Amazing Dragon Fruit Benefits You Didn't Know

 

The Honolulu queen cactus, also known as Hylocereus, is a native of Southern Mexico and Central America. The "dragon fruit" is a more popular name for it.

Many people are unaware of the health advantages of dragon fruit, which also have a delicious, creamy texture and tiny seeds that are somewhat reminiscent of kiwis. Other names for dragon fruit are strawberry pear and pitaya. It's a gorgeous fruit with green scales that has a vibrant red colour, resembling a dragon. It has a wonderful flavor and is nutrient-rich.

6 Incredible Dragon Fruit Benefits

Here is a list of 12 healthy benefits of dragon many don’t know about.

1. Excellent Munching Snack

The cholesterol level in dragon fruit is within safe limits which makes it an excellent munching snack. Not only that, but it is also rich in fibers, which means you can snack on it without feeling guilty at all.[1]

Fiber-rich foods make you feel full because our bodies cannot digest fibers right away. They stay longer in the stomach and make you feel fuller for a longer duration. Thus, dragon fruit satisfies your appetite for a long time and also provides healthy nutrients to the body.

2. Filled with Antioxidants

Dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants, especially betacyanins and betaxanthins. Not only the pulp, but its skin also harbors different antioxidants.

Free radicals are substances that lead to cell damage. Antioxidants have the ability to neutralize free radicals. Neutralized free radicals cannot harm the body.

Taking antioxidants daily offers many benefits to the body including lowering the risk of different cancers and heart disease. It is one of the most efficient ways to keep yourself healthy in a long run.

3. Beneficial in Controlling Blood Sugar Levels

People who have diabetes need to keep a check on the food they consume. Everything they eat affects their bodies directly. Thus, they need to eat with care.

Dragon fruit has shown promising results in controlling blood glucose levels in pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetes patients, according to a meta-analysis.[3] Dragon fruit may lead to the growth of the pancreatic cells that are involved in insulin production; therefore, it controls elevated blood sugar levels. Insulin is the chemical in the body that keeps blood sugar levels in control so the body can work in the most balanced state.

Further, it was stated that the more dragon fruit consumption is, the better blood sugar control will be.

4. Good Source of Minerals and Vitamins

Dragon fruit is rich in nutrients. It’s a good source of carbs as well as essential minerals and vitamins. In minerals, it contains a good amount of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. It contains calcium and copper as well in little quantities.

Being rich in magnesium means it lowers the risk of heart diseases and stroke.[4] Also, it makes it better for the body to do day-to-day tasks more efficiently as magnesium is needed by the body in carrying out many functions.

As for vitamins, it is a rich source of vitamin A and vitamin C. There are traces of other vitamins as well. Not only delicious, but this fruit is nutritious as well.

5. A Balanced Iron Provider

Among the different dragon fruit benefits, being rich in iron and alongside vitamin C makes it an excellent fruit to consume during iron deficiency. It is found to be effective in increasing red blood cell levels and hemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin is a blood component that is known to carry oxygen from one part of the body to another. More oxygen means all the body parts can work more efficiently and remain healthy.

One serving of this fruit fulfills over 8 percent of the daily iron requirements. Additionally, having vitamin C aids in absorbing iron into the body. Therefore, it works like a complete package to boost iron levels in the body.

6. Healthy for Gut

Prebiotics are special fibers naturally found in dragon fruit. These healthy fibers work as fuel for gut bacteria. Naturally, the human gut cannot break down these fibers. Mainly, the prebiotics in dragon fruit improves the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in your tummy.[6]

Taking prebiotics on a regular basis decreases the chance of digestive tract infections. It naturally increases the growth of good bacteria in the gut which fights back the diseases on its own including diarrhea.

The research on prebiotics present in dragon fruit is ongoing. However, the initial testing shows positive effects on the human gut and it is assumed safe to consume even during gut infections.