dragon fruit consumption can help in building up resistance because of its high nutritional content.
Consumption of dragon fruit can stabilize the blood glucose level because of its low glycemic index.
Some studies have proved that you can manage your sugar level by regular consumption of dragon fruit in required amounts.
Most people think that after detection of diabetes, they cant consume tasty food and have to eat only healthy food.
The choices for food become less for them, but dragon fruit is healthy and a delicious snack. So it is suitable for people with diabetes.
Dragon fruit is good for digestion. As we all know, having a good digestive system is the key to a healthy metabolism.
Dragon fruit contains potassium and essential minerals, which help maintain a healthy heart by eliminating excessive sodium.
Also Check: Where Should Your Blood Sugar Be
Where Does Hylocereus Cacti Grow
Though likely native to Mexico and Central America, they are now grown commercially in places all over the world. This includes some parts of the United States, including Hawaii, California, and Florida, as well as Israel, Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Even if you dont live in one of these areas, pitaya is transported globally, and you can find it at many mainstream grocery stores. Ive often seen a small selection of dragon fruit placed near the mango, kiwi, and pineapple where I live.
Health Benefits And Recipes Of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is cactus based fruit that has loads of health benefits such as lowering risks of a blood sugar spike, aids in digestion etc. It resembles a dragon and that is how this fruit got its name. You must be wondering how to eat this fruit, irrespective of its shape and size? Its simple. Cut it in two halves and eat the inside layer with a spoon. You can also make a smoothie out of it.;
Also Check: How To Increase Low Blood Sugar
Good Source Of Magnesium
Dragon fruit offers more magnesium than most fruits, with 18% of your RDI in just one cup.
On average, your body contains 24g of magnesium, or roughly one ounce .
Despite this seemingly small amount, the mineral is present in every one of your cells and takes part in over 600 important chemical reactions within your body .
For example, it takes part in reactions needed for the breakdown of food into energy, muscle contraction, bone formation and even the creation of DNA .
More studies are needed, but some indicate that higher intakes of magnesium may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke (
Summary
Dragon fruit is a great source of magnesium, a nutrient needed for over 600 biochemical reactions in your body.
Dragon Fruit Benefits For Diabetes
The World Health Organization reports that the incidence of diabetes has been steadily increasing from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014 in the adult population worldwide.
General recommendations for optimal blood sugar control in diabetic individuals include regular physical exercise, dietary modifications, and control over body weight. Several people, however, find it difficult to maintain dietary regulations, making it necessary to resort to medicinal intervention.
Several medicinal herbs and plants have proven their effectiveness in regularizing or maintaining blood glucose levels, dragon fruit is one such fruit where it has amazing benefits for diabetes. Some dragon fruit benefits for diabetes can be enlisted as;
The antioxidant activity of red dragon fruit is greater than the white one which means that the hypoglycemic effect of red peel may be greater than white peel; however, this lacks strong supportive research on blood sugar-lowering effects of dragon fruit on humans.
Although dragon fruit is a relatively safe fruit to indulge in for diabetics, it may face some drawbacks in India as;
- Some people may be allergic to fruit unknowingly. Therefore these need to be consumed with utmost care especially by diabetic persons who are pregnant or elderly.
- This fruit is quite costly in India as compared to other fruits. This may be a reason for less utilization of this fruit since it may be beyond the affordability of diabetics who belong to the lower economic strata.
You May Like: How Do You Develop Type 2 Diabetes
How To Consume Dragon Fruit
- Edible parts Fruit
Whether eaten or used medicinally, there are many ways to enjoy dragon fruit. A myriad of processed dragon fruit products are derived from the fresh or frozen fruit pulp, including jelly, syrup, ice cream, pastries, yogurt, fruit bars, energy bars, and more.
Dragon fruit flower buds can be used for making soups or salads.
It Contains Prebiotics Which Are Good For Your Gut Health
Prebiotics play the role of fertilizer for the good bacteria in your digestive system.
Red flesh dragon fruit contains an abundance of oligosaccharides, which are a type of prebiotic. Research shows that the oligosaccharides in pitaya can trigger the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, two important probiotics.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Check Blood Sugar
Dragon Fruit Benefits For Diabetes Treatments
- Post author Scientific review: Dr Heben’s Team
Those who have been diagnosed with certain types of diabetes must find it really hard to manage their diet. It is because patients with diabetes should manage the blood sugar level really well if they dont want to suffer the side effects. Though fruit is rich of vitamins, minerals and natural, still diabetic patients should be super careful in choosing the best fruits to consume. How about dragon fruit? Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit which is rich of fiber which considered as one of the fruit good for diabetes.
Why Dragon Fruit is Good for Diabetic Patients?
Dragon fruit is one of the exotic fruit commonly found in Asia and well known for its juicy and sweet flavour. So, how dragon fruit could be good for diabetic patients when this fruit has distinctive sweet flavour since diabetic patients should avoid anything that has sweet flavour? This article will tell you more about the dragon fruits benefits for diabetic treatments with one important thing to note that this fruit is consumed in proper amount only.
The main function of antioxidant is to fight free radicals that could cause oxidative stress. In diabetic patients, oxidative stress could lead to several more severe conditions. That is why most of diabetic patients are not only struggling to the diabetic condition but also some complications from cardiovascular problems up to kidney problems.
What Is A Dragon Fruit
First of all, as the name says, it is a fruit. It is a tropical fruit called pitaya or pitahaya or strawberry pear. You will find it easily in Asia, Central America, Mexico, and South America.
That spiky skin is part of the fruit is because it is from the cactus family that is a climbing vine plant and grows best in dry areas. It grows fast and a plant can produce for more than 20 years.
Also Check: Can You Buy Insulin Syringes Over The Counter
What Is Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that grows on the Hylocereus cactus, otherwise known as the Honolulu Queen.
This plant is pretty exotic-looking, as you might expect from a Honolulu Queen. Its a sprawling cactus that grows along nearby rocks and trees like a vine. The cactus opens its large, white flowers only at night, earning them the nicknames Lady of the Night and moonflowers. The fruits start to grow on the plant after the cactus flowers.
According to ancient Chinese legend, dragon fruit was formed out of fire breathed by a dragon in a battle.
Other common names for dragon fruit include pitaya and strawberry pear. I might say that while the latter two names are pleasant-sounding, theyre just not quite as enticing as dragon fruit! Also, there are no ancient Chinese legends about strawberry pears. So, case closed. It will always be dragon fruit to me.
The vivid and leathery skin isnt the only part of the dragon fruit thats unique. The inside is also something you wont find anywhere else. The first time you cut a dragon fruit open, youre in for a surprise. Inside the most popular varieties of this fruit is a white pulp with small black seeds. It looks like the Oreo milkshake of the plant world!
The seeds arent just for looks, either. They add a nutty flavor and contain healthy fats.
Promotes A Healthy Gut
Your gut is home to some 100 trillion diverse microorganisms, including more than 400 species of bacteria .
Many researchers believe this community of microorganisms may impact your health. Both human and animal studies have associated imbalances in your gut to conditions like asthma and heart disease .
Given that dragon fruit contains prebiotics, it can potentially improve the balance of good bacteria in your gut .
Prebiotics are a specific type of fiber that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut.
Like all fibers, your gut cannot break them down. However, the bacteria in your gut can digest them. They use the fiber as fuel for growth, and you reap the benefits.
In particular, dragon fruit mainly promotes the growth of two families of healthy bacteria: lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria %202016/.pdf” rel=”nofollow”>24).
Regularly consuming prebiotics may reduce the risk of infection in your digestive tract and diarrhea. This is because prebiotics promote the growth of good bacteria, which researchers believe may outcompete the bad (
25 ).
While much of the research on prebiotics is favorable, the research on the prebiotic activity of dragon fruit is limited to test-tube studies. More studies are needed to determine its true effect on the human gut.
Summary
Dragon fruit may promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, which is associated with a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
You May Like: How Does Coffee Affect Blood Sugar
How To Prepare Dragon Fruit
Before you buy dragon fruit, squeeze it gently. It should give a little bit without feeling too soft or mushy. Avoid fruit that has bruises or dry leaves — signs that it’s overripe. If it feels hard when you press on it, let it ripen on the counter for a few days before eating.
To prepare the fruit, cut it into quarters. Either peel away the skin or remove the flesh with a spoon, ice cream scoop, or melon baller. Don’t eat the skin.
The Benefits Of Dragon Fruit
There are a number of benefits that this fruit provides, particularly to those who eat a healthy diet. The particular advantages that dragon fruit offers diabetics are also sound when the product is consumed in moderation.
Weight Loss: Because of the fiber content, dragon fruit helps you feel full for longer periods of time which means that you eat less and can cut down on overeating which translates to weight loss. Add to this the high content of the B vitamins and you have a body that is running more efficiently as a result.
Vitamin C: This vitamin not only helps boost the immune system, but it also provides plenty of antioxidants to suppress the free radicals in the body which cause premature aging. In fact, Vitamin C is known to help prevent cardiovascular disease and even help prevent the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.
Minerals: There are plenty of good minerals that can be found in dragon fruit, most importantly calcium and iron which offer good bone and muscle health. Plus, the minerals help oxygen travel through the body more efficiently as well.
Fiber: The amount of fiber in dragon fruit keeps control of blood sugar levels and even prevents carcinogens from being absorbed in the intestinal tract which means it is a cancer-preventative agent. Having plenty of fiber in your diet is very important for your overall health.
Recommended Reading: What Yogurt Is Good For Diabetics
How Does Fruit Affect Blood Sugar
Because they have carbohydrates, fruits will raise yourÂ;blood sugar. So itâs important to count the carbs you eat and balance them with medicine,Â;diet,Â;and lifestyle choices. If youâre having trouble keeping your blood sugar under control, let your doctor know right away.
One serving of fruit has 15 grams of carbs. But the serving size can be very different depending on the type of fruit. For example, you get 15 grams of carbs from:
- 1/2 mediumÂ;appleÂ;or banana
- 1 cup blackberries or raspberries
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- 1 1/4 cup whole strawberries
- 1 cup cubed honeydew melon
- 1/8 cup raisins
Carbs arenât the only number to keep in mind. The glycemic index measures how a food affects your blood sugar. Foods that are low on the scale raise it slowly. Those high on the scale raise it quickly.
Eating mostly low-GI foods can help you keep control of your blood sugar. But they may not always be good for you. A candy bar and a cup of brown rice can have the same GI value. Be sure to keep nutrition in mind when choosing what to eat.
A large serving of a low-GI food will usually raise your blood sugar as much as a small amount of a high-GI food. So experts also use glycemic load , a measurement that involves portion size as well as the GI number, to give more details about these effects. For example, an orange has a GI of 52 but a glycemic load of 4.4, which is low. A candy bar with a GI of 55 may have a GL of 22.1, which is high.