Top Benefits of Dragon Fruit: How to Use Dragon fruit?
Top benefits of Dragon fruit and method of use
Have you ever seen or tasted dragon fruit? Do you know dragon fruit benefits? Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit known for its red skin and sweet flavor on the inside. Here are details about dragon fruit benefits and how to use them.
Article contents:
Dragon fruit
The dragon fruit, or what is known as pitaya fruit, or dragon belongs to the Cactaceae family, as this fruit grows on the climbing cactus known as Hylocereus, which lives in tropical regions around the world. The dragon fruit has a pink color, its shape is similar to onions, and its seeds have a nutty flavor, and its pulp is red or white.
In addition, this fruit is very juicy and has a slight sweetness. Moreover, some describe the taste of dragon fruit as a delightful blend of kiwi fruit, pear fruit, and watermelon.
Dragon fruit benefits
Here are the most important health benefits of dragon fruit:
1-Dragon fruit nutrition
This fruit is low in calories, rich in various vitamins and minerals. One serving of it, equivalent to 227 grams, contains: • 136 calories
• Protein content: 3 grams.
• Carbohydrate quantity: 29 grams.
•Dietary fiber amount: 7 grams.
•Provides 8% of the recommended daily intake of iron.
• Supplies 18% of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium.
•Contains 9% of vitamin C and 4% of vitamin E.
as dragon fruit contains antioxidant components and compounds with great benefits.
2- Dragon fruit rich in dietary fiber
Dietary fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate with many health benefits.
The recommended daily serving of dietary fiber is about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, and as mentioned, one serving of dragon fruit provides 7 grams of fiber.
Dietary fiber has a large number of health benefits, the most important of which are:
- • Promotes healthy digestion
- • Acts as a protective measure against heart disease.
- •Assists in the management of type 2 diabetes.
- • Facilitates maintaining a healthy weight.
- • Decreases the risk of developing various cancers.
3- Strengthening the immune system
Dragon fruit’s vitamin C and carotenoids help boost the immune system and reduce infection by protecting white blood cells.
White blood cells in the body fight and destroy harmful and disease-causing substances in the body, but they are very sensitive to harmful free radicals.
In turn, the aforementioned substances maintain free radical levels in the blood.
4- High source of magnesium
The body needs magnesium for its cells and to carry out various processes, such as entering the process of analyzing food for energy, muscle contraction, and bone formation.
The dragon fruit contains high levels of magnesium, which makes it beneficial for health.
5- Fighting chronic diseases
Free radicals are harmful to the body and their accumulation can cause cell damage, leading to diseases, including chronic ones.
Eating dragon fruit works to reduce the levels of free radicals as we mentioned and thus fights chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
Besides, the antioxidants in it play a role in fighting the disease as well.
It is worth noting that antioxidants work more effectively when taken from a food source rather than as supplements.
6- Promote digestive health
Dragon fruit contains probiotics, which are beneficial for maintaining friendly bacteria in the gut and promoting the health of the digestive system as a whole.
Probiotics are a type of dietary fiber that is essential for the gut and stomach, so eating them regularly helps reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea.
7- Contribution to lowering blood sugar levels
In 2017, researchers published a systematic review in the PLOS ONE journal, which included 401 studies on a group of people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.The results showed that eating red dragon fruit from Before people with prediabetes, significantly reduced fasting blood sugar levels, and in contrast, dragon fruit had no effect on fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Dragon Fruit Benefits for Pregnant Women
Anemia during pregnancy is associated with a number of outcomes, such as infant death, premature labor, miscarriage, and low birth weight.
That is, the birth of a baby with a weight of fewer than 2500 grams, which is why it was published in The Belitung Nursing Journal in 2017, about the possible effect of pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia taking red dragon fruit juice, as it was found that this juice may affect hemoglobin levels And red blood cells in these women temporarily, so it is believed that red dragon fruit juice can be a good option to alleviate anemia during pregnancy, but despite these results, the pregnant woman should consult a doctor in case of anemia to find out appropriate treatment during this stage.
How to use the dragon fruit
Find fresh dragon fruit, which has a red color, and then apply the following steps:
- Use a sharp knife to cut the fruit in half in a longitudinal cut
- Scoop out the fruit with a spoon, then cut it into cubes
- You can add it to salads, natural juices, or yogurt, or eat it on its own.
- It can be found in the supermarket, both sorted and frozen
Damage of dragon fruit
The degree of safety of dragon fruit
Consuming dragon fruit can be considered safe, as there are no side effects or health risks associated with consuming it.
Precautions of using dragon fruit
A few people can suffer from an allergy to the dragon fruit or its juice, and its symptoms are severe itching, swelling, and redness of the skin, and swelling around the mouth, and it is worth noting that doctors have noticed an increase in the percentage of allergy to this fruit, and people who may suffer from allergies should If you eat this fruit or its juice, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
In the end, We hope you got the benefits of the article, if you have any questions about dragon fruit benefits you can leave them in the comments.
Concolusion
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