Nutrition of Dragon Fruit: Learn about this Healthy Fruit
The Dragon Fruit
A super fruit indeed, since it is packed with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. One serving size of dragon fruit (one whole fruit) contains about 60 calories (14 calories from unsaturated fat), 9 grams of carbohydrates (1 gram from dietary fiber and 8 grams from sugars), 2 grams of protein, and only 60 mg of sodium.
The fruit (called pitaya or pitahaya) originates from the dragon fruit cactus plant, and typically has a red pulp, is full of water, tasty, and contains vital minerals and other nutritional ingredients. It is native to Central and South America and also cultivated in South East Asia and Australia. It can be found in three varieties: (1) red skin with red flesh - this is considered the best tasting, (2) red skin with white flesh, and (3) yellow skin with white flesh. It is oval in shape, about the size of an orange, and covered with spike formations, which has given rise to the nickname “dragon fruit.” Its pulp is translucent in color, and it is sweet tasting with thousands of tiny edible seeds. The dragon fruit can be eaten dried or fresh. Either way, it is said by those who have had positive results, to control blood glucose in diabetics. People who have had a weight problem and eaten the fruit regularly attest not only to the nutrition of dragon fruit, but also to having seen a marked reduction in their weight.
Nutritional Value
The dragon fruit is noted for its high content of vitamin C. 100 grams of dried fruit has almost 50% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, which is important for the immune system. It is a good source of minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus. The phytoalbumins in this fruit possess those antioxidants which are renowned for preventing the free radicals that cause cancer. Also, the majority of fat is monounsaturated fats, which is considered the healthier form of fat, thus making dragon fruit good for those on a low cholesterol diet.
There is more to the nutrition of dragon fruit. It has as much as 10 grams or more of fiber per 100 grams of the dried fruit and 1 gram per 100 grams in the fresh fruit, due to the amount of water in the fresh fruit. However, you can get even more fiber if you eat the skin.
Local Stores
Check out your local produce stores to discover this wonderful fruit, and try it especially if you have health problems. Its benefits however, will also help those without health problems to remain on the road to good health.
References
Dragon Fruit Nutrition: https://www.ehow.com/about_5415796_dragon-fruit-nutrition.html
Dragon Fruit Nutrition & Dragon Fruit Health Benefits: https://dragon.fruit.pitaya.fruit.foodlywise.com/dragon_fruit_health_benefits/
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of CC-BY-SA-3.0 / T. Voekler at Wikimedia.