For connoisseurs of gourmet foods and nutrition enthusiasts, dragon fruit is not just a delicacy or a health food. It is also a superfood. The fruit is categorized as such because it is known to be nutrient-dense.
Dragon fruit grows on a cactus of the Hylocereus genus. It is found in some subtropical regions such as Mexico in the Americas and Vietnam in Asia.
Many people may have seen dragon fruit at local supermarkets or grocery stores, but might not have shown much interest in it for minor reasons. Dragon fruit is a quirky looking fruit that appears both exotic and mysterious. Additionally, pound per pound, dragon fruit is a lot pricier than most fruits — if not all other fruits — on the shelf of grocers.
Dragon fruit presents itself with a dark pink hue and sometimes is yellow in color. It has a rugged-looking, complex, scaly structure. Children might find it attractive. At first glance, one might get so preoccupied with figuring the fruit out that there might not be time to think about its nutritional value and health benefits.
Benefits of Dragon Fruit
Nutritionists and food scientists have attributed stellar health benefits to dragon fruit. According to research, dragon fruit is said to be useful in the management of excess body fat production, therefore is a valuable asset to diabetics.
Dragon fruit contains some nutrients that make it qualify as an antioxidant. Some of these nutrients are flavonoids, betalains, and hydroxycinnamates, among others. The antioxidants in dragon fruit have earned the fruit the reputation of being an anti-aging food, due to its ability to protect the body from free radicals.
Dragon Fruit Nutrition Facts
Water: 95%-96%
Vitamin C: 3%
Iron: 4%
Magnesium: 10%
Fiber: 3 gr
Carbohydrates: 13 gr
Protein: 1.2 gr
Calories: 60
Fat: 0
If you are expecting a sweet taste from dragon fruit, you might be sorely disappointed. The fruit is barely sweet and quite bland, but slightly tart. It contains a large number of minuscule seeds that are similar to kiwi seeds but slightly harder and crunchier in texture.
The dragon fruit’s seeds are contained within a white viscous gelatinous substance that constitutes its pulp.
For people seeking to control their weight and the ill-effects of blood sugar imbalances, dragon fruit could be a good addition to their food supply.
At Halloween time, dragon fruit’s lore-inspiring look might be a fun treat to offer youngsters in need of weight reduction and blood sugar control.
In my books HOW TO DETOXIFY YOUR LIFE NATURALLY and GET SLIM EFFORTLESSLY, I provide valuable information on sensible nutrition, preventative health, as well as awareness of natural remedies for the wellness of body and mind.
Sri Regine Lherisson-Bey, Ph.D. and doctorate degree candidate in Natural Medicine, is a Mind-Body Therapist, Wellness Coach, and published Author voted Wellness Expert by peer consensus in 2005. Therapist Lherisson-Bey is the author of the Kindle bestseller HOW TO DETOXIFY YOUR LIFE NATURALLY as well as the weight management program GET SLIM EFFORTLESSLY. From an original CD, the publication has evolved into an instructional picture book, an eBook, and an effective weight management program. Therapist Lherisson-Bey’s works have been featured on TV, radio, and in several magazines in the past 32 years.
If you have found this article helpful and would like to send a donation as a gesture of appreciation, use the Donate button below:
