BENEFITS OF DRAGON FRUIT
The high amount of fiber in dragon fruit can ultimately help regulate diabetes, as it can stabilize blood sugar levels by suppressing sugar spikes. However, with any dietary changes or modifications, always consult your doctor to make sure this is a good food for you.
Since dragon fruit is a good source of Vitamin C, it helps in strengthening immunity, aiding the absorption of iron by the body, producing collagen which makes our teeth healthier, and promoting a healthy and glowing skin. Vitamin C also helps boost your immunity, thereby keeping you from getting sick.
Eating a dragon fruit with its rich antioxidants can keep the skin tight and young. You can even make a face mask using the fruit combined with honey as a natural alternative to anti-aging masks.
Arthritis directly affects the joints and causes severe irritation and immobility. Adding dragon fruit to your diet can help you fight these ailments. Dragon fruit’s benefits for people suffering from arthritis are so great that it’s commonly referred to as the “anti-inflammatory fruit.”
Dragon fruit has an extremely low amount of cholesterol, which ultimately helps the body break down this fruit quickly, keeping you happy and healthy. It’s the perfect fruit to maintain your weight and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Indians have increasing problems maintaining cardiovascular health. Fortunately, this fruit has an amazing superpower that helps decrease bad cholesterol levels and replenish good levels. Dragon fruit is an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, helping the heart stay in great condition.
To clean up your digestive system, eat a dragon fruit. They have a high fiber content, which can assist with poor digestion and constipation. Eating the flesh and seeds, which contain good protein, will keep your body fortified and satisfied.
Here are the nutrition facts for a serving of 100 grams;
- Calories: 264
- Protein: 3.57 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrate: 82.14 g
- Dietary fiber: 1.8 g
- Sugars (total): 82.14 g
- Calcium: 107 milligrams (mg)
- Iron: 0 g
- Sodium: 39 mg
- Vitamin C: 6.4 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
5 Delicious Ways to Try it
1. Scoop it out
Take the dragon fruit and cut it into half. Then using a spoon, scoop out the flesh and enjoy it fresh or you can even drizzle it with a little honey and have it as a mid-meal treat. The outer skin is inedible though, so avoid it.
2. Slice it for Salads and Muesli
All you need to do is peal the scaly outer layer and then slice the inner flesh as per your liking. You can toss the pieces with other fruit slices to make a refreshing fruit salad. Or add it into your bowl of muesli containing bananas, nuts and seeds
3. Blend it
Once you have peeled the fruit, you can use the flesh to make breakfast smoothies and refreshing juices at home.
5. Grill it
Grilling cubes of dragon fruit is another delicious way to enjoy this exotic ingredient. The caramalised sweet flavour can be balanced with a sprinkle of chilli powder, and the result is a lip-smacking treat.
5. Freeze it
Nothing like a refreshing popsicle or sorbet to beat the summer heat. And dragon fruit is a great option because it is loaded with vitamins besides being delicious to taste. All you need to do is juice the fruit (along with other fruits too, if you like, such as kiwi), and transfer it to a mould and freeze it till it’s set. Add in honey or jaggery to sweeten the treat.