Category: Health10 Amazing Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
10 Amazing Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
dragon fruit on table cut in half
Dragon fruit (Pitaya) is one of the more curious looking fruits in the produce section of the grocery store. Perhaps you questioned it’s flavour, or brilliant pink hues. This psychedelic explosion of colour actually benefits your health in a myriad of different ways! In fact, the health benefits of dragon fruit far outweigh anything you’ve ever imagined!
Before we get to the amazing health benefits of this astounding fruit, you may wonder what it tastes like. If left to ripen (the green “leaves” on the fruit will start to brown when the fruit is ripe, and the fruit itself will be slightly soft to touch), this fruit tastes a little bit like a marshmallow kiwi! Incredibly sweet with a very slight background tang, this fruit is a definite must-try!
This fruit is excellent on its own, or paired with other fruit like kiwi and pineapple. It is also great as an addition to smoothies.
10 Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
dragon fruit info
Cardiovascular
The seeds in dragon fruit are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids). These healthy fats actually help reduce triglycerides and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dragon fruit also contains vitamin B3 which lowers our bad (LDL) cholesterol levels while raising our good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Additionally, dragon fruit is known to help decrease high levels of oxidative stress, one of the main contributing factors in cardiovascular disease.
Cancer
Dragon fruit is loaded with beneficial antioxidants like phytoalbumins (located mainly within the seeds) which aid in the prevention of cancer-causing free radicals. They also contain high levels of vitamin C, which helps to block tumour cell growth, and can improve quality of life of patients currently suffering from cancer (reduced symptoms like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain and appetite loss). Dragon fruit can also help rid the body of toxic heavy metals, which are a major culprit in the formation of tumours in the body.
Digestion and metabolism
Dragon fruit is incredibly high in fibre! I can personally eat 2-3 dragon fruits and be satisfied for hours on end (I was actually quite surprised to feel so full after such little fruit!). The fibre content in dragon fruit helps regulate our digestion and prevents constipation and diarrhea. Keeping your stomach full for hours after you have eaten is one issue facing those who want to lose weight. This exotic fruit will not only keep you satisfied for longer periods of time, but it will help improve your metabolic rate, assisting with weight management. Dragon fruit also helps regulate blood sugar levels (again, due to the high fibre content), and helps your body from experiencing sugar spikes that you would normally get from eating refined sugary sweets (donuts, cakes, cookies, etc.).
Immune support
The high vitamin and mineral content in dragon fruit, ranging from Vitamin’s C, B1, B2, B3, as well as calcium, phosphorous, iron, protein, niacin and fibre, make it a great way to improve the functioning of your immune system. Your immune system starts in your digestive tract, and as we saw above, dragon fruit is a great way to support a healthy GI tract. Getting a proper amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet helps prevent you from getting sick and catching infections. As well, antioxidants (which dragon fruit is loaded), can help fight off bacteria and viruses in the body. The 80% water content of dragon fruit will also help flush out stagnant toxins, which may otherwise manifest as some sort of disease or illness (either now or in the future).
