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Today, dear, I came to you with an article that talks about a fruit that may seem strange to some. What is this fruit? Where is it located? What are its benefits? How to eat it? All of that and more if you continue reading my article this morning while sipping on your hot cup of coffee.
dragon fruit, tropical fruit, has become increasingly popular in recent years, It grows on a cactus called the Honolulu Queen whose flowers bloom only at night.
The plant is native to southern Mexico. Central America, It can be grown all over the world. It is called by many names, like a pear, And strawberries.
reason behind the name
The two most common species have bright red skin with green scales resembling a dragon. Hence the name, The most popular variety has white pulp with black seeds. Although there is a less common type that contains red pulp and black seeds, A third variety, also called dragon fruit, has yellow skin and white pulp with black seeds.
Dragon fruit may look strange, But it tastes similar to the flavors of other fruits. Its sweet taste tends to pear and kiwi.
Nutrition facts
Dragon fruit contains small amounts of nutrients. In addition to being rich in fiber, iron and magnesium.
Here are the nutrition facts
For a 3.5 ounce or 100 grams serving:
- Calories 60
- Protein 1.2 grams
- Fat 0 grams
- Carbohydrates 13 grams
- 3 grams of fiber
- Vitamin C 3%
- iron 4%
- Magnesium 10%
Given its richness in fiber and magnesium, Dragon fruit is rich in fibre.
Health benefits of dragon fruit
Rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acid and beta-cyanin, These substances protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. These are molecules that can lead to cancer or premature aging.
It is fat free, it can be a satiating meal between meals and it does not contain fat.
It may help lower blood sugar levels as it replaces damaged cells that make insulin. It is the hormone that helps you break down sugar. But the studies conducted in this area were on mice, Which makes us not know precisely the amount required to achieve this benefit.
They contain prebiotics, which are foods that feed the healthy bacteria called probiotics in your gut. Dragon fruit encourages the growth of lactobacilli. Which can kill harmful viruses and help digest food.
Strengthening the immune system Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It is beneficial for your immune system.
It can boost your levels of iron, which is important for transporting oxygen and giving you energy, and vitamin C helps iron absorption.
Excellent for wounds and skin. The antioxidants present in dragon fruit can benefit your skin. skin health, If you care about the freshness of the skin and escaping from premature aging, you should eat dragon fruit.
Acne can also be treated by mixing the pulp with honey and applying it on the skin.
Good for dyed hair Dragon fruit peel can be used as hair dye, may help promote its growth, Because of its richness in iron, it also nourishes the hair by reaching the hair follicles. Through its use, you can avoid using chemical compounds for damaged hair.
How to eat dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit has a sweet and delicate taste that can be said to be tropical. It is a mixture of the taste of kiwi, pear and watermelon with a creamy texture, with a small amount of seeds. Similar to kiwi fruit.
Dragon fruit can be eaten in its raw form, after cutting it in half, then remove the inner core as easily as you remove the core of an avocado. Run a tablespoon around the perimeter of each section to separate the meat from the inedible rind. Make sure the meat is free of any rind, then cut into slices or cubes.
Dragon fruit is often enjoyed on its own. either cut or eaten straight from the peel, It’s perfect for a quick, light meal. Just dig in with a spoon to eat it. The cut fruit can also be put back into the peel for serving. Or simply transfer to a serving platter.
It can also be grilled, and can be skewered with other fruits such as pineapple.
The sweet taste of dragon fruit also makes for some delicious drinks. Dragon fruit works well with almost any tropical fruit. So mix it with pineapple or papaya.
Dragon fruit also pairs well with fish dishes, especially cod, tuna and mahi-mahi. Serve the fruit on the side or chop it finely and put it on top of the fish as a sauce.
At the end of the article, how about you go immediately to the market to buy dragon fruit and get to know it closely.
Written by: Siba Babi
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