Dragon Fruit
Did You Know
Dragon fruit comes in red- and yellow-skinned varieties. The cactus originally grew in southern Mexico and South and Central America. The French brought it to Southeast Asia in the early 19th century.
Pollination of the dragon fruit plant is done by nocturnal creatures, like moth and bats.
Combination of dragon fruit with cucumber juice and honey, you can create a compound like an ale that can soothe burned skin.
Taiwanese doctors are said to recommend dragon fruit to patients with diabetes, to help normalise their blood sugar levels.
Preparing a Dragon fruit for eating is straightforward, although it should be noted that Dragon Fruit taste better if they have been refrigerated for some time. Simply cut the Dragon Fruit in half, and then run a teaspoon around the edges of the skin, and down under the flesh of the fruit. You will then be able to easily part the flesh from the skin, and then quarter it into suitably sized segments.
Health Benefits
Dragon fruit is very low in calories, and also contains many essential vitamins including a large dose of vitamin C, and other trace nutrients such as calcium and phosphorous.
Dragon fruit can boost your iron levels. Iron is important for moving oxygen through your body and giving you energy, and dragon fruit has iron. And the vitamin C in dragon fruit helps your body take in and use the iron.
Dragon fruit contains prebiotics, which are foods that feed the healthy bacteria called probiotics in your gut. Having more prebiotics in your system can improve the balance of good to bad bacteria in your intestines. Specifically, dragon fruit encourages the growth of the probiotics lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. In your gut, these and other helpful bacteria can kill disease-causing viruses and bacteria. They also help digest food.
Dragon fruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and is a good source of iron and fiber.
Dragon fruit’s seeds also contribute to its nutritional benefit. They contain protein as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The seeds also have a mild laxative effect.
*Disclaimer: Please seek professional medical advice for a diet that fits your needs.