Explore the nutritional powerhouse of dragon fruit, including its vitamin and mineral content, and understand how to incorporate it into your diet for optimal health.
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a vibrant tropical fruit of very distinctive appearance and abundant potential health benefits. Its vibrant pink or yellow skin and white or red flesh, scattered with tiny black seeds, also make it a visually pleasing addition to any meal. But what actually is dragon fruit, and why is it storming the world of health? In this blog, we are going to know about the benefits of dragon fruit, its nutrition content, the impact it leaves on pregnancy and diabetes, and so much more. If you are considering adding it to your diet this guide will provide you with all that you need to know.
Nutrients present in Dragon Fruit
- Calories: Dragon fruit is low in calories, it contains 50 to 60 calories.
- Carbohydrates: A 100 gram of dragon fruit contains 11 to 13 grams of carbohydrates.
- Fiber: Dragon fruit is its high fiber content. It contains about 3 grams of fiber per 100 grams, which aids in digestion.
- Protein: It provides about 1 gram of protein per 100 grams.
- Fats: The fat content in dragon fruit is minimal, with less than 1 gram per 100 grams.
Vitamin and Minerals present in Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is rich with vitamins and minerals, such as:
- Vitamin C (Book Now): It is an excellent source of vitamin C, with about 3 grams of this essential nutrient per 100 grams. Which helps in the immune system, that helps the body absorb iron, and promotes healthy skin.
- Calcium (Book Now): Dragon fruit contains small amounts of calcium, which is vital for bone health and muscle functions.
- Iron (Book Now): It contains a good amount of iron, which supports red blood cell production.
- Magnesium (Book Now): Magnesium is essential for muscle and nerve function, and dragon fruit provides around 18 milligrams per 100 grams.
- Antioxidants: Red dragon fruit, in particular, is rich in antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Dragon Fruits
There are many health benefits of dragon fruits such as-
- Boost Immunity: As it contains Vitamin C in high amounts, which helps directly in boosting immunity.
- Aids in Digestive Health: Dragon fruit is rich in fiber, which is important for maintaining a healthy digestive system.
- Supports heart health: It may help lower cholesterol levels, which is important for maintaining heart health.
- Aids in weight management: As it is high with fibre count and low with calories it helps to manage weight of an individual.
- Skin health Improvement: It contains vitamin C, which is essential for collagen production, and helps in youthful-looking skin.
- Improves bone health: As it contains a good amount of calcium, it helps in bone health.
Types of dragon fruits
There are many types of dragon fruits available in the market which contains and know for their uniqueness such as-
- White-Fleshed Dragon Fruit
- Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit
- Yellow Dragon Fruit
Choosing the Right Dragon Fruit for Your Health Goals
- For Better Digestion: Choose yellow or white-fleshed varieties of dragon fruits.
- For Antioxidant Power: Choose red-fleshed dragon fruit.
- For Skin Health: Yellow or hybrid varieties.
- For Energy Boost: Hybrid varieties with higher natural sugar content.
- For Immunity: Sour varieties or those containing high vitamin C.
Dragon fruit during pregnancy
Dragon fruit is usually prescribed for individuals who have diabetes because it contains a relatively low glycemic index when compared to most other fruits. This implies that it has little effect on blood sugar level upon consumption in moderate amounts. Dragon fruit's fiber also manages blood sugar levels as it slows down the sugar absorption process.
On top of that, certain research indicates that dragon fruit can assist in enhancing insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, as is the case with any fruit, one should consume dragon fruit in measured quantities to avoid blood sugar levels surging.
FAQS
Q. What are the things you should keep in mind before eating Dragon fruits?
- Consume only 80-100 grams per day.
- It offers numerous health benefits but not recommended as a medicine alternative, consult with your doctor if there is any doubt.
- Dragon fruits are highly natural in sugar and calories which might affect you as being overweight.
Q. What types of nutrients does this fruit contain?
It contains many minerals, vitamins, calcium and antioxidants.
