Dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family and they are also known as sweet pitayas. The fruit is most commonly available in different parts of Asia like Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan. It tastes awesome and thus growing popularity, it is now also available in South America as well. Apart from the delicious taste, there are many health benefits of dragon fruit.
The dragon fruit has a leafy skin that is deep pink in color and the pulp of the fruit is white in color.
Dragon fruit comes in three varieties with white flesh, yellow flesh, and red flesh. The flesh is filled with black colored seeds that are mildly sweet in taste. However, the most consumed variety from the three is the red flesh dragon fruit because it is the most delicious of all the three.
Before we explore the multiple health benefits of dragon fruit let us first gain some knowledge about the nutritional content of the fruit. The fruit is packed with several nutrients and vitamins that help in treating the various health concerns.
Nutritional Value of Dragon Fruit
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Calcium
- Iron
- Fiber
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Niacin (Vitamin B3)
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
- Anti-Oxidants
- Lycopene
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Now that we are well versed with the high nutritional content of the Dragon Fruit let us now discover the different health concerns that the fruit is capable of treating in and how to use this fruit to gain maximum health benefits.
[Related: Don’t Ignore These 8 Warning Signs Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency]
15 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.
1. Dragon Fruit for Lowering Cholesterol
This is one of the main health benefits of dragon fruit as cholesterol is considered as a major health concern that can lead to several other serious health issues.
There is a difference between good fats and bad fats. The good fat in the body helps in treating a certain healthy issue whereas the presence of bad fat in the body can lead to cholesterol.
Dragon fruit is packed with omega 3 as well as omega 6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats. These are considered as good fats for the body as they aid in lowering the cholesterol.
So the next you are diagnosed with cholesterol simply grab a dragon fruit and relish the health benefits of it. One can easily consume one dragon fruit in raw form on a daily basis to build up the good fats in the body and eventually lower down the cholesterol naturally.
2. Dragon Fruit for the Prevention of Cancer
Dragon Fruit is a delicious natural source of vitamin C and carotene. The carotene present in the fruit is packed with anti-carcinogenic properties that help in reducing the risk of cancer as well as tumors.
The lycopene present in the dragon fruit is the main compound that forms the red color on the dragon fruit and this is also known to reduce of prostate cancer.
Several medical studies have proven that a regular intake of the dragon fruit has resulted in lowering the risk of cancer cells in the body.
So the most natural way of preventing cancer or tumors is by following a diet that includes an adequate of dragon fruit consumption on an everyday basis.
3. Dragon Fruit for the Prevention & Cure of Diabetes
Dragon fruit is loaded with fiber and this makes it the ideal fruit to reduce the symptoms of diabetes in diabetic patients.
Intake of the required amount of fiber on a daily basis aids in stabilizing the sugar levels in diabetics and it also helps in inhibiting the sugar spikes in the patients.
Consumption of dragon fruit also has a great effect on the oxidative stress in the diabetic patients. Many diabetic health specialists recommend a regular intake of dragon fruit to the diabetic patients to reduce the various signs of diabetes.
4. Dragon Fruit for Boosting Immunity
The body’s defense system is known as the immune system. This helps in protecting the body from infections and diseases. According to several studies, a high intake of vitamin C in the diet helps in boosting the immune system of the body.
Dragon fruit is considered as one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C that can aid in boosting the immune system.
Regular intake of dragon fruit is also known to increase the activity of the antioxidants in our body. The better the consumption of dragon fruit the better and healthier the body acts against the disease-causing bacteria.
Boosting immunity is also known as one of the best health benefits of dragon fruit.
5. Dragon Fruit for Cardiovascular Health Benefits
Reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in the body is probably the easiest and the quickest way to improve the heart health.
This is exactly what a regular consumption of dragon fruit does in the body. Dragon fruit is also a great source of monosaturated fats as this aid in improving the overall heart health.
According to several food types of research conducted on dragon fruit has been proved that a high intake of dragon fruit can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases like strokes and heart attacks as well as improves the overall heart health.
Dragon fruit reduces the bad cholesterol levels in the body and increases the good cholesterol levels in the body and this eventually results in balancing the blood sugar levels as well as improving the cardiovascular health on a major level.
6. Dragon Fruit for Healthy Bones and Teeth
Dragon fruit is a rich natural source of phosphorus and calcium. These qualities in foods help in strengthening the bones and teeth.
According to several medical studies conducted it has been proven that regular consumption of the dragon fruit also reduces the risk and symptoms of osteoporosis.
Dragon fruit also helps in increasing the bone mass in teeth resulting in stronger teeth naturally.
7. Dragon Fruit for Digestion
Stomach ailments like constipation can be quite problematic to deal with. This is when the health specialists suggest increasing the fiber intake.
Although there are many health supplements available in the market that claims to be rich in fiber but the best way to heal the stomach ailments is with the help of natural foods.
Digestion is one common health concern and the ideal way to improve the digestion is by opting for dragon fruit.
Dragon fruit is an excellent natural source of fiber that helps in improving the bowel movements as well as decreases the risk of constipation or any other bowel disorder.
8. 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.
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